Battle for Donbas begins as Ukraine progresses its EU campaign

Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskyy says the 'battle for the Donbas' has begun and vows his country's troops will fight as Russia launches an attack on the country's east. In Ukraine's west, in Lviv, at least seven people have been killed in missile strikes.

Ukraine's answers to the European Union questionnaire on Ukraine's application to join the EU. Source: AAP

In recent weeks, Russia declared the capture of the Donbas would be its main goal of the war after its attempt to storm Kyiv failed.

Ukrainian Defence Ministry spokesman  Colonel Oleksandr Motuzyanyk named the regions of the most intense hostilities, and gave an update about the military situation in Ukraine.

"The occupier is preparing for an offensive in eastern Ukraine to establish complete control over the Donetsk and Luhansk regions' territory and ensure the stability of the land corridor with the occupied territory of the Crimea Autonomous Republic. So far, the aggressor has almost completed the regrouping of military troops to conduct an offensive in the eastern operational zone. The strengthening of the offensive group is due to the transfer of additional Russian military units."

On the same day as the intenisfied attacks, President Zelenskyy handed to the E-U envoy in Kyiv  a completed European Union questionnaire in support of its application for membership to the bloc.

Mr Zelenskyy says it was the first step in his campaign to obtain accelerated membership to the European Union.

 

Download the free SBS Radio app to listen live and on-demand or explore podcasts.

https://podfollow.com/sbs-japanese

Visit our Facebook for more Japanese stories and images.