The Donbass in Moscow’s sights
The Russian army is trying at all costs to tighten its grip on the Donbass region in eastern Ukraine. “In the Luhansk region, the Russians are advancing in all directions at once”regional governor Serhi Haïdaï said on Telegram today.
“The situation in the Donbass is extremely difficult”acknowledged for his part, last night, President Zelensky. “All the forces that the Russian army still has have been thrown there for the offensive”because they “want to destroy everything”he said.
Moscow has decided to intensify its offensive in the Donbass, formed by the regions of Luhansk and Donetsk, which the Ukrainians are struggling to defend, after having moved Russian forces away from the country’s two largest cities, kyiv and Kharkiv (northeast) .
It is in particular to defend the Donbass, partially controlled since 2014 by pro-Russian separatists, from an alleged “genocide”that Russian President Vladimir Putin launched the February 24 invasion of Ukraine. “We will continue the special military operation until all objectives are achieved”, Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu insisted yesterday. He also said that Moscow was preparing for a long offensive in Ukraine.
The regional governor of Donbass reported “increasingly intense bombardments” and asserted that “The Russian army aims to completely destroy Sievierodonetsk”a strategic town northwest of Luhansk.
“We are an outpost that holds back the assault and will. Despite the superiority of the enemy army, WE will win, because we are fighting for our land”launched Serhi Haïdaï, comparing the situation in the Luhansk region to that of the province of Mariupol.