According to information from Kyiv, the battle for the Donbass in eastern Ukraine is becoming increasingly fierce. “The fighting has reached its maximum intensity,” said Deputy Defense Minister Ganna Malyar on Thursday. “Enemy troops are storming our troops’ positions simultaneously from several directions.” In view of this advance of the Russian army, the Ukrainian soldiers had “an extremely difficult and long phase of combat” ahead of them.
KEYSTONE / AP Photo / Natacha Pisarenko
Russia has shifted its troops from central and northern Ukraine to the east in order to consolidate its military successes there. Since then, Russian soldiers have slowly but steadily penetrated deeper and deeper into the Donbass region. Strategically important cities like Severodonetsk and Lysychansk are besieged by the Russian army.
“The situation remains difficult and there are signs of further deterioration,” Malyar said at a press conference. “We must understand that this is a war and that, unfortunately, casualties on our side are inevitable.”
The governor of the Luhansk region, which belongs to the Donbass, Serhiy Gaiday, described in a video message in the messenger service Telegram that “heavy” Russian bombardments on Lysychansk had caused serious damage to civilian infrastructure, including a center for humanitarian aid. Three people were killed in the recent Russian attacks. “It’s very tough for our boys,” Gajdaj said, looking at the Ukrainian soldiers. «Extremely difficult. But they hold the fort.”
Deadly Russian attacks were also reported from the eastern Ukrainian city of Kharkiv. According to preliminary information, four people were killed and seven others injured in Russian bombardments, regional governor Oleg Sinegubov said on Thursday via Telegram. He called on residents to stay in shelters.
