A Ukrainian soldier in a zone between Luhansk and Donetsk on April 18 amid increasing Russian troop activity. EPA
A Ukrainian soldier in a zone between Luhansk and Donetsk on April 18 amid increasing Russian troop activity. EPA
A Ukrainian soldier in a zone between Luhansk and Donetsk on April 18 amid increasing Russian troop activity. EPA
A Ukrainian soldier in a zone between Luhansk and Donetsk on April 18 amid increasing Russian troop activity. EPA

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Battle for Donbas: Russia has begun offensive for eastern Ukraine, says Zelenskyy

Fighting has intensified in the Donbas region after Russian troops withdrew from the capital Kyiv

Soraya Ebrahimi
Soraya Ebrahimi

April 18, 2022

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Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on Monday said Russia's large-scale offensive in the eastern Donbas region had begun.

"We can now confirm that Russian troops have begun the battle for the Donbas, which they have been preparing for a long time," Mr Zelenskyy said on Telegram.

"A large part of the Russian army is now dedicated to this offensive.

"No matter how many Russian soldiers are brought here, we will fight. We will defend ourselves."

READ MORE

Where is Ukraine's Donbas? What to know about the breakaway Donetsk and Luhansk enclaves

Fighting has intensified in eastern Ukraine after Russia withdrew troops from around the capital Kyiv and refocused its efforts on the Donbas region, which pro-Moscow separatists have partly controlled since 2014.

Shortly before Mr Zelenskyy's address, the Governor of the eastern Luhansk region, Sergiy Gaiday, also announced the start of Russia's much-anticipated attack.

"It's hell. The offensive has begun, the one we've been talking about for weeks," Mr Gaiday said on Facebook. "There's constant fighting in Rubizhne and Popasna, fighting in other peaceful cities.

Russian shelling killed at least eight civilians in eastern Ukraine on Monday, local authorities said.

Mr Gaiday said four people died as they tried to flee the city of Kreminna in Luhansk, which Russian forces captured on Monday.

Thick smoke rises from Rubizhne city after a series of Russian strikes. AFP
Thick smoke rises from Rubizhne city after a series of Russian strikes. AFP
A civilian building hit by a Russian missile in Lviv, Ukraine. At least six people were killed and eight wounded in missile strikes across the city, its governor said. Getty Images
A civilian building hit by a Russian missile in Lviv, Ukraine. At least six people were killed and eight wounded in missile strikes across the city, its governor said. Getty Images
A train travelling from Dnipro passes by the site of an air strike in Lviv, western Ukraine. AP Photo
A train travelling from Dnipro passes by the site of an air strike in Lviv, western Ukraine. AP Photo
At least three rows of new graves are created for people killed during Russia's invasion of Ukraine, at a cemetery in Irpin, Kyiv region. Reuters
At least three rows of new graves are created for people killed during Russia's invasion of Ukraine, at a cemetery in Irpin, Kyiv region. Reuters
People attend a 'Free Ukraine' demonstration in Senate Square in Helsinki, Finland. EPA
People attend a 'Free Ukraine' demonstration in Senate Square in Helsinki, Finland. EPA
Aid workers carry bottled drinking water to a humanitarian centre in Odesa. From there it will be sent to the neighbouring city of Mykolaiv, which has been without its central water supply for days as a result of damage during hostilities with Russian troops. AFP
Aid workers carry bottled drinking water to a humanitarian centre in Odesa. From there it will be sent to the neighbouring city of Mykolaiv, which has been without its central water supply for days as a result of damage during hostilities with Russian troops. AFP
Residents examine a crater on the road, after shelling in Kharkiv, north-east Ukraine. AFP
Residents examine a crater on the road, after shelling in Kharkiv, north-east Ukraine. AFP
Firefighters tackle a blaze in a residential building, after a bombardment in central Kharkiv. AFP
Firefighters tackle a blaze in a residential building, after a bombardment in central Kharkiv. AFP
A teenager sits on a playground swing, opposite a gutted apartment block in Borodianka, in the Kyiv region. AFP
A teenager sits on a playground swing, opposite a gutted apartment block in Borodianka, in the Kyiv region. AFP
A man leans his foot on the barrel of a destroyed Russian tank while tying his shoelace, in Andriivka, Kyiv region. AFP
A man leans his foot on the barrel of a destroyed Russian tank while tying his shoelace, in Andriivka, Kyiv region. AFP
Ariana plays with her dogs Chim and Nunia, inside a train, minutes before arriving with her family in western city of Lviv from Kyiv. AP
Ariana plays with her dogs Chim and Nunia, inside a train, minutes before arriving with her family in western city of Lviv from Kyiv. AP
Ukrainian troops run for cover from explosions, during a Russian attack in central Kharkiv. AP
Ukrainian troops run for cover from explosions, during a Russian attack in central Kharkiv. AP
Ira Slepchenko, 54, and Valya Naumenko, 47, embrace as they mourn the deaths of their husbands, at the exhumation of a mass grave in Bucha, near Kyiv. AP
Ira Slepchenko, 54, and Valya Naumenko, 47, embrace as they mourn the deaths of their husbands, at the exhumation of a mass grave in Bucha, near Kyiv. AP
Father Paul Koroluk, of the Orthodox Church of Ukraine in Japan, leads parishioners in a Palm Sunday procession outside Saint Alban's church in Tokyo. Getty Images
Father Paul Koroluk, of the Orthodox Church of Ukraine in Japan, leads parishioners in a Palm Sunday procession outside Saint Alban's church in Tokyo. Getty Images
Wounded civilians await medical attention after Russian shelling in Kharkiv. EPA
Wounded civilians await medical attention after Russian shelling in Kharkiv. EPA
Residents bury two bodies in Bucha, north-west of Kyiv, where hundreds of people were found massacred. AFP
Residents bury two bodies in Bucha, north-west of Kyiv, where hundreds of people were found massacred. AFP
Ihor welcomes Lyudmila, who has returned from neighboring Poland, at Kyev-Pasazhyrsky train station. AFP
Ihor welcomes Lyudmila, who has returned from neighboring Poland, at Kyev-Pasazhyrsky train station. AFP
Galina Bondar, 63, who said her son, Olexander Bondar, 32, a territorial defence member, was killed by Russian troops, kisses the plaque bearing his name at his grave in Bucha. Reuters
Galina Bondar, 63, who said her son, Olexander Bondar, 32, a territorial defence member, was killed by Russian troops, kisses the plaque bearing his name at his grave in Bucha. Reuters
A badly damaged block of flats in Mariupol. Reuters
A badly damaged block of flats in Mariupol. Reuters
A woman sits at what remains of a bus stop in the southern port city. Reuters
A woman sits at what remains of a bus stop in the southern port city. Reuters
Pro-Russian troops drive tanks near Mariupol. Reuters
Pro-Russian troops drive tanks near Mariupol. Reuters
People attend a Palm Sunday church service in Kharkiv. Getty
People attend a Palm Sunday church service in Kharkiv. Getty
Passengers rest on the train minutes before arriving in Lviv from Kyiv. AP
Passengers rest on the train minutes before arriving in Lviv from Kyiv. AP
A man takes a selfie in front of a destroyed Russian tank in the village of Andriivka. AFP
A man takes a selfie in front of a destroyed Russian tank in the village of Andriivka. AFP
People outside Downing Street, London, take part in a demonstration against the Russian invasion of Ukraine. PA
People outside Downing Street, London, take part in a demonstration against the Russian invasion of Ukraine. PA
The Ukrainian flag flutters between buildings destroyed in bombardment in the town of Borodyanka. AFP
The Ukrainian flag flutters between buildings destroyed in bombardment in the town of Borodyanka. AFP
Firefighters at work in the aftermath of a Russian shelling in Kharkiv. EPA
Firefighters at work in the aftermath of a Russian shelling in Kharkiv. EPA
Ukrainian servicemen run for cover as explosions are heard during a Russian attack in Kharkiv. AP
Ukrainian servicemen run for cover as explosions are heard during a Russian attack in Kharkiv. AP
Christina Dragun holds her daughter, Olya Siksoy, during the burial of her husband, Ukrainian soldier Ruslan Siksoy at Lychakiv Cemetery, Lviv. Getty
Christina Dragun holds her daughter, Olya Siksoy, during the burial of her husband, Ukrainian soldier Ruslan Siksoy at Lychakiv Cemetery, Lviv. Getty
Vehicles destroyed during the Russian invasion lie at a junkyard in Irpin. EPA
Vehicles destroyed during the Russian invasion lie at a junkyard in Irpin. EPA

In the neighbouring region of Donetsk, Governor Pavlo Kyrylenko said four other civilians died in Russian bombardment.

A large Russian offensive in the Donbas region had been predicted by Ukraine's army for weeks.

Russian President Vladimir Putin said he launched the military operation to save the region's Russian-speaking population from a "genocide" carried out by a "neo-Nazi" Kyiv regime.

Mr Putin recognised the independence of two self-proclaimed separatist republics in Donetsk and Luhansk shortly before the full-scale Russian invasion began on February 24.

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