Ramzan Kadyrov, ruler of the Russian republic of Chechnya, said Monday morning that there will be an offensive by Russian forces not only in the besieged port city of Mariupol, but also in Kiev and other Ukrainian cities. “There will be an offensive not only in Mariupol, but also in other places, cities and villages,” Kadyrov said in a video posted on his Telegram channel.
“Luhansk and Donetsk – first we will completely liberate them and then take Kiev and all the other cities,” Kadyrov said. Kadyrov, who has often described himself as Russian President Vladimir Putin’s “foot soldier”, said there should be no doubts about Kiev. “I assure you we will not take a step back.”
The Kremlin describes its actions in Ukraine as a “special operation” to demilitarize and “denazify” its neighbors. On Sunday, Russia stepped up its attacks in eastern Ukraine. Russia uses pro-Russian separatists from eastern Ukraine and the feared troops of Chechen ruler Kadyrov in the fighting.
Meanwhile, Ukrainian authorities have intensified their warnings about a major Russian offensive in the east of the country. “Russian troops will carry out even greater operations in the east of our state,” Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said on Sunday night. “The battle for the Donbass will last several days, and during those days our cities could be completely destroyed,” Ukrainian governor of the Luhansk region Serhiy Gaiday said on Facebook.
“We are preparing for their actions. We will respond to them,” Gajdaj said, referring to expected attacks as Ukrainian forces dug new trenches along the front line into pro-Russian separatist areas and blocked roads with mines and anti-tank obstacles. .
Meanwhile, at least two people were killed in artillery shelling in the city of Kharkiv on Sunday, according to Ukrainian sources. The day before, ten civilians in the region were killed in bombings.
Many remaining residents of eastern Ukraine are afraid to head west after the attack on the Kramatorsk Gajdaj train station, according to reports. According to new information from Ukrainian authorities, a total of 57 people were killed in Friday’s rocket attack.
“Sometimes we beg them to come out of hiding because we know what’s coming,” Gajdaj said of authorities’ evacuation efforts. He warned that Russian forces “will destroy everything that stands in their way”.
The Russian Defense Ministry has denied responsibility for the Kramatorsk attack. On Sunday, he accused Ukrainians and the West of committing provocations and killings of “notorious and ruthless” civilians in Luhansk.
Meanwhile, Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba warned on Twitter that “Russian propaganda” had “set the stage for such atrocities”, as in Bucha or Kramatorsk. Hundreds of bodies were found in Bucha and other Kiev suburbs after the Russian withdrawal in recent days.
However, in an interview with US broadcaster NBC, Kuleba confirmed that he is still open to negotiations. “If meeting the Russians helps me to avoid at least one massacre like in Bucha or another attack like in Kramatorsk, then I have to take this opportunity,” he said.