Ukraine-Russia war news: Zelensky confirms MAJOR new offensive as Russian forces have launched ‘battle for the Donbas’

UKRAINIAN President Volodymyr Zelensky says Russia’s large-scale offensive in the eastern Donbas region is underway. Zelensky’s chief of staff said the assault on the Donbas marked the start of the “second phase” of the war. Explosions were heard along the entire front as Vladimir Putin launched a major new offensive to seize control of the east. The secretary of Ukraine’s National Security Council had earlier said Moscow tried to break through defences in the Donetsk, Luhansk and Kharkiv regions. Zelensky’s comments follow warnings from other senior officials that Russia has begun its assault on the eastern region on Monday. In a video address he said: “We can now confirm that Russian troops have begun the battle for the Donbas, which they have been preparing for a long time. “A large part of the Russian army is now dedicated to this offensive.” The brave Ukrainian leader refused to be cowed by the latest Russian attack, saying: “No matter how many Russian soldiers are brought here, we will fight. We will defend ourselves.” The news comes as chilling first pictures show Putin’s doomed flagship Moskva on fire and sinking into the Black Sea after being shot by Ukraine. Follow our Russia-Ukraine live blog below for up-to-the-minute updates…