luhansk people’s republic is an partially recognised state in the donbas region of ukraine. when the war in donbass started in 2014, a few hundred separatists proclaimed it in part of the luhansk oblast. luhansk oblast is to the east of ukraine, at the ukrainian border with russia. approximately at the same time, other rebels formed the donetsk people's republic in donetsk oblast. in both parts, there are many ethnic russians. there was a claim that russia helped start these unrecognized states. the country is loyal to russia.