Valery Bolotov, the leader of the self-declared Lugansk People's Republic (LNR), has stated at a press conference today that his separatist forces are in control of the Izvarino area and the section of the Russo-Ukrainian border it lies on.

He claimed that LNR forces had succeeded in pushing back Ukrainian forces from Lugansk, noting that "some sections of the front line have moved in our favour."

He also claimed that the LNR militia had acquired significant military hardware, though did not specify where from (though their claim to control a border crossing certainly suggests Russian imports).

Bolotov said that his forces now had "armoured vehicles and artillery systems" including Grad rocket launchers, howitzers, anti-aircraft systems and mortars.

He also claimed that while the LNR was prepared for peace talks, they would only do so under their own terms, accusing the Ukrainian government of using the ceasefire to concentrate their forces.