Russia-Ukraine: The main battle takes place in Donbas
KYIV, Ukraine –
Ukraine’s deputy security minister said on Friday that the main battles in Ukraine are taking place in Donbas, the industrial heartland to the east, with the Russians deploying more and more troops every day.
Oleksiy Danilov, secretary of Ukraine’s National Security and Defense Council, told the Associated Press that more than 100,000 troops are fighting for Russia in Ukraine, including mercenaries from Syria and Libya. He said that more troops kept coming.
“We are in a difficult situation, but our troops are defending our state,” said Danilov.
He called the Donetsk, Luhansk and Kharkiv regions the main flashpoints of the fighting. Battles are also taking place in southern Ukraine, but with less intensity, he said.
Some 12 to 14 elite Russian military units have left the strategic garrison city of Mariupol, which was declared “liberated” by the Kremlin on Thursday, and are now moving east of the country to join fought there, said Danilov.
“Now it will be very difficult for our forces, because our people in Mariupol have taken care of themselves (those units), that is their courage and their feats,” said Danilov.
He said Ukraine can deliver weapons to Azovstal, the last stronghold of Ukrainian forces in Mariupol, by helicopter at night.
“They go there at night with great risk,” said Danilov. “When these flights leave and they ask them what they have to fill up the helicopters ΓǪ they say – fully loaded them with weapons.”
Mr. Danilov called on Western countries to speed up the delivery of weapons to his country, because “of course, we cannot compare with Russia in strength”. He said supplies should be increased so that “we can end this war on our territory as soon as possible.”
If the war continues, Ukraine can mobilize 2.5 million to 3 million people to fight, Mr. Danilov said. “If necessary, our people will join the army and take up arms,” he said.
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