Zelenskyy says one-fifth of Ukraine under Russian control
One-fifth of Ukrainian territory is under Russia's control, with Donbas "almost entirely destroyed," Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has said while addressing Luxembourg's MPs.
"As of today, about 20 per cent of our territory is under the control of the occupiers, almost 125,000 square kilometres.
"This is much larger than the area of all the Benelux countries combined," Zelenskyy said to the Chamber of Deputies of Luxembourg via video link.
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Zelenskyy also said fighting continues along the front line that is stretched over "more than a thousand kilometres" along the territories of Kharkiv region to Mykolaiv in the country's south.
He added Ukraine's Donbas region is "simply devastated," calling it "once one of the most powerful industrial centres in Europe."
And he said if Russia prevails in its war in Ukraine "then the dark times will come for everyone" in Europe.
"If we win this war, all Europeans will be able to continue enjoying their freedom," Zelenskyy said.
"But if this one person who wants to destroy any freedom in Ukraine and Europe prevails, then dark times will come for everyone on the continent," he added, referring to the Russian president, Vladimir Putin.
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Zelensky claimed that more than 30,000 Russian soldiers have been killed since the war began over three months ago. Those numbers can't be verified.
"That's greater than the death toll of the Soviet Union in 10 years of war in Afghanistan, greater than Russia's death toll in two Chechen wars," Zelenskyy said.
In his remarks to the MPs, the Ukrainian president urged additional sanctions on Russia, asking for more weapons to support Ukraine's fight along the front line.
Meanwhile, Ukraine's army has carried a series of counterattacks in the eastern city of Severodonetsk, but Russian forces still control "most" of the city, said Serhiy Hayday, head of Luhansk regional military administration.
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A Ukrainian soldier patrols on the frontline in the country's east as Russia steps up its attacks. AP
Severodonetsk is one of the last remaining strongholds held by Ukraine in Luhansk.
Around 800 people are hiding in several Soviet-era bomb shelters underneath the Azot chemical factory in Severodonetsk, which has been targeted by Russian missile attacks, Hayday said.
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- Reported with CNN, Associated Press
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