Putin congratulates Russian troops on “liberating” Ukraine's Luhansk region

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President Vladimir Putin on Monday congratulated Russian troops on "liberating" the eastern Ukrainian region of Luhansk, a significant milestone for Moscow in its military campaign in Ukraine.

In a televised meeting with Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu, Putin said the troops involved in the operation to capture the Luhansk region should rest, but that other military units should continue fighting.

Russian forces in Ukraine forced Ukrainian troops to withdraw from the last major city under their control in the Luhansk region, the governor of Luhansk said on Monday.

Moscow said it would give the captured territory to the self-proclaimed Russian-backed Luhansk People's Republic whose independence it recognized on the eve of the war.

Residents of Luhansk region cities who were evacuated to other parts of Ukraine described the devastation and wiped-out buildings.