The Kremlin has turned its focus back to Donbas—including the capital city Kyiv—as Russian troops failed to overcome the Ukrainian army in the North.
Taking a full-blown offensive stance, the troops are working to seize control of Donbas, a region with Ukraine’s best military grouping. Ukrainian soldiers are determined to defend the Donbas.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said, “Just as the Russian troops are destroying Mariupol, they want to wipe out other cities and communities in the Donetsk and Luhansk regions.”
Shelling kills 18 in Kharkiv
Zelensky, on Sunday, spoke about Kharkiv where 18 people have been killed and more than 100 people wounded in the past four days of shelling.
Russia denies the accusations of targeting and attacking civilians.
Lviv
According to the Ukrainian authorities, missiles struck the western city of Lviv on Monday, killing six. Explosions rocked other cities as Russian forces continued their bombardments after claiming near-full control of the southern port of Mariupol.
Mariupol: The last stand
Focusing on the southern port city of Ukraine, Mariupol has paid off well for Russia. The country almost completely controls the city now, following two months of fighting.
From intense shelling to the civilian death toll, Mariupol has taken the maximum damage of the war. The capture of this port city would be the biggest win for Russia since the beginning of the war.
On Sunday, Ukrainian Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal said their troops stood their ground despite Russia’s demand to surrender the city by dawn.
“The city still has not fallen,” the Prime Minister told ABC's ‘This Week' program, adding that Ukrainian soldiers are still controlling some parts of Mariupol.
Russia’s interest in Mariupol
Capturing southeastern city Mariupol will give Russia a great upper hand as the port city links the annexed Crimean Peninsula and Ukraine's Donbas region—giving Russian troops a direct and easy link to Ukraine.
