Zelenskyy praises ‘heroic defence’ of Sievierodonetsk

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said late Tuesday that “the absolutely heroic defence of the Donbas continues.”

In his nightly video address, he claimed that Russian forces have made no significant advances in the eastern Donbas region over the past day.

This conflicts Russian claims that it has “completely liberated” areas around Sievierodonetsk, a key strategic city in the battle for the Donbas.

Zelenskyy says the Russians clearly did not expect to meet so much resistance and are now trying to bring in additional troops and equipment. This is also the case in the southern Kherson region, which Russian troops occupied early in the war, the Ukrainian leader claimed. 

In the video, Zelenskyy also said that Ukraine plans to release a special “Book of Executioners” next week with confirmed information about war crimes committed by the Russian army. Those named will include not only those who carried out war crimes but their commanders.

(AP)