MOSCOW, June 7. /TASS/. The larger part of the Donetsk and Lugansk People’s Republics has been liberated along the left bank of the Seversky Donets River in Russia’s special military operation in Ukraine, Russian Defense Minister Sergey Shoigu announced on Tuesday.

"A considerable part of the Donetsk and Lugansk People’s Republics along the left bank of the Seversky Donets has been liberated, including the towns of Krasny Liman and Svyatogorsk, and also 15 other populated localities," the defense chief said at a conference call.

The Russian defense minister mentioned Studenok, Yarovaya, Kirovsk, Yampol and Drobyshevo among the largest liberated populated areas.

Also, the residential areas of Severodonetsk have been fully liberated and the offensive towards Popasnaya is underway, Shoigu said.

"The residential quarters of the city of Severodonetsk have been fully liberated. The troops continue placing its industrial zone and nearby localities under their control. They are developing an offensive in the Popasnaya direction," the defense chief said.

"As a whole, 97% of the territory of the Lugansk People’s Republic has been liberated to date," Shoigu added.