Ukraine’s Donbus “hell” under Russian pressure warns Zelensky

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KYIV / SLATYNE — Ukraine’s industrial Donbus region, the focus of recent Russian attacks, has been destroyed, President Volodymyr Zelensky said some of the world’s wealthiest countries will strengthen Kyiv for billions of dollars He said he promised that.

Since moving away from the Ukrainian capital, Russia has used a large amount of artillery and armor to try to occupy more territory of Donbas, which consists of the Donetsk and Luhansk regions that Moscow claims on behalf of the separatists. is.

“The occupiers are trying to put more pressure on it. It’s hell-and it’s not an exaggeration,” Zelensky said in a late Thursday speech.

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“There are constant strikes in the Odesa region in (some) a city in central Ukraine. Donbus was completely destroyed,” he said.

Moscow calls the invasion a “special military operation” to eliminate fascists from Ukraine, claiming that Kieu and his western allies are an unfounded excuse for unprovoked war.

Russia has stepped up its attacks and assault operations in Donetsk, Ukrainian military staff said.

Five civilians were killed in Donetsk on Thursday, according to regional governor Pavlo Kyrylenko. “The enemy is destroying all civil infrastructure, even relatively far from the front lines,” he told local television.

Reuters could not confirm the information immediately. Moscow has denied targeting civilians.

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Last week Russia won the biggest victory since the invasion began. Kieu has announced that he has ordered the Garrison Army of the Mariupol steelworks to evict after a long siege of the city.

However, Russian troops were pushed back this month from the outskirts of the second largest city, Kharkiv. Ukraine states that it has regained 23 settlements near Kharkiv in the last two weeks.

As the aggression approached three months, a group of seven rich countries agreed to provide Ukraine with $ 18.4 billion to pay its invoice. Ukraine said this money accelerated its victory over Russia and was as important as “the weapon you provide.”

US Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen told reporters: We will put together the resources they need to overcome this. “

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Earlier Thursday, Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal said on Twitter: “Partner support will accelerate our victory … Despite Russia’s efforts to destroy our economy, we will win together. Probably! “

The United States also said it has approved $ 100 million in additional weapons, equipment and supplies for Ukraine. Officials said the White House is working to put advanced anti-ship missiles in the hands of Ukrainian fighters to help defeat Russia’s naval blockade.

Also, as a further sign of Western action damaging the Russian economy, five foreign vice presidents of Russia’s Rosneft have banned European citizens or Russians living in the EU from working for oil companies in EU sanctions. Resigned because of.

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The EU said it is considering ways to use Russia’s Oligarch’s frozen assets to fund the reconstruction of Ukraine, but the United States has ruled out the possibility of imposing sanctions on countries that buy Russian oil. Not done.

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However, the Western division has also been exhibited with the NATO member Turkey, which opposes Sweden and Finland joining the alliance.

Ankara has accused two Scandinavian states of Kurdish militants, but said US President Joe Biden and European leaders are confident that Turkey’s concerns can be addressed. ..

“I think we’re okay,” Biden told reporters, welcoming Swedish Prime Minister Magdalena Anderson and Finnish President Sauli Niinistö at the White House.

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“We condemn all forms of terrorism and are actively fighting the war on terror,” Niinistö said, adding that Finland is committed to Turkey’s security.

In Mariupol, the end result of Europe’s bloodiest battle for decades remains uncertain, and the fate of hundreds of Ukrainian defenders is uncertain.

Moscow said Thursday that 1,730 Ukrainian fighters, including 771 in the last 24 hours, have surrendered so far.

Ukrainian officials seeking prisoner exchange declined to comment, saying they could jeopardize rescue operations. Late Thursday, Subia Toslav Paramar, deputy director of the Azov Battalion defending the steelworks, released an 18-second video stating that he and the other commanders were still on the territory of the factory.

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“A specific operation is being done, but we won’t reveal the details,” he said.

The Swiss-based International Committee of the Red Cross has said it has registered hundreds of prisoners from Russia’s current factories, but has not disclosed the exact number.

Russian-backed separatist leaders who control the area said that nearly half of the fighters were ironworks where underground bunkers and tunnels protected them from Russian artillery for weeks. Said he remained in.

“More than half have their arms crossed,” Denis Pushilin told Solobyov Live Internet TV Channel.

He said the injured were treated and the healthy were taken to exile and well treated.

Russia has denied agreeing to exchange prisoners. Moscow calls the Azov Battalion, which has a far-right origin, the Nazis, and says its members must be prosecuted for crimes.

(Reports by Natalia Ginets and Max Hander of Kyiv, Reuters journalists in Mariupol’s, additional reports by the Reuters Bureau, written by Costas Pitas, edited by Hugh Lawson and Daniel Wallis)