Russia-Ukraine war: New Ukrainian frontline is near the separatist border in Luhansk, says Moscow-backed official

Ukraine is seeking to keep up its momentum in its ongoing offensive to recapture its southern and eastern territories. A Russian-backed official in the Luhansk region said the new frontline is near the separatist-held border in Luhansk.

A Russian-backed military commander told the Russian TASS news outlet Wednesday that the new Ukrainian frontline is close to the border of Luhansk that is being held by pro-Russian separatists.

Russian forces have control over the so-called Luhansk People’s Republic which is one of the two regions that make up the Donbas region.

Russian forces sought to claim the entire Donbas region when it first invaded Ukraine in February. However, commander Andrey Marochko said Ukraine’s offensive in the past two weeks has driven Russian forces back while pushing the frontline closer to Luhansk’s so-called borders.

Meanwhile, two United States senators have introduced legislation that would designate Russia as a state sponsor of terrorism Wednesday. While Ukraine has welcomed the potential designation, the Biden administration has opposed making such a designation.

“The need for this measure is more pressing now than ever before,” Democratic Senator Richard Blumenthal, who is a co-sponsor of the bill, told a news conference. Blumenthal cited the killings of Ukrainian civilians and the “brutal, cruel oppression” of Ukraine since Russia’s invasion nearly seven months ago.

Republican Senator Lindsey Graham, a co-sponsor of the legislation, said it would send a strong message of support for Ukraine but also to US allies as it also imposes penalties on Russia such as allowing it to be sued in US courts for its actions in Ukraine and strengthening sanctions.

It remains to be seen when the bill would come up to the Senate floor for a vote, but Blumenthal and Graham have been pushing for the legislation for months since visiting Ukraine back in July to promote the measure.

Democratic House Speaker Nancy Pelosi said back in July that such a measure was “long overdue.”

The Biden administration has said such a designation for Russia is not effective enough to hold Moscow accountable and it may hinder deliveries of humanitarian assistance to Ukraine.

US State Department spokesperson Ned Price told reporters during a briefing that the administration was discussing with lawmakers “analogous” to what measures may be imposed on Russia’s economy by the designation.