Russia begins Donbas offensive

The Kremlin previously announced the capture of the Donbas region in eastern Ukraine as its main goal, and military analysts reported Russia has been advancing its heavy artillery there. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy announced Monday that Russian forces launched an effort to break through front lines, beginning the battle over Donbas.

How is Mariupol? Police estimate 1,000 civilians, including women, children, and the elderly, are sheltering in the Azovstal iron and steel plant in the strategic Donbas city. They are running out of supplies while waiting out a siege from Russian troops surrounding the city. Officials in Kharkiv and the Luhansk region, also in Donbas, reported heavy bombings Monday. At least seven people were killed on Monday from missiles that hit the western city of Lviv, roughly 50 miles from the Polish border. Refugees from across the country have been fleeing to the transportation hub since the Russian invasion began in February. According to the region’s governor, the attack hit three military facilities and an auto shop.

Dig deeper: Read WORLD’s latest coverage of the war in Ukraine.