Russia-Ukraine conflict: Volodymyr Zelenskyy says Donbas situation 'extremely difficult'

Russia continues to wage war on Ukraine, focusing its offensive on the southern and eastern territories that already have pro-Russian separatists. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said that the ongoing fighting in the Donbas region is “extremely difficult.”

Russia launched its new offensive by bombarding the eastern region of Donbas as Moscow looks to seize the territory that makes up Luhansk and Donetsk as Moscow claims the area through pro-Russia separatists.

Zelenskyy said that what is happening in the Donbas region is “extremely difficult.”

Should Russia capture the twin cities of Severodonetsk and Lysychansk close to the Siyverskyi Donets river, it would give Moscow control of Luhansk. However, because the focus is on one small city, it would leave the door open for counterstrikes from Ukraine.

Kyiv said Ukrainian troops have pushed back on Russian forces in Andriyivka, Lozove, and Bilohorka, which are villages on the southern bank of the Inhulets river that make up the border of the Ukrainian province of Kherson, where Moscow is trying to take control.

Zelenskyy said Russian forces bombarded the northeastern area of Kharkiv ag/ain Monday, including the border area of Sumy that was hit from within Russia.

While Russian forces have bombarded Severodonetsk to ruins, Ukrainian forces effectively stalled Moscow’s offensive across the Donbas region.

Luhansk governor Serhiy Gaidai said Russian troops advanced into the southeastern and northeastern parts of Severodonetsk but were driven out of the southern village of Toshivka, which could derail Moscow’s push to surround the area. Gaidai said Russian troops “use the same tactics over and over again” until they breakthrough.

In a report by Al Jazeera, Lithuanians crowdfunded $5.4 million to purchase an advanced military drone for Ukraine in a show of solidarity as Kyiv continues to push back against Moscow.

In three and a half days, Lithuanians raised beyond its target of five million euros or $5.4 million to purchase a Byraktar TB2 unmanned aerial vehicle from Turkey.

“In just 3.5 days, people of Lithuania raised 5 million euros to buy Byraktar drone for Ukraine in a crowdfunding initiative,” the Lithuanian government shared on Twitter.

Lithuanian TV broadcaster Laisves TV, who launched the fundraiser, said it would transfer the funds to the country’s defense ministry to buy the drone and the needed ammunition.