Putin says 'full liberation' of Luhansk People's Republic has been completed

MOSCOW -- Russian President Vladimir Putin announced Friday that Russian forces have completed the "full liberation" of the Luhansk People's Republic.

"I note that units and formations of the combined joint force group are fulfilling their missions in accordance with the operational plan devised by the General Staff of the Armed Forces (of the Russian Federation). The full liberation of the Luhansk People's Republic has been recently completed," Putin said during a meeting held at one of the temporary command posts of the combined joint force group.

The elimination of Ukrainian military formations continues across the territories of the Donetsk People's Republic, as well as the Zaporizhzhia and Kherson regions, Putin added.