Ukrainian president: Russia’s large-scale offensive in eastern Ukraine has started

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on Monday night said Russia’s large-scale offensive in the eastern Donbas region had begun.

“We can now confirm that Russian troops have begun the battle for the Donbas, which they have been preparing for a long time. A large part of the Russian army is now dedicated to this offensive,” he said on Telegram.

“No matter how many Russian soldiers are brought here, we will fight. We will defend ourselves.”

Fighting has intensified in eastern Ukraine after Russia withdrew troops from the region around the capital Kyiv and refocused its efforts on the Donbas region that pro-Moscow separatists have partly controlled since 2014.

Shortly before Zelensky’s comments, the regional governor of the eastern Lugansk region Sergiy Gaiday also announced the beginning of Russia’s much-anticipated attack.

“It’s hell. The offensive has begun, the one we’ve been talking about for weeks. There’s constant fighting in Rubizhne and Popasna, fighting in other peaceful cities,” he said on Facebook.

Russian strikes on Monday killed at least eight civilians in the embattled eastern Ukrainian regions of Donetsk and Lugansk, local authorities said.

Four died as they tried to escape the city of Kreminna, which Russian forces captured earlier on Monday, Gaiday said.

“Several people tried to flee and the [Russian forces] shot the car. Four people died instantly,” he said, adding that another person was injured.

Four other civilians died in Russian bombing of the neighboring region of Donetsk around 20 kilometers (12 miles) east of Kreminna, according to regional governor Pavlo Kyrylenko.

“Two in Torske, one in Chandrigalove, and one in Razdolne. Five other people were injured,” he said on Telegram.

Russia has refocused its military efforts on Ukraine’s eastern Donbas region after withdrawing troops from the region around the capital Kyiv.