A woman crosses the street in Lugansk. Archival photoLUGANSK, May 21.The State Bank of the Lugansk People's Republic has opened more than 20 new branches in the liberated territories, follows from the statement of the government of the LPR. in a statement published on the Telegram channel of the government of the LPR. . Work on establishing services for the population in the field of non-cash payment for goods and services continues, the state bank adds. Russia launched a military operation in Ukraine on February 24. President Vladimir Putin called its goal «the protection of people who have been subjected to bullying and genocide by the Kyiv regime for eight years.» For this, according to him, it is planned to carry out «demilitarization and denazification of Ukraine», to bring to justice all war criminals responsible for «bloody crimes against civilians» in Donbass. According to the Russian Ministry of Defense, the Armed Forces strike only at military infrastructure and Ukrainian troops and , on March 25, completed the main tasks of the first stage — significantly reduced the combat potential of Ukraine. The main goal in the Russian military department was called the liberation of Donbass. On Friday, Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu said that the liberation of the LPR was nearing completion.
