Fighting in Donbas allows Ukraine to return security – Zelensky
The President noted the soldiers of the Donetsk region, who “minus” the enemy the most.
President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky said that the battles in the Donbass – Vuhledar, Bakhmut, Marinka, Belogorovka, Avdiivka, Kamenka – allow the return of security to Ukraine and all of Europe.
In the evening video message, the head of state noted the soldiers of the Donetsk region, who “minus” the enemy the most: marines of the 35th and 36th separate brigades, soldiers of the 79th separate air assault brigade, soldiers of the 11th border detachment, 55th separate artillery brigade, 72nd separate mechanized brigade and 74th separate reconnaissance battalion.
“I especially thank each and every one who defends Bakhmut every day. The battles there, in these parts of the Donbass – Vuhledar, Bakhmut, Marinka, Belogorovka, Avdiivka, Kamenka – allow us to return security to Ukraine, all of Europe, to every people who values their freedom and the integrity of their land,” the President stressed.
Zelensky thanked the Air Force soldiers, all the pilots, anti-aircraft gunners who shoot down the deadly drones and missiles that Russia launches.
“I thank each of our units of the defense and security forces that respond to the occupier’s attacks on our cities. Dnipropetrovsk region, Kharkiv region, Donetsk region, Lugansk region, Kherson, Zaporizhia, Sumy region and Chernihiv region – for each of our regions suffering from Russian terror, the occupier will pay significantly their losses,” he said.
The situation in the Donbass
Heavy fighting continues in Donetsk and Lugansk regions. Since the beginning of the day, March 18, about 190 invaders have been eliminated in the Bakhmut direction. The enemy is still trying to capture Bakhmut, which Ukrainian defenders have been holding for several months.
Aleksey Dmitrashkovsky, spokesman for the joint press center of the Defense Forces of the Tauride direction, also said that Russian troops in the Avdiivka and Maryinka areas in the Donetsk region were reinforced with a special forces unit. According to him, the enemy attacked the positions of Ukrainian defenders near these cities 21 times during the day.