Russia claims 'nearing' full control of Ukraine breakaway region of Lugansk

Russia claims 'nearing' full control of Ukraine breakaway region of Lugansk
Russia has claimed to be in 'nearing' full control of Ukraine's breakaway region of Lugansk, the country's defence ministry said
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The breakaway region of Lugansk is 'coming under Russian control' [Getty]

Russian Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu said on Friday that Moscow was nearing full control of the separatist region of Lugansk in eastern Ukraine.

"The liberation of the Lugansk People's Republic is nearing completion," Shoigu said at a meeting in remarks carried by Russian news agencies. He also said that 1,908 Ukrainian soldiers have surrendered at the besieged Azovstal steel plant in the port city of Mariupol, which is under Moscow's control.