Russia has started the battle for Donbass, President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy said in his evening speech. He confirmed the information of the Ukrainian General Staff and the Security Council that the Russians are trying to launch an offensive in eastern Ukraine.
Volodymyr Zelensky stressed that Russia had been preparing for an offensive in Donbas for a long time. Now, as he added, one can observe its beginning. As he noted, “the Russian army began the battle for Donbass.” According to him, the Russians concentrated most of their army to carry out this offensive. Volodymyr Zelensky assured that Ukraine will fight and defend itself no matter how many troops Russia sends.
Zelensky noted that in the east and south of the Ukrainian state, the invaders have recently tried to attack a little more rationally than before. He pointed out that they were pushing, looking for a weak spot in the defense of the country in order to strike there with the main forces.
– Apparently, Russian generals, accustomed to not counting losses, have already lost so many Russian soldiers that even they have to be more careful, because they have no one else to attack. However, don’t count on it to help them, it’s only a matter of time before the entire territory of our state is liberated,” Zelensky said.
The President expressed gratitude to all Ukrainian soldiers, to all hero cities who hold out and protect the fate of the entire state, stopping the forces of the invaders.
– Rubizhne, Popasnaya, Zolote, Lisichansk, Severodonetsk, Kramatorsk and all the others that have been with Ukraine all these years and forever, – the president added.
Earlier, Secretary of the Security and Defense Council Oleksiy Danilov said that the Russian invaders want to stop the Ukrainian defense on almost the entire territory of the front line. This was done in two places, including in the Kremennaya Luhansk region. According to the Secretary of the Security Council, the Russians have set themselves the goal of occupying the entire Lugansk and Donetsk regions by Orthodox Easter, that is, by April 24.
Huge loss
To date, the Russian invasion has damaged or destroyed almost 30 percent. Ukrainian road infrastructure. The Ukrainian side estimates the losses incurred here at $100 billion, said Infrastructure Minister Oleksandr Kubakov, adding that global damage – from road infrastructure to houses and other buildings – has now reached $500 billion.
The invasion launched by Russia in February affected 20 to 30 percent. the entire road infrastructure of Ukraine is damaged to varying degrees. According to Kubakov, more than 300 bridges on national roads and more than 8,000 bridges have been damaged. km of roads are in need of repair or reconstruction. “Dozens of railway bridges” were blown up.
“Practically all elements of our transport infrastructure have been affected in one form or another,” Kubakov told Reuters. However, in his opinion, the destruction can be restored in two years at the expense of frozen Russian assets.