Ukrainian defense ministry highlights pivotal moments in the Donbas region as Russian forces intensify assaults.

The fierce battles raging in eastern Ukraine’s Donbas region could determine the nation’s future, according to a spokesperson for Ukraine’s defense ministry. As Russian forces push to seize strategic cities like Severodonetsk, the conflict has entered its most active and critical phase since the invasion began.

In Mariupol, workers discovered more than 200 decomposed bodies in the basement of a collapsed apartment building near a gas station. According to Petro Andryushchenko, an adviser to the city’s mayor, Russian forces attempted to compel locals to remove the bodies, but residents refused. The site was then abandoned by the Russian Ministry of Emergencies. These harrowing accounts remain unverified.

Meanwhile, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy continues to appeal for heavy weapons from Western allies to bolster defense efforts. Western nations, including the US and EU, have pledged to supply advanced military equipment, while EU leaders weigh sanctions like a Russian oil embargo and the potential use of frozen Russian assets for Ukraine’s reconstruction.

Ukraine’s determination remains steadfast, with a recent poll showing that 82% of Ukrainians oppose any territorial concessions in a peace deal with Russia. Despite devastating losses, the country is resolute in its struggle to protect its sovereignty.