Volodimir Zelensky about the battle for Donbas: "Painful and difficult"
The Ukrainian President Volodimir Zelenski underlined that his army was engaged in a "painful and difficult" battle against Russian forces in the eastern Donbas region, where the town of Bahmut is located, Agerpres reports.
"I would like to pay a special tribute to the courage, strength and endurance of the soldiers fighting in Donbas," Zelensky was quoted as saying in his daily statement on Sunday, adding that it was "one of the most difficult battles. Painful and difficult."
Although its strategic importance is disputed by experts, Bahmut has become a symbol of the struggle for control of the Donbas industrial region, which includes Luhansk and Donetsk. Russia annexed it without ever having taken full control of it.
Volodimir Zelenski also thanked Ukrainian soldiers, who "repelled assaults, destroyed the occupier, weakened enemy positions and logistics and protected our borders and cities". "I thank the entire army, guards, border guards who defend our state around Bahmut, Vugledar, Avdiivka, Siversk, Svatove, Liman and Zaporijie," he added.
The Russian army has suffered enormous losses in the battle for the eastern Ukrainian city of Bahmut, Ukrainian Defence Minister Oleksii Reznikov also told German daily Bild, quoted by dpa.
