Russia’s occupation of the Luhansk region in eastern Ukraine has marked a significant development in the ongoing conflict, with reports suggesting that Russian troops now control the entire area. This comes as Moscow-appointed officials claim that Ukrainian forces attacked the city of Donetsk, killing at least one person and damaging several buildings.
Meanwhile, Russian forces have also occupied one of Ukraine’s most valuable lithium deposits near the village of Shevchenko, according to Roman Pohorilyi, founder of Deep State Map. The Ukrainian Air Force has detected 107 Russian Shahed drones in its airspace, a day after a major aerial attack from Russian forces.
Outside the conflict zone, an explosion on an oil tanker near Libya has been reported, with ties to Russian ports. The incident highlights the ongoing instability in global energy markets.
In diplomatic circles, tensions remain high, with US envoy Keith Kellogg condemning Russian claims as “Orwellian.” German Minister Johann Wadephul accused Russian President Vladimir Putin of making a “pure mockery” of peace talks. In response, Russia has introduced measures restricting access to 15 media outlets from the European Union.
The International Monetary Fund has pledged $500m in support to Ukraine, amid ongoing economic challenges.
Source: https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2025/7/1/russia-ukraine-war-list-of-key-events-day-1223