Putin Urges to Continue 'Special Military Operation' in Ukraine's Donbas

Under Occupation of Luhansk... "Rewards for Soldiers"
"Hope to Keep Advancing Like in Luhansk"

Russian President Vladimir Putin instructed on the 4th (local time) at a meeting with Defense Minister Sergey Shoigu at the Moscow Kremlin to "continue the 'special military operation' in the remaining areas of Donbas, Ukraine." Moscow (Russia) = TASS · Yonhap News Agency

[Asia Economy Reporter Hyunwoo Lee] Russian President Vladimir Putin praised the complete occupation of Luhansk Province in the eastern Donbas region of Ukraine and ordered the military to continue advancing until all remaining areas of Donetsk Province are fully occupied. He reiterated that the war will continue until the Donbas region is completely occupied.

According to Russian TASS news agency on the 4th (local time), after receiving a report on the occupation of Luhansk Province from Russian Defense Minister Sergey Shoigu, President Putin emphasized in a meeting with Minister Shoigu, "The units belonging to the Eastern and Western Military Districts must continue to carry out the 'special military operation' mission in the Donbas region according to the pre-approved plan," adding, "I hope they continue to advance as they did in the Luhansk region."

Earlier, the Russian military captured Lysychansk, the last stronghold of Ukrainian forces in Luhansk Province, thereby gaining control over the entire Luhansk Province. As a result, Russia is reported to have occupied over 75% of the Donbas region, combining Donetsk and Luhansk Provinces. President Putin once again emphasized that the war will continue until all remaining areas of Donetsk Province are fully occupied.

President Putin also praised the efforts of the Russian military. He stated, "The Central and Southern Military Districts that participated in the operation to capture Lysychansk in Luhansk Province should first take a rest and restore their combat capabilities," and added, "All soldiers who contributed to the capture of Lysychansk will be rewarded."

As the occupation of Donbas, the goal of Russia's special military operation, progresses rapidly, there are expectations that ceasefire negotiations may begin sometime between this summer and fall. Michael O'Hanlon, a senior fellow at the Brookings Institution, wrote in an op-ed for The Washington Post (WP), "Ceasefire negotiations could start after Russia fully controls Donbas this summer or fall," and predicted, "It is possible that a ceasefire will take place in the form of Russia handing over the eastern territories it has controlled so far, the Crimean Peninsula annexed in 2014, and the southeastern corridor in between, followed by the deployment of UN peacekeepers in the border areas."

However, the prevailing view is that a considerable amount of time will still be needed before actual ceasefire negotiations begin. This is because Ukraine has a strong will to reclaim its territory, and the Russian military's advance in Donetsk Province is very slow.

The U.S. Institute for the Study of War (ISW) stated in a report on the same day, "The Russian military is facing a worsening shortage of manpower resources and is hastening the establishment of pro-Russian regimes and annexation procedures in occupied areas to conscript soldiers from the local population," adding, "With naval and coast guard forces in the rear being deployed to the front lines and the ground forces command structure still in disarray, the military system will need to be reestablished over the coming weeks."