Russian soldiers began their expected onslaught in eastern Ukraine early Tuesday, seeking to break through defences along practically the entire front line, according to Ukrainian authorities. Russia has started the “Battle of Donbas” in the east, according to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky.
“We will fight, no matter how many Russian forces arrive. We will protect ourselves,” he vowed on Monday.
Mr Yermak told Ukrainians that his troops could withstand an onslaught in the “second phase of the war”.
Russia’s defence ministry had no immediate reaction to the fresh battle. The governor of Belgorod claimed Ukrainian soldiers had hit a border settlement, injuring one. Several enormous explosions were recorded along the front line in the Donetsk area, including shelling near Marinka, Slavyansk, and Kramatorsk.
Officials and media reported hearing explosions in Kharkiv in the northeast, Mykolaiv in the south, and Zaporizhzhia in the southeast. Reuters could not confirm the stories.
Mr Danilov claimed Russian soldiers tried to breach Ukrainian defences “nearly throughout the whole front line of Donetsk, Luhansk and Kharkiv areas”.
After being pushed back by Ukrainian troops in the north, Russia has refocused its ground attack on the Donbas, while also striking other targets, including Kyiv.
Starting in 2014, Russia utilised proxies to create up to two separatists “people’s republics” in the ex-Soviet state. Besides coal and steel, it is rich in natural resources.
In Donetsk, Luhansk, and Kherson, Russian soldiers are claimed to be stepping up missile attacks in west Ukraine.
Biden to contact allies
On Tuesday, the White House said that US President Joe Biden will contact allies to address the problem, particularly how to hold Russia responsible. After the discovery of mass graves in Ukraine, Macron stated his talks with Putin had halted.
The UN said on Monday that the war’s civilian death toll has reached 2,000, reaching 2,072 as of midnight on April 17.
Around 4 million Ukrainians have fled
Russia denies targeting civilians in demilitarisation and anti-nationalist campaign. It denies proof of crimes, claiming Ukraine faked them to derail peace negotiations.
Works at The Truth International Magazine. My area of interest includes international relations, peace & conflict studies, qualitative & quantitative research in social sciences, and world politics. Reach@ [email protected]
