Russian forces focus on eastern Donbas region | DW News

Heavy fighting has been reported in and around the industrial city of Severodonetsk - where the regional governor says at least 12 people have been killed in shelling. Moscow says it will continue its offensive until it achieves its goals.

00:00 Russia steps up attacks on eastern Donbas
01:53 Russian firepower in Kramatorsk
04:51 Governor of Luhansk Oblast, Serhiy Haidai
05:47 Why are some people not evacuating?

Governor of Luhansk Oblast: Chances for citizens' evacuation 'are getting less and less'

"The chances [of evacuating citizens from Severodonetsk and Lysychansk] are getting less and less because the road is under fire. … We have been able to evacuate more than 40,000 people so far. Many left on their own. Those who remain in their houses are doing so exclusively at their own will," Serhiy Volodymyrovych Haidai, the governor of Luhansk Oblast in Ukraine, told DW.

"We are evacuating people but we do not deport people. But whenever there are people who want to leave we will evacuate them. Even if there are just ten people who want to leave we will try to take them out. They are our citizens. They are Ukrainians," the governor said. On allegations that Ukrainian authorities are abandoning the last two cities under Ukrainian control in Luhansk Oblast: "If we continue to evacuate them, if doctors are still working there, if we continue supplying them with drinking water, who can say that we have abandoned them? … The people who are staying there are exposing everybody to danger: themselves and the people who keep bringing them water, medicine and food."

Haidai: "We are witnessing the Russian army completely destroying Sievierodonetsk. They are shelling the whole place and they don't care whether there are civilians or whether there is a hospital or a school. They are destroying all the buildings."

The governor said the region is in need of more weapons: "Long-range artillery is what we are lacking most. We need howitzers, artillery and self-propelled systems like the French Caesar howitzers or the M777 from America. These are needed to keep the enemy at a distance and to beat them."
On whether military tactics in the regions endanger civilians, Haidai said: "We will defend ourselves. This is our land. If a city is a fortress, we will use this fortress militarily. Unfortunately the Russians don't allow civilians to leave. What shall we do? Give up? No Ukrainian will ever give up."

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[atrain]

I think the older you get, the harder it is to leave wherever you are. And this horrible war is another level of pain. My heart goes out to all Ukrainians, young and old! May a peaceful and free future await you!

[IrenESorius]

Eternal glory to those who stands up against tyranny, , 🇸🇪💖🇺🇦

[ademuyiwaoyerinde]

It is sad that a peaceful country like Ukraine is being attacked by Russian wickedness. Ukraine should understand that Russia has withdrawn from other regions to concentrate on one city at a time now because they believe since they were able to succeed in taking Mariupol, they can keep using that strategy on other cities one by one, hence the focus on Donbas. If they succeed on that region, they will move to another. Ukrainian soldiers should push them back massively now. May God help them.

[lucianoosorio]

You got this Ukraine. Don’t give and never surrender. Fight for your country. We are with you. Slava Ukraini.

[kiwibob]

We must stand by Ukraine.
As long as it take, as much as it costs us, they are today fighting a monster we helped create.
Slava Ukraini.

[michelledean]

I can't imagine being a victim of an unprovoked war. My heart goes out to all of you in Ukraine. 🇱🇷🇱🇷❤️❤️🇺🇦🇺🇦

[grahamsawyer]

as always, I feel most for the civilian occupants; it is they who always pay the price for the politicians' tough talk and egocentric posturing, broadcast to the world from so very far away. this current conflict is truly dreadful - seems almost as if it has picked up where things stopped in '45. God help us all if that's where we're heading, hardly anyone alive now (me included) knows the true depths plumbed in those times. hope I haven't offended anybody, I am not much given to posting comments on YouTube but I just had to write something.

[arapsorelimo]

The Governor is right, 3 months through war and people don't want to leave Imgn

[anni]

Henry Kissinger could not carry out any reasonable US policy towards the USSR, and now he advised Ukraine to fail by changing its land for peace? Next year, will Kissinger advise giving Alaska to Putin to achieve more peace in 2023, and give up Jerusalem of Israel to achieve peace in the Middle East in 2024?

[erichall]

It is unfair for one side is allowed the privileged of destroying lives and property while their lives and properties remains safe. Supply the Ukrainian with the weapons to inflict the necessary hurt where it matters.

[jilmhebel]

Ukrainians, we already know how brave you are but being stubborn and staying in combat areas is just madness. Cities can be rebuilt, possessions replaced, but if you lose your life, that's it -- it's all over.

[Maplelust]

their "goals" keep changing when they fail. like when they lost in kiyv they said "oh we were not actually trying to take kiyv. "

[acslater]

I love the delivery style of this secretive librarian

[ralphraffles]

It is sad the West has been so slow in supplying heavy weapons.

[jameswyre]

Mathias B. did indeed do a fine sum-up there as a tribute to the good work of the Ukrainian govt and military trying to convince civilians they face something worse than they ever imagined. And good work in general on reporting this entire war for the whole DW staff, as an American they are my go-to major media source for European affairs. More depth than BBC and often way more than American media. The semipro Youtubers have done very well also.

[dotman]

As long as there are Ukraine people, there will be success. Slava, Ukraine!

[bvideoz]

"Thank you", dear Germans for NOT supplying Ukraine with heavy weaponry when it needed them 2 months ago 😡

[opporancisis]

Keep on fighting Ukraine 💪🇺🇦 democracy will always overcome weak dictatorships 🇲🇱🇺🇸🇪🇺👍

[chriscoates]

It's such a concern

I hope Ukraine can get what they need to push back and make the difference 🙏 Bless

[henrysantos]

In God we trust .we stand with Ukraine.🙏.
God always going to stand with motherland of Ukraine
Please God keeps protect all soldier and citizens in Ukraine