Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov has paid a surprise visit to the Lugansk region in eastern Ukraine occupied by Russian forces, Sergei Kiriyenko, a senior Russian presidential official, confirmed Wednesday.
«Thanks to Dmitry Sergeyevich (Peskov), who returned last night from Lugansk, where he took part in a training program for representatives of the media and press of the Lugansk and Donetsk People’s Republics,» he said, Russian news agency TASS reported.
Peskov himself said Wednesday that Russian President Vladimir Putin will pay a visit to the Donbas, although he specified that «for now there are no specific plans» for it. «I have no doubt that the time will come when Putin will go to the Donbas, certainly. These are Russian regions and he will be there,» he added.
Russia in September annexed the Ukrainian regions of Lugansk, Donetsk, Zaporiyia and Kherson — partially occupied by Russian troops — in a move rejected by the international community. Moscow said on Tuesday that Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu had visited the conflict zone, without further details.
