Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has accused Russia of wanting to destroy “every city” in the Donbass region of eastern Ukraine. However, the Ukrainian army is doing everything it can “to stop the attacks of the occupiers”. About 10,000 Ukrainian soldiers have been killed since the Russian invasion in February, according to a presidential aide.
“Russia wants to destroy every city in Donbass, every city, without exaggeration. Like Volnovakha, like Mariupol,” Zelenskyy said in his Friday night video address, looking at two war-torn towns in southern Donbass. Fierce fighting continued on Friday, particularly in eastern Donbass, particularly in the disputed city of Sievarodonetsk in the Luhansk region.
“Syeverodonetsk Monument” Destroyed
According to Governor Serhiy Hajday, Russians destroyed a major sports hall in the city on Friday: “One of the monuments of Sieverodonetsk has been destroyed. The Ice Palace has burned down,” he explained.
In the southern region of Kherson, the Ukrainian army says it has now attacked Russian military positions. The Air Force has launched attacks on equipment and personnel sites and field depots near five towns in the region, the general staff said.
Worries about another referendum
The Kherson region has been almost completely controlled by Russian forces since the early days of the Russian invasion. Kiev fears that Moscow may soon hold a referendum on annexation to Russia, following the example of Crimea, which was annexed in 2014. Ukraine has launched an offensive to retake the territory. The military situation there remains “tense,” the Ukrainian presidential office said.
Up to 100 dead soldiers per day
About 10,000 Ukrainian soldiers have been killed since the Russian invasion in February, according to presidential trust Oleksiy Arestovych. The number fell Friday in one of Arestovychx’s regular YouTube video interviews with Russian opposition figure Mark Feygin.
Defense Minister Oleksiy Reznikov said this week that up to 100 Ukrainian soldiers are currently being killed every day. Arestovych also said that on the Ukrainian side, about 100 soldiers died every day, even at the beginning of the war. When Feygin asked if it could be assumed that a total of about 10,000 soldiers were killed, he replied: “Yes, approximately”.
Artillery gains importance
Neither Ukraine nor Russia have so far provided exhaustive information on the casualties in the war that began on February 24. According to Arestovych, more Russian than Ukrainian soldiers are constantly being killed. On Friday, Ukrainian artillery strikes with Western ammunition were particularly efficient, he said, citing the estimate of about 600 Russian soldiers killed.
Calls for more speed in weapon deliveries
In view of this, the Zelenskyj advisor appealed to the West to provide weapons and ammunition much more quickly. The Ukrainian government is very grateful for the aid so far, without which it would probably have been pushed back beyond the Dnieper River. But he doesn’t understand the slowness of the deliveries. In order to repel Russian aggression, Ukraine needs, among other things, more artillery firepower, emphasized Arestovych.
As expected by military experts, artillery plays a bigger role in the fought-over eastern Ukraine than in the repulsed Russian advance towards the capital Kiev.
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.
