JAKARTA - Russian President Vladimir Putin has congratulated his troops on the 'liberation' of Lugansk, after troops loyal to Kyiv withdrew from their last stronghold in eastern Ukraine.
The capture of Lugansk, which together with the neighboring province of Donetsk is part of the Donbas, comes almost three months after Moscow began its battle for control of the heartland of Ukraine's coal mining and manufacturing industry.
The Kremlin decided to concentrate its military operations in eastern Ukraine, after failing to capture Kiev and other major cities in the early weeks of the invasion.
In a televised meeting with Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu, President Putin said soldiers involved in the operation to occupy Lugansk should rest, but other military units should continue to fight.
Minister Shoigu told President Putin that the 'operation' had been completed on Sunday.
Meanwhile, President Putin in turn said military units "that took part in active hostilities and achieved success, victory" in Lugansk, "should rest, improve their combat capabilities".
Driven by victory, the Russian leader ordered him to press ahead with the Donbas attack.
"Military units, including Eastern groups and Western groups, must carry out their duties according to a pre-agreed plan," President Putin told Minister Shoigu.
President Putin's comments came a day after Ukrainian troops withdrew from Lysychansk, following a heavy attack on Saturday.
Footage broadcast by French TV channel France 24 showed men in military uniform waving the Russian flag from a hospital in Lysychansk, a city with a pre-war population of around 100,000. In an attempt to win the population's support, fighters loyal to Moscow distributed food to the local population.
The withdrawal of Ukrainian troops from Lysychansk came a week after Russia took control of the neighboring city of Sievierodonetsk.
Announcing its withdrawal on Sunday, the Ukrainian military said: "The continued defense of the city (Lysychansk) will have fatal consequences" in the face of Russia's superiority in numbers and equipment. "In order to save the lives of the defenders of Ukraine, the decision has been made to withdraw."
Separately, in his evening video address, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky confirmed troops had been withdrawn from Lugansk, but he vowed his military would regain control of the Donbas.
"We care about the lives of our soldiers. We can rebuild the wall, we will win back the territory but the people must be taken care of above all else. Ukraine is not giving up," said President Zelensky.
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