Kyiv തോടെ As the fourth month of military action in Ukraine enters, Russia begins a fierce struggle to gain control of eastern Ukraine. Heavy attacks continue in the twin cities of the Donbass region, Severodonetsk and Lysyhansk. It is an attempt to isolate these cities and encircle Ukrainian fighters. If these cities are captured, Russia will have full control of the Luhansk region.
The Ukrainian military says 14 people have been killed in the attack. Many parts of the city are deserted. Refugee flows continue in the aftermath of the attack. Russia says a ceasefire is not even possible to evacuate people from the war zone without easing Western sanctions.
The process of granting Russian citizenship to the people of the occupied territories of Ukraine was expedited. Russian citizenship and passports are also issued to those in pro-Russian rebel-held areas in the Donetsk and Luhansk regions.
Russia says it is ready to pave the way for ships carrying food from Ukraine as a solution to the crisis caused by the inability to export food. It was also reported that the port of Mariupol was reopened after the landmines were removed.
Bartholomew Patriarch, President of the Russian Orthodox Church in Athens, has said that the Russian Orthodox Church, which supported the Ukrainian occupation, has hurt Orthodox believers around the world.
English Summary: Russia launches new assault on eastern Ukraine towns