KYIV, Ukraine (AP) — Russian forces have launched a long-expected offensive in eastern Ukraine, the Ukrainian military said Monday, as the war entered a critical new phase and the West rushed to deliver more weapons to help Kyiv defend itself. The offensive in the Donbas region began along a broad front that stretched for hundreds of kilometers, according to Ukrainian officials, with the heaviest fighting reported near the town of Izyum, north of the besieged city of Mariupol. Russian forces have been regrouping in preparation for the offensive for weeks, after failing to capture the capital, Kyiv, and other major cities in the north. The Kremlin has shifted its focus to the Donbas, where Moscow-backed separatists have been fighting Ukrainian forces since 2014. The region is home to a large Russian-speaking population and is also rich in coal and other natural resources. For weeks, Western officials have been predicting that Russia would launch a new offensive in the east, and in recent days the shelling has intensified along the front lines. The Ukrainian military said Monday that Russian forces had launched airstrikes and artillery barrages on several cities in the Donbas, including Kramatorsk, Sloviansk, and Bakhmut. The offensive began just hours after Russian President Vladimir Putin declared victory in Mariupol, where Ukrainian forces have been holding out for weeks at a steel plant that is the last major Ukrainian stronghold in the city. Putin ordered his troops to seal off the plant, rather than storm it, saying he wanted to save the lives of his soldiers. But his declaration of victory in Mariupol was met with skepticism by Western officials, who said that Ukrainian forces were still holding out at the plant. The start of the offensive in the Donbas is a major turning point in the war, which has already killed thousands of people and displaced millions more. The outcome of the battle for the Donbas could determine the fate of Ukraine. If Russia is able to capture the region, it would control a large swath of territory in eastern Ukraine and could potentially cut off Ukraine from the Black Sea. The Ukrainian military said it was determined to defend the Donbas, and Western countries have pledged to provide more weapons to help Kyiv. But the fighting is likely to be fierce, and it is unclear how long it will last. Meanwhile, the humanitarian crisis in Ukraine continues to worsen. The United Nations estimates that more than 10 million people have been displaced within Ukraine, and more than 3 million have fled to neighboring countries. The war has also caused widespread destruction of infrastructure, and many people are without food, water, and electricity. The international community is providing humanitarian aid to Ukraine, but the needs are enormous. The start of the offensive in the Donbas is a major escalation of the war in Ukraine, and it is likely to have a significant impact on the future of the country. The outcome of the battle for the Donbas will determine whether Ukraine is able to maintain its independence or whether it will be forced to cede territory to Russia. Western countries have pledged to provide more weapons to help Ukraine defend itself, but it is unclear whether this will be enough to stop the Russian advance..
Ukraine Latest: Russia Starts Long-Expected Eastern Offensive
