Luhansk Oblast territory claimed by Russia
Luhansk Oblast (Ukrainian: Луганська область, romanized: Luhanska oblast; Russian: Луганская область, romanized: Luganskaya oblast), also referred to as Luhanshchyna (Луга́нщина), is the easternmost oblast (province) of Ukraine. The oblast's administrative center is Luhansk. The oblast was established in 1938 and bore the name Voroshilovgrad Oblast until 1958 and again from 1970 to 1991. It has an estimated population of 2,102,921 (2022 est.).Important cities in the oblast include Alchevsk, Antratsyt, Brianka, Kirovsk, Krasnyi Luch, Krasnodon, Lysychansk, Luhansk, Pervomaisk, Rovenky, Rubizhne, Sverdlovsk, Sievierodonetsk, and Kadiivka. All of Luhansk Oblast is located in the Donbas region. 
In 2014, large parts of Luhansk Oblast, including capital Luhansk, came under the control of Russian-backed separatists who declared the Luhansk People's Republic, leading to a war against Ukrainian government forces. Since the 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine, the oblast has come almost entirely under Russian occupation and has been the site of heavy fighting, which continues in parts of the oblast. In late September 2022, Russia declared the annexation of the entirety of the oblast as well as three other regions, though the annexation remains internationally unrecognized. 
As of January 2023, Ukraine is in control of roughly 6–7% of the region and controls only a few settlements like Bilohorivka, Zolotarivka, Chervonopopivka, Makiivka and the outskirts of Kreminna in the western part of the region. These areas continue to be zones of active conflict.