KIEV: In a video speech, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky stated that Russian soldiers have begun the battle for the Donbas region, but Ukraine will defend itself.

"We can now claim that Russian troops have begun the long-awaited struggle for Donbas. A significant portion of the Russian army is currently devoted to this offensive "The state-run Ukrinform news agency quoted Zelensky as saying. "We will fight no matter how many Russian forces are sent there," he added.

According to reports, Russian forces in Ukraine's east and south have been trying to strike a little more systematically than previously, looking for a weak place in the country's defence to go there with the major forces.

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