Zelenskyy: Capturing Sievierodonetsk is 'fundamental task' for Russia as war enters day 96

As Russia-Ukraine war continues to escalate for 96th day, embattled President, Volodymyr Zelenskyy claimed that Ukrainian military has been doing everything possible to push back Russian troops from Sievierodonetsk, a city in Luhansk Oblast of Ukraine. During a nightly video dress to citizen on May 29, Ukrainian President said, “Capturing Sievierodonetsk is a fundamental task for occupying contingent. And y do t care how many lives y will have to pay for this attempt to raise Russian flag on 32 Druzhby Narodiv boulevard (Friendship of Nations - ed.) - matter how bitter name sounds w - where Sievierodonetsk ministration is located.” 

Zelenskyy also ted that entire key infrastructure of Sievierodonetsk city has alrey been destroyed due to Russian strikes. As per President, 90% of homes have been wrecked, over two-thirds of city's housing stock has been demolished and  mobile service is available as relentless shelling is taking place. 

'We are doing everything to repel this offensive': Zelenskyy

Assuring that Ukrainian troops are doing ir best to defend ir country, Zelenskyy said: "We are doing everything to repel this offensive". Furr, he went on to say that re was t a single day when y did t strive to discover new weaponry, more sophisticated weapons, to defend country and its people. He n expressed gratitude to everyone who stood up for Sievierodonetsk and showed invers that peace is still possible, "in all our state, in all Donbas and of course - in Sievierodonetsk". 

In dition to this, Zelenskyy ded that Sievierodonetsk was going to celebrate its 'city day' on Sunday like Kyiv, but Russia got too close. He also highlighted, “It (Russians) gared too many forces in our Donbas. It was too prepared for offensive re. I consider it very symbolic that Russian military began attempt to capture Sievierodonetsk by entering a hotel called 'Myr' (Peace). Peace is indeed Russia's first target".  

In dress, Ukraine's President emphasised that invers intend to seize everything else, practically everything, after acquiring peace in Ukraine in 2014. Russians, he argues, do t intend to leave Ukrainians with any freedom, houses, or lives. 

Sievierodonetsk was being bombed “200 times an hour”, says official

Meanwhile, as Moscow moves close to largest city still controlled by Ukraine in Donbas region, authorities in eastern Ukraine reported that Russian bombardment of Sievierodonetsk has been so fierce that it has been impossible to determine deaths and dam. 

On Sunday, Serhiy Haidai, goverr of Luhansk region, also informed that, " situation has extremely escalated", Guardian reported. According to witnesses, city was being bombarded "200 times an hour" as Russian troops tried to cut off supply routes and encircle city's surviving defenders. 

Furrmore, Oleksandr Striuk, mayor of Sievierodonetsk, warned that inhabitants who remained in city, which h a pre-war population of roughly 100,000, risked being shelled when y left ir homes to get water, Associated Press reported. According to Striuk, 1,500 civilians have perished as a result of Russian assaults or a short of medication and ailments that could t be cured. 

(Im: AP)