The President of Ukraine, Vladimir Zalansky, referred tonight (light to Tuesday) to the second phase of the Russian invasion of his country and said that the battle for the Donbass region has begun.
"Now we can say that the Russian military forces have started the battle for Donbas, for which they have been preparing for a long time. No matter how many soldiers they send there, we will fight. We will not give up any part of Ukraine and anything that belongs to us," the president said.
Last night, more than an hour before the expiration of the ultimatum issued by the Russian army to the fortified Ukrainian defenders in the besieged city of Mariupol to surrender, the Russian Air Force launched a heavy bombardment on the Azobestal steel plant, where the Ukrainian fighters are located.
Heavy strategic bombers of the "Topolov 22" model dropped bombs on the areas of the huge steel plant used by the Ukrainian forces.
At the same time, Russian cannons and tanks opened fire at the defenders' positions.
The attack began after Mariopol's adviser Petro Adryuchenko rejected the ultimatum the Russians had issued to the fighters and said the Ukrainians would continue to defend the city.
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