Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu reported to President Vladimir Putin, yesterday, that Lugansk has now been completely liberated from the Kiev regime. “Since June 19, formations and units of the Centre Group under the command of Colonel General Alexander Lapin, in cooperation with units of the Second People’s Militia Corps of the Lugansk People’s Republic and supported by the southern group of forces led by Army General Sergei Surovikin, have successfully carried out an offensive operation to liberate the Lugansk People’s Republic,” Shoigu said, according to the Kremlin transcript. “Within two weeks, they encircled and destroyed the groups in the Gorskoye cauldron, around Lisichansk and Severodonetsk. Twenty-five localities have been taken under control, the largest of which are Severodonetsk, Zolotoye, Gorskoye and Volcheyarovka. The operation ended yesterday with the liberation of Lisichansk, one of the largest towns in the Lugansk People’s Republic. A total of 670 square kilometers of territory were taken under control during the active offensive.”