Although Russian forces have recently withdrawn from the greater Kiev area, Chechen ruler Ramzan Kadyrov is still quite confident. Russian forces are launching an offensive not only on the besieged port city of Mariupol, but also on Kiev and other Ukrainian cities, he said via Telegram Monday morning. Meanwhile, Ukraine is preparing for an offensive in the east of the country.
“Luhansk and Donetsk – we will liberate them completely first and then take Kiev and all other cities,” Kadyrov said. The ruler, who often referred to himself as the “foot soldier” of Russian President Vladimir Putin, said there should be no doubt about Kiev. “I assure you we will not step back.”
The Kremlin describes its actions in Ukraine as a “special operation” to demilitarize and “denazify” its neighbor. Russia stepped up its attacks on eastern Ukraine on Sunday. Russia is deploying pro-Russian separatists from eastern Ukraine and the feared troops of Chechen ruler Kadyrov in the fighting.
Governor: ‘Cities can be completely destroyed’
Meanwhile, Ukrainian authorities have stepped up their warnings of a major Russian offensive in the east of the country. “Russian troops will engage in even bigger operations in the east of our state,” Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said on Sunday evening. “The battle for Donbass will last several days and in those days our cities could be completely destroyed,” Ukrainian governor of the Luhansk region, Serhiy Gaiday, said on Facebook.
“We are preparing for their actions. We will respond,” Gajdaj said, referring to the expected attacks as Ukrainian troops dug new trenches along the frontline to pro-Russian separatist areas and blocked roads with mines and anti-tank obstacles.
Fear of attack prevents escape
Meanwhile, at least two people were killed in artillery shelling on the city of Kharkov on Sunday, according to Ukrainian sources. The day before, ten civilians in the region were killed in bombings.
According to reports, many remaining residents of eastern Ukraine are afraid to move west after the attack on the Kramatorsk Gajdaj train station. A total of 57 people were killed in the rocket attack on Friday, according to new information from Ukrainian authorities.
“Destroy everything that stands in your way”
“Sometimes we beg them to come out of hiding because we know what’s coming,” Gajdaj said of the authorities’ evacuation efforts. He warned that Russian troops will destroy “anything that stands in their way”.
The Russian Defense Ministry has denied responsibility for the attack on Kramatorsk. On Sunday, it accused Ukrainians and the West of perpetrating “outrageous and ruthless” provocations and killing civilians in Luhansk.
Propaganda blame for atrocities
Meanwhile, Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba warned on Twitter that “Russian propaganda” had “prepared the way for these atrocities” such as those in Bucha or Kramatorsk. Hundreds of bodies were found in Bucha and other suburbs of Kiev after Russia’s withdrawal in recent days.
However, in an interview with American broadcaster NBC, Kuleba confirmed that he was still open to negotiations. “If a meeting with the Russians will help me avoid at least one massacre like in Bucha or another attack like in Kramatorsk, then I must seize this opportunity,” he said.
Source: Krone
I’m Wayne Wickman, a professional journalist and author for Today Times Live. My specialty is covering global news and current events, offering readers a unique perspective on the world’s most pressing issues. I’m passionate about storytelling and helping people stay informed on the goings-on of our planet.
