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Ukraine: Russia attacks Donbas, but fails to seize target area. PHOTO/TASS
“Russia is trying to seize the Lyman region in Donetsk and Sievierodonetsk, as well as Popasna in Luhansk,” the General Staff of the Ukrainian Armed Forces said in a daily report. “It didn’t work – the fighting continues,” he continued.
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After failing to capture Kiev in a nine-week offensive that has turned the city into rubble, killed thousands and forced 5 million Ukrainians to flee abroad, Russia is now focused on eastern and southern Ukraine.
Moscow hopes to take full control of the eastern Donbas region consisting of Luhansk and Donetsk, which was already partly controlled by Russian-backed separatists before the invasion. Moscow said on Saturday that its artillery units had struck 389 Ukrainian targets overnight.
Meanwhile, Serhiy Gaidai, the governor of Luhansk, told Ukrainian public television that Russia was shelling the whole area. “But they couldn’t penetrate our defence. Civilians will continue to be evacuated despite the difficult situation,” Gaidai said.
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Gaidai also said two schools and 20 homes were destroyed by Russian attacks on Friday in Rubizhne and Popasna, both in Luhansk. There are also reports of attacks in places outside of the Donbas.
Mykola Khanatov, Head of Military Administration in Popasna, said two buses sent to evacuate civilians from the city were fired upon by Russian forces on Friday and there was no word from the drivers. He did not say how many people were on the bus.
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