Russian forces start battle for Donbas: Ukrainian president

KIEV: APRIL. 19 – Russian forces have begun the battle for the Donbas region, but Ukraine will defend itself, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said in a video address on Monday.

“Now we can say that Russian troops have started the battle for Donbas, for which they have been preparing for a long time. A very large part of the entire Russian army is now focused on this offensive,” Zelensky was quoted as saying by the state-run Ukrinform news agency.