MOSCOW, June 2. /TASS/. Forces of the Lugansk People’s Republic (LPR) are in full control of all populated areas on its territory, except for Severodonetsk and Lisichansk and the operation to liberate the republic is proceeding as planned, LPR Head Leonid Pasechnik said in a live broadcast on the Rossiya-24 television channel on Thursday.
"As of today, two populated areas - Severodonetsk and Lisichansk - have not been fully liberated yet. The special military operation on the territory of the Lugansk People’s Republic is proceeding according to plan. In general, all [populated areas on LPR territory] is under the control of our forces," Pasechnik said.
Thirteen administrations have been set up on the territories of the republic under its control, including the communities of Kremennaya, Rubezhnoye and Popasnaya, the LPR head said.
"We have already established 13 administrations, including the administration of the towns of Kremennaya, Rubezhnoye and Popasnaya," he said.
The LPR head earlier told TASS that a third of Severodonetsk was under the control of the republic’s forces.
The militia fighters of the Lugansk People’s Republic have been developing an offensive on Severodonetsk and Lisichansk since early March and the seizure of these cities is a top priority for the republic. The cities’ liberation has been complicated since the Ukrainian military has set up multilayered defenses there and is using civilians as a human shield. Also, some large chemical enterprises are located in that area.