Russians bomb village recaptured by Ukraine
Zelensky accuses occupiers of ‘panic’
We will not just march in.. there’ll be fighting for every centimetre SERHIY GAIDAI GOVERNOR OF LUHANSK PROVINCE
A DEADLY cascade of Russian incendiary shells rains down on a Ukrainian village just days after it was recaptured from the invaders.
The Ukraine Ministry of Defence shared the shocking video of the attack on Ozerne, in the Donetsk region, which was liberated in a counter-offensive.
The footage shows countless shells hitting buildings and lighting up the streets of the village, which had a population of just over 5,000 before the war.
The revenge attack was mounted using 9M22S incendiary rockets, which are designed to create mass fires as well as direct hits. It comes as Ukrainian forces advance eastwards into territory recently abandoned by Russia.
Officials hope this push will pave the way for a potential assault on the invaders in the Donbas region.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said: “The occupiers are clearly in a panic.” He stressed that he is focused on counter-attack.
He may also use a video address to the United Nations today to urge countries to accelerate the delivery of weapons and aid.
While his forces are moving eastwards, yesterday four areas controlled by
Moscow announced “referendums” on joining Russia. Officials in Donetsk, Luhansk, Kherson and Zaporizhzhia said they wanted the votes – which would lead to Russian annexation – later this month.
But Dmytro Kuleba, Ukraine’s Foreign Minister, said the “sham referendums will not change anything”. His forces are now aiming to retake all of Luhansk province from Russia. However, Luhansk
governor Serhiy
Gaidai warned: “There will be fighting for every centimetre. The enemy is preparing their defence.”
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said he had talks with Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin at a summit in Uzbekistan last week, revealing Putin wants a swift end to the war and that a “significant step” will be made.
Mr Erdogan said: “He is actually showing me he is willing to end this as soon as possible. That was my impression, as the way things are going right now are quite problematic.”