Russia will continue its military operation in Ukraine until all its goals have been achieved, Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said on Friday.
“One of the main goals of the operation is to protect people in the DNR and LNR. Measures have been taken to ensure their protection and certain results have been achieved”, Mr Peskov said, referring to the two breakaway regions of Ukraine controlled by Russian-backed separatists.
Vladimir Putin’s forces are ramping up their offensive in the Donbas region, Volodymyr Zelensky said overnight, as the war in Ukraine entered its 100th day.
“The situation in Donbas has not changed significantly in a day. We had some success in the battles in Sievierodonetsk. But it’s too early to tell. The situation there is the hardest now,” Mr Zelensky said.
He added that the cities and communities nearby – naming Lysychansk and Bakhmut – “are facing a powerful Russian attack”.
“The entire temporarily-occupied territory of our state is now a complete disaster zone, for which Russia bears full responsibility,” Mr Zelensky said.
The Ukrainian president said Russian forces have occupied about 20 per cent of Ukraine’s territory since launching the invasion on 24 February.
