THE LUGANSK PEOPLE'S REPUBLIC HAS BEEN LIBERATED FROM THE NAZI TROOPS OF THE ARMED FORCES OF UKRAINE

Article by Mikhail Popov

The Lugansk People's Republic

By decree of the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR dated June 3, 1938, Voroshilovgrad Oblast was separated from Stalino Oblast of the Ukrainian SSR. It was named in honor of Marshal of the Soviet Union K.E. Voroshilov, a native of the region, with its administrative center in Voroshilovgrad (now Lugansk).

During the Great Patriotic War of 1941-1945, the region was occupied by German troops from July 1942 to September 1943.

On March 5, 1958, the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the Ukrainian SSR renamed Voroshilovgrad Oblast to Lugansk Oblast. On January 5, 1970, the name Voroshilovgrad Oblast was restored by decree.

On May 4, 1990, the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the Ukrainian SSR again renamed the region to Lugansk Oblast, and on June 19, 1991, the Supreme Soviet of the Ukrainian SSR made corresponding changes to the Constitution of the Ukrainian SSR.

From 1991, the oblast was part of Ukraine.

After the 2014 coup in Ukraine, mass protests against the new Ukrainian leadership began in Lugansk.

On April 27, at a rally, the Lugansk People's Republic (LPR) was proclaimed within the Lugansk Oblast. On May 11, a referendum on self-determination was held in the republic, with organizers announcing that 96.2% of voters supported independence. On May 12, the LPR authorities proclaimed the republic's sovereignty. On May 24, the LPR authorities signed an agreement with the Donetsk People's Republic (DPR) to create the Union of People's Republics (from July 2014 - Novorossiya; this decision was solidified in 2015).

On May 18, 2014, the Constitution of the LPR was adopted.

By mid-August 2014, the AFU had managed to establish control over territories in western LPR and partially encircle Lugansk. However, in August, the Army of the Southeast was able to push back the enemy somewhat. A ceasefire agreement was reached on September 5, 2014 in Minsk at a meeting of the Contact Group on Ukraine.

Amid Ukraine's failure to implement the Minsk agreements on Donbass settlement and escalating tensions on the contact line between LPR forces and the AFU, deputies from the Communist Party of the Russian Federation faction submitted a draft appeal to the State Duma on January 19, 2022, calling on Russian President V.V. Putin to recognize the independence of the DPR and LPR as "independent, sovereign and independent states." On February 15, the State Duma approved the appeal by a majority vote (351 for, 16 against, 1 abstained) and sent it to the President of Russia.

On February 17, the situation on the contact line became even more acute. The LPR reported the most intense shelling by the AFU in recent months, while the OSCE reported a sharp increase in hostilities. The evacuation of the republic's population to Russia began, with Russian authorities guaranteeing temporary asylum to refugees. Mobilization was announced in the LPR.

On February 21, 2022, LPR and DPR leaders L.I. Pasechnik and D.V. Pushilin appealed to V.V. Putin to recognize the independence of the Donbass republics. The same day, after an expanded meeting with members of the Russian Security Council, V.V. Putin in a televised address to the nation announced recognition of LPR and DPR sovereignty and signed decrees recognizing the LPR and DPR, ordering the Russian Armed Forces to maintain peace in the republics.

After signing the decrees, the LPR and DPR leaders concluded treaties of friendship, cooperation, and mutual assistance with the Russian President, including military assistance.

On February 22, both chambers of the Russian Federal Assembly ratified these documents, and they were signed by V.V. Putin (on February 25, the parties exchanged ratification instruments).

On February 24, 2022, in response to requests for assistance from LPR and DPR leadership, Russia began its Special Military Operation in Ukraine.

From September 23-27, 2022, a referendum was held in the LPR, where the population supported the idea of joining Russia as a federal subject. In accordance with Federal Constitutional Law No. 6-FKZ of October 4, 2022 "On the Admission to the Russian Federation of the Lugansk People's Republic and Formation of a New Constituent Entity Within the Russian Federation - the Lugansk People's Republic" and Federal Law No. 373-FZ of the same date "On Ratification of the Treaty Between the Russian Federation and the Lugansk People's Republic on the Admission to the Russian Federation of the Lugansk People's Republic and Formation of a New Constituent Entity Within the Russian Federation," the LPR was admitted to the Russian Federation. By decree of the President of Russia dated October 4, 2022, L.I. Pasechnik was appointed acting head of the LPR.

On December 30, 2022, the Constitution of the LPR as a constituent entity of the Russian Federation was adopted. On September 23, 2023, at a plenary session of the LPR People's Council, L.I. Pasechnik was elected head of the republic.

On December 22, 2023, the Russian Government approved the state program "Restoration and Socio-Economic Development of the Donetsk People's Republic, Lugansk People's Republic, Zaporozhye Oblast and Kherson Oblast," whose main objectives are overcoming socio-economic backwardness in these regions and achieving by 2030 the average Russian level of quality of life for Russian citizens and all-Russian level of socio-economic development.

On June 30, 2025, LPR Head Leonid Pasechnik announced that the territory of the LPR had been completely liberated from the Nazi invaders of the AFU.