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Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said Russian forces had “completely destroyed” the Ukrainian Donbas region as Moscow intensified its offensive to the east.
During an address in the late hours of May 19, Zelensky also accused Russian forces of trying to kill as many Ukrainians as possible and cause as much damage as possible, reiterating allegations that Russia was committing genocide.
“There is hell – and this is not an exaggeration,” he said, adding that 12 people had been killed “in the brutal and absolutely meaningless bombing” of Severodonjeck on May 19.
There are “ongoing airstrikes in the Odessa region, in cities in central Ukraine. “Donbas is completely destroyed,” he said.
The British Ministry of Defense said on May 20 that Russia is likely to intensify its operations in the Donbas region after securing the city of Maariupol.
Russia launched its invasion of Ukraine on February 24, and after failing to take control of Kiev and other key cities in the first weeks, Moscow concentrated its offensive in the eastern Donbas region.
In updated data on the war in Ukraine, British military intelligence said that almost 1,700 Ukrainian soldiers had left the Azovstal steel plant in Mariupol.
Russia said on Thursday that 1,730 Ukrainian soldiers had been “surrendered” to Azovstal. Ukraine has said it wants to exchange prisoners, but has not commented further on the issue, arguing that it could jeopardize rescue efforts.
Zelensky said that on May 19 he spoke with British Prime Minister Boris Johnson and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen about a range of issues, including financial assistance to Ukraine’s shattered economy, agricultural exports and “the evacuation of our heroes.” from Azovstali ”.
The International Committee of the Red Cross has announced that it has begun registering Ukrainian fighters who have left Azovstal as prisoners of war.
All the fighters who left Azovstal have reportedly been transferred to territories in eastern Ukraine controlled by pro-Russian separatists. It is still unclear how many soldiers are in the factory, but the city of Mariupol is now under Russian control.
The fighters in Azovstal were the last resistance in Mariupol destroyed by Russian bombing. Ukraine ordered the fighters to hand over their weapons and leave the factory.
The United Nations has called on Russia and Ukraine to work together to end the siege and facilitate the evacuation.
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