Russia could be just two weeks away from achieving one of its stated aims in the conflict in Ukraine, with its troops close to taking over the entire Luhansk region in the east. The UK Ministry of Defence (MoD) said Russia is now achieving tactical success in the industrial Donbas, comprised of Luhansk and Donetsk, which would give Moscow a high-profile victory. “Russian forces have generated and maintained momentum and currently appear to hold the initiative over Ukrainian opposition,” the MoD tweeted on Friday in its latest intelligence briefing.