Movements in Kharkiv and Donetsk
Ukraine: Russia launches offensive in east
04/18/2022, 7:57 p.m
A major Russian attack on eastern Ukraine has been expected for weeks. Kyiv is now reporting advances in the Kharkiv and Donetsk regions. The governor of the Luhansk region speaks of street fighting.
According to the Ukrainian general staff, Russia has started the expected offensive in the east of the neighboring country. “Indications of the start of the offensive in the Eastern Operational Zone are being identified,” the General Staff said in Kyiv. The Kharkiv and Donetsk regions were highlighted. Advances towards Barvinkove and Sloviansk in the Donetsk region are expected from Izyum in the Kharkiv region. Fighting for the port city of Mariupol also continued.
The governor of the Luhansk region, Serhiy Hajday, also spoke of Russian attacks. “The control of the city of Kreminna has just been lost. Street fights are taking place.” It is no longer possible to evacuate the small town. “The situation is getting worse every hour.” In Kreminna about 4,000 of the 18,000 inhabitants before the war are said to be still holding out. There was also heavy fighting around the cities of Rubishne and Popasna.
The Ukrainian presidential adviser Oleksiy Arestovych had previously informed about Russian advances in the direction of Hulyaipole in the Zaporizhia region in the south-east. Around 10,000 Russian soldiers are said to be in action. The Russian war of aggression on the neighboring country has been going on for more than seven weeks.