It's HELL! Ukraine says Donbas region destroyed by Russia - devastation in PICS
Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said that Donbas, comprised of the Donetsk and Luhansk areas, is completely destroyed
Kyiv: Almost three months since the Russian invasion of Ukrain began, the war continues even as scenes of destruction emerge from several parts of Ukraine.
(Inputs from Reuters)
Scenes of damage and destruction
![Scenes of damage and destruction Scenes of damage and destruction](https://english.cdn.zeenews.com/sites/default/files/2022/05/20/1044551-ukraine-donetsk-buildingdestroyed.jpg)
A hellish sitiation in Donbas area
![A hellish sitiation in Donbas area A hellish sitiation in Donbas area](https://english.cdn.zeenews.com/sites/default/files/2022/05/20/1044549-ukraine-donetsk-buildingdestroyed1.jpg)
Since turning away from Ukraine's capital, Russia is using massed artillery and armour to try to capture more territory in the Donbas, comprised of the Donetsk and Luhansk areas, which Moscow claims on behalf of separatists. "The occupiers are trying to exert even more pressure. It is hell there - and that is not an exaggeration," Zelenskiy said in a late Thursday (May 19) address, reported Reuters. (Pic: Reuters)
Civilians killed in Donetsk: Reports
![Civilians killed in Donetsk: Reports Civilians killed in Donetsk: Reports](https://english.cdn.zeenews.com/sites/default/files/2022/05/20/1044547-ukraine-donetsk-policehelp.jpg)
Five civilians were killed in Donetsk on Thursday, according to regional governor Pavlo Kyrylenko, reports Reuters. "The enemy is destroying all civil infrastructure even in places relatively far from the front line," he told local television. Reuters could not immediately verify the information. Moscow denies targeting civilians. (Pic: Reuters)
Russia's siege of Mariupol nears end
![Russia's siege of Mariupol nears end Russia's siege of Mariupol nears end](https://english.cdn.zeenews.com/sites/default/files/2022/05/20/1044546-mariopul-russianpro-forces.jpg)
Ukraine's food crisis
![Ukraine's food crisis Ukraine's food crisis](https://english.cdn.zeenews.com/sites/default/files/2022/05/20/1044544-ukraine-foodcrisis.jpg)
Ukraine has exported 643,000 tonnes of grain since the start of May, considerably less than during the same period last year. US Secretary of State Blinken accused Russia of using food as a weapon. US Secretary-General Guterres said he is in "intense contact" with Russia, Ukraine, Turkey, the United States and the European Union to restore Ukrainian grain exports. (Pic: Reuters
For Russia, Ukraine invasion is 'special military operation'
![For Russia, Ukraine invasion is 'special military operation' For Russia, Ukraine invasion is 'special military operation'](https://english.cdn.zeenews.com/sites/default/files/2022/05/20/1044543-ukraine-donetsk-schooldestroyed.jpg)
Moscow calls its invasion a "special military operation" to rid Ukraine of fascists, an assertion Kyiv and its Western allies say is a baseless pretext for an unprovoked war. Russia has intensified its offensive and assault operations in Donetsk, the General Staff of Ukraine's Armed Forces said. (Pic: Reuters)
Russia's biggest victory since invasion
![Russia's biggest victory since invasion Russia's biggest victory since invasion](https://english.cdn.zeenews.com/sites/default/files/2022/05/20/1044542-ukraine-kharkiv-destroyed.jpg)
The past week has seen Russia secure its biggest victory since the invasion began, with Kyiv announcing it had ordered its garrison in a steelworks in Mariupol to stand down, after a protracted siege of the city. Russian forces have, however, been pushed back this month from the outskirts of the second-largest city Kharkiv. Ukraine says it has recaptured 23 settlements near Kharkiv in the last two weeks. (Pic: Reuters)