[1][2] However, since 2014 the raion was not under control of Ukrainian government and has been part of the Luhansk People's Republic[3] which continues using it as an administrative unit.

The last estimate of the raion population, reported by the Ukrainian government, was 48,102 (2020 est.).

[5] Since 2014, the raion has been controlled by forces of the Luhansk People's Republic.

[3][better source needed] To facilitate the governance of Luhansk Oblast during the War in Donbass, the Verkhovna Rada on 7 October 2014 made some changes in the administrative divisions, so that the localities in the government-controlled areas were grouped into districts.

[citation needed] According to the 2001 census in Ukraine, the town had 61,72% Russian-speakers and 37,54% Ukrainian-speakers.