Russian troops have begun the battle for Donbas, Ukraine says

ukraine says the battle for the donbass region regarded as the second phase of  the war has begun after russia launched  a major offensive in the east of the  country according to president zelinski a large proportion of the russian army  is now focusing on the east and the  governor of the lehansk region has now  confirmed that russian troops have taken  control of the city of cremina now  moscow's forces already occupy large  parts of the donbas last month moscow  claimed it controlled over 90 percent of  luhansk and half of donetsk and its  forces are expected to try and encircle  the romanian ukrainian troops in the  region we understand that ukraine has  around 40 000 soldiers in the donbass  many of whom have spent years fighting  against russian-backed separatist forces  in the region our defence correspondent  jonathan beale reports now from eastern  ukraine  this is now the ...