Russia-Ukraine war: Moscow sends more troops to eastern Ukraine; bombards Donbas region

As Russia-Ukraine war continues to escalate for so-called ‘decisive’ battle for Donbas, Moscow has poured more troops into Ukraine on Tuesday in Kyiv’s eastern industrial heartland of coal mines and factories. If Russian forces win in battle for separatist region, which is alrey occupied by pro-Russian rebels, Moscow would be able to divide Ukraine into two parts providing Russian President Vlimir Putin with a much-needed victory. It is to te here that in over seven weeks of Moscow-Kyiv war, Russia failed to capture Ukrainian capital of Kyiv. 

Earlier, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy h declared that battle in Donbas, which includes Luhansk and Donetsk Oblasts, h begun. Associated Press stated that eastern Ukrainian cities of Kharkiv and Kramatorsk came under dely attack. ditionally, Russia also said it struck areas around Zaporizhzhia and Dnipro west of Donbas with missiles. Multiple explosions were also heard early on Wednesday in sourn city of Mykolaiv. 

Among or impacts of Russian shelling on Ukraine, a hospital in Bashtanka was bombarded. In Mariupol, where Zelenskyy has said that situation is “as severe as possible”, Russian military dropped heavy bombs to flatten what was left of besieged city. 

Russia’s Defence Ministry spokesperson Maj. Gen. Igor Konashenkov said that Putin’s forces shelled a number of military sites, including troop concentrations and missile-warhe stor depots, in or near several cities or vills.

'Please, evacuate w!': Luhansk Guv urges civilians to leave

Meanwhile, in wake of Russian forces approaching region for what is believed to be a decisive battle in separatist regions of Ukraine, Goverr of Luhansk Oblast Serhiy Haidaii on Tuesday called on civilians to evacuate. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on Monday night stated that Russian troops have started a “battle for Donbas” as fighting between both sides continues to escalate. town of Kreminna has alrey fallen to Russian forces. 

According to CNN, Haidaii said, “Please, evacuate w! residents of Kreminna did t make it on time and are w hosts”.

Haidai said that evacuations would take place even though Russian forces h refused a ceasefire. Luhansk Oblast Goverr also ted that evacuation efforts would be mainly focused on areas of Rubizhne, Severodonetsk, Lysychansk, Popasna and Hirske. He also said that people h volunteered to help despite constant shelling by Russian troops. 

Haidai, who is also he of Luhansk regional military ministration, said that police will escort elderly and less mobile people to buses and also to shelters. He said, “refore, when you see police patrol, do t delay, this is a chance to escape. re are fewer opportunities to evacuate from day to day."

Im: AP