The cost of the Donbas war weighs heavily on the nation, a toll described by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky in a dawn address on the 111th day since Russia began its invasion. The conflict continues to unfold with scenes of destruction in key urban areas, including the city of Severodonetsk as a stark reminder of the ongoing crisis.
In Lugansk, authorities reported that all bridges within the city were destroyed, making civilian evacuation impossible. The head of the Lugansk Military Administration, Serhiy Haidai, indicated that negotiations were underway to allow civilians to leave the nearby chemical plant. It is feared that around 500 residents remain in dangerous conditions, including about forty children, raising parallels to the siege at the Azovstal steel plant in Mariupol and the precarious situation many civilians face amid the fighting.
On Tuesday, Deputy Defense Minister Anna Maliar accused Russia of using the Ukraine invasion as a testing ground for new weapons that violate international law. She characterized the conflict as a broad deployment of arms and tactics not permissible under international norms, with claims that some systems are being tested on Ukrainian soil.
During a 24 hour national news broadcast on Ukrainian television, Maliar reiterated that Russian forces have employed a wide variety of weapons prohibited by international law, and that some munitions appear to be part of trials or research conducted under wartime conditions. Her statements underscored an assertion that the war has not merely been fought on the front lines but also used to explore and validate new military capabilities.
Meanwhile, Ukrainian police announced criminal proceedings related to the deaths of more than 12,000 Ukrainians, many found in mass graves. Ihor Klymenko, head of the National Police, explained that authorities are holding 1,200 unidentifiable corpses discovered in such graves and that investigations are underway into the broader death toll, with more than 1,500 casualties reported in the Kyiv region alone.
In a separate interview, President Zelensky condemned a so-called information blockade that he described as a civilizational restraint. He urged residents in territories occupied by Russian forces, especially in the southern regions, to stay informed about efforts toward liberation. He acknowledged the grim reality of ongoing conflict in Donbas but insisted that freedom is the ultimate objective and that the occupation does not simply seal off information but seeks to suppress it. Zelensky called on Ukrainians and supporters to remain vigilant and hopeful about future liberation, even as hardships persist.
The president also accused Moscow of attempting to sever the public from knowledge about Ukraine and of obstructing efforts to restore normal life. He cited disruptions to power supply, compromised communications, the closure of television outlets, and the blocking of humanitarian corridors that hinder efforts to deliver essential goods and medical supplies to people in need. His message emphasized that the struggle goes beyond territorial control and involves maintaining the ability to communicate truthfully with those living under occupation.
Looking ahead, Zelensky urged anyone who can reach people in the occupied south, the Donbas, and the Kharkiv region to spread the truth about Ukraine and to reinforce the belief that liberation remains a goal worth pursuing. The call underscored a broader appeal for resilience across Ukraine as the conflict enters another perilous phase with continued fighting and humanitarian challenges.