Luhansk People's Republic declares independence from Ukraine, solidifies ties with Russia
Russian-backed separatists in eastern Ukraine have declared the independence of the Luhansk People's Republic (LPR) from Ukraine and have asked Russia to recognize its sovereignty.
The move comes amid escalating tensions between Russia and Ukraine, and has been condemned by the Ukrainian government as illegal and illegitimate.
According to a statement released by the LPR's leadership, the republic has been established on the territory of the former Luhansk Oblast of Ukraine and claims to be an independent and sovereign state.
The leaders of the LPR have also appealed to the Russian Federation to recognize the republic's independence and establish diplomatic relations.
The declaration of independence by the LPR is the latest development in the ongoing conflict in eastern Ukraine, which has been plagued by fighting between Ukrainian government forces and Russian-backed separatists since 2014.
The conflict has claimed the lives of over 13,000 people and displaced over 1.5 million others.
The LPR is one of two self-proclaimed republics in eastern Ukraine, the other being the Donetsk People's Republic (DPR). Both republics have been accused of human rights abuses and war crimes.
The Ukrainian government has condemned the declaration of independence by the LPR as illegal and illegitimate, and has vowed to continue its military operations to regain control of the separatist-held territories.
The Russian government has not yet officially recognized the independence of the LPR, but has expressed support for the separatists and has been accused of providing them with military assistance.
