Goal of Russian troops to capture Donbas, southern Ukraine

President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky has said that the goal of Russian troops is to capture Donbas and southern Ukraine.

“What is the purpose of the Russian troops? They want to capture both Donbas and the south of Ukraine. What is our goal? Defend us, our freedom, our land and people. Do everything to defend,” he said on the night of Saturday to Sunday in a traditional video message.

Zelensky said: we are “strengthening the defense in the eastern direction and in the Donbas. We realize that the enemy has reserves to increase pressure in the east.”

“Our heroic Mariupol continues to hold a significant part of the enemy forces. Thanks to this resistance, thanks to the courage and resilience of our other cities, Ukraine got valuable time. The time that allows breaking the tactics of the enemy and weakening its abilities,” Zelensky said.

He also said that “our defenders continue to regain control over the communities of Kyiv and Chernihiv regions. More and more Ukrainian national flags in areas that were temporarily occupied. The armed forces of Ukraine do not let the invaders go without a fight. They inflict fire damage.”