Russian troops have begun the long-awaited battle for Donbas and concentrated a significant part of their army for the offensive in eastern Ukraine.
This was stated by President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in a video address.
"In the east and south of our State, the occupiers are trying to attack a little more thought-out than before. They are pressuring, looking for a weak spot in the Defense of our State to find and enter there with the main forces… Perhaps, russian generals, who are accustomed to not counting any losses, have already killed so many russian servicemen that even they have to be more careful, because no one will be left to attack," he said.
However, let them not hope that it will help them. It’s only a matter of time - when the whole territory of our State will be liberated. Now it can be stated that russian troops have begun the battle for Donbas, for which they have been preparing for a long time. A significant part of the entire russian army is focused now on this offensive. No matter how many russian soldiers are driven there, we will fight. We will defend ourselves. We will do it daily. We will not give anything Ukrainian, and we don’t need someone else's," the President added.
He thanked all our fighters and heroic cities in Donbass, Mariupol, as well as the cities of Kharkiv region, which are holding on.
"Those who defend the fate of the whole State, restraining the forces of the invaders. Rubizhne, Popasna, Zolote, Lysychansk, Sievierodonetsk, Kramatorsk and all others which have been with Ukraine all these years and forever," Zelenskyy said.
Today the General Staff of UAF reported that there were fixed signs of the beginning of offensive operation in the Eastern operational zone.
On April 7, Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba said in his speech in Brussels that the battle for Donbas would resemble the Second World War with major maneuvers and thousands of tanks, planes and armored vehicles. He called on NATO to provide Ukraine with weapons as soon as possible, or "help will come too late and many people will die".