Battle for the Donbas begins as Russia launches major offensive

Russian forces advanced on towns and villages in eastern Ukraine on Monday as Kyiv warned a new phase in the war had begun.

Volodmyr Zelensky vowed his forces would defend the Donbas “no matter how many Russian soldiers” were sent by Vladimir Putin.

Kyiv said the Russians were attacking the Kharkiv and Donetsk regions in earnest as they sought to establish “full control”.

“We can now confirm that Russian troops have begun the battle for the Donbas, which they have been preparing for a long time. A large part of the Russian army is now dedicated to this”, Mr Zelensky announced on Monday night.

“No matter how many Russian soldiers are brought here, we will fight. We will defend ourselves.”

Ukraine’s General Staff said Russian forces appeared to be trying to pin down Ukrainian forces at Slobozhansky near Kharkiv while unsuccessfully trying to gain ground near Izyum.

Earlier, Serhiy Haidai, governor of the Donetsk region, said Russian forces had taken control of the villages of Kremenaya and Lugashchnine, both northwest of the town of Severodonetsk. “Evacuation from there is already impossible,” he wrote on Telegram early in the morning. Residents of Luhansk were warned that this was their last chance to evacuate.