It is complete hell in Donbas, says Zelensky

PRESIDENT Volodymyr Zelensky has said the Donbas region in the east of the country has been ‘completely destroyed’.

His grim assessment came after weeks of Russia focusing its attacks in this area, having failed to capture the capital Kyiv.

He added in an address to the nation: ‘It is hell there – and that is not an exaggeration.’

Russia continued to bombard the region from land and by air yesterday and claims to be close to securing the territory.

Two parts of the Donbas – Luhansk and Donetsk – have been partially controlled for the last few years by separatist groups loyal to Russia.

Yesterday Russian defence minister Sergei Shoigu said the ‘liberation of the Luhansk People’s Republic’ would be completed soon.

He added that almost 2,000 Ukrainians had surrendered from the besieged Azovstal steelworks in Mariupol. The complete capture of the city is an important strategic victory for Russia in an otherwise faltering campaign, as it creates a land bridge to the illegally annexed Crimea Peninsula that it seized in 2014.

Vladimir Putin’s forces can now fully focus on trying to secure the mineral-rich industrial Donbas. British military intelligence yesterday cast doubt on Russia’s ability to wage an effective war across the area.

The Ministry of Defence wrote on Twitter: ‘Russian commanders are under pressure to demonstrably achieve operational objectives. That means Russia will probably redistribute their forces swiftly without adequate preparation, which risks further force attrition.’