Ukrainian authorities have previously urged people to leave the eastern Donbass region to the west.
18.4. 23:41 • Updated Apr 19. 05:29
President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyi announced on Monday that a large – scale Russian offensive in the eastern Donbass region has begun.
– We can now confirm that the Russian forces have started the battle for Donbass, which they have been preparing for a long time. Much of the Russian military is now dedicated to this attack, he said on his Telegram channel.
– No matter how many troops Russia brings here, we will fight. We are defending ourselves, Zelenskyi continued.
Shortly before Zelensky’s writing, the governor of the Luhansk region Serhi Haidai said Russia had launched an attack.
– This is hell. The attack that has been talked about for weeks has begun. Battles are being fought in Rubitshna and Popasna, as well as in other cities.
Secretary of the National Security Council of Ukraine It would be Danilov Russia has tried to break down Ukraine’s defenses on almost the entire front line in the Donetsk, Luhansk and Kharkiv regions.
The Ukrainian army, meanwhile, said earlier on Monday On Facebook (go to another service)that Russia has continued to form additional units in the Rostov region and in the occupied Crimean peninsula. The troops are planned to be used to protect government buildings as well as critical infrastructure in occupied areas.
The Ukrainian army says Russia is currently working to take full control of the Donetsk and Luhansk regions and to preserve the territories it once occupied.