ZAPORIZHZHIA, Ukraine — Russia shelled more than 40 towns and villages in the Donbas region, Ukrainian officials said Thursday, as Moscow intensified attacks in Ukraine’s industrial heartland and attempted to encircle key eastern cities. The stepped-up attacks in the Donbas came as Russian President Vladimir Putin announced new initiatives to solidify Russian gains and potentially secure new ones. Putin issued an order Wednesday to speed up Russian citizenship for Ukrainians in the Kherson and Zaporizhzhia regions. He said Severodonetsk and Lysychansk were the largest cities to remain in Ukrainian hands in the region. Zaporizhzhia will fight.”The war in Ukraine, which began Feb. 24, has displaced more than 11 million Ukrainians and united global powers against Putin.

Source: Los Angeles Times May 26, 2022 20:10 UTC