The Russian Federation has once again claimed full control over the Luhansk region, although the actual situation on the front differs significantly from the official rhetoric of the Kremlin. Despite significant control over the region, analysts from the Institute for the Study of War (ISW) indicate that at least two populated areas—Nadiya and Novoiehorivka—remain under Ukrainian control, located east of Borova.
This is reported by Finway
Kremlin Manipulations and Information Campaign
In its report dated April 1, ISW notes that the Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation announced the “complete liberation” of Luhansk, although Russian troops actually control only 99.84% of the region. Such statements have been made before: in July 2022, then Minister of Defense of the Russian Federation Sergei Shoigu declared the completion of the capture of Luhansk, in June 2025, the head of the occupation administration Leonid Pasichnyk repeated this, and in October of the same year, President of Russia Vladimir Putin claimed that Ukrainian forces hold only a small part of the region. Analysts emphasize that such reports are a systematic exaggeration of military successes, where even minor changes on the front are presented as strategic achievements.
ISW views these statements as part of a broader information-psychological campaign by the Kremlin. Its goal is to create the impression of the inevitability of further Russian advances and to increase pressure on Ukraine and its partners to persuade Kyiv to agree to territorial concessions, particularly regarding the unoccupied areas of Donetsk.
Russian Demands and Ukraine’s Position
According to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, Russia demands the withdrawal of Ukrainian troops from the remaining territory of Donetsk by the end of May 2026. Zelensky emphasizes that the Kremlin aims to create an atmosphere of inevitable capture of the entire Donbas, so that in the future it can impose even harsher conditions. In response, Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov stated that such a decision must be made immediately. Some State Duma deputies of the Russian Federation have even called for the expansion of demands, including the withdrawal of Ukrainian troops from Zaporizhzhia and Kherson regions, as well as the transfer of major cities—Odesa, Mykolaiv, Dnipro, and Kharkiv—under Russian control.
ISW analysts stress that the Kremlin has been voicing such demands for many years, but recently the rhetoric has intensified, which is linked to the lack of progress in negotiations between Ukraine, the USA, and Russia.
“The Kremlin has been making these demands for years, but is likely intensifying them now as negotiations between the USA, Ukraine, and Russia have stalled due to the ongoing war in the Middle East,” experts explained.
However, according to ISW, the Russian side’s claims about the rapid capture of all of Donetsk or even the possibility of an offensive on major cities in other regions do not correspond to the actual state of affairs on the battlefield. Ukrainian forces maintain fortified positions in Donbas, significantly complicating large-scale offensive operations for Russia. Despite repeated attempts to break through the defense, the Russian command has failed to achieve its ambitious plans, and as of early April 2026, as stated by Volodymyr Zelensky, Russian troops have not reached their set goals in the Donetsk region and have been forced to postpone their offensive intentions.
ISW also emphasizes that even near-total control over the Luhansk region has not given Russia a strategic advantage for further offensives. In particular, Russian forces have been unable to launch successful operations towards Sloviansk or Izium.
Analysts add that since the beginning of 2026, the pace of Russian advances has noticeably slowed, while the Armed Forces of Ukraine have demonstrated the ability to maintain initiative for an extended period and successfully counterattack in various areas of the front.