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Daily Mirror
Daily Mirror
World
Andy Lines

'Ruthless' Russian invasion of Donbas region is 'largest one since WW2', minister warns

The Russian invasion of the eastern Ukraine region of Donbas was today described as "the largest one on European soil since World War Two.”

Ukraine's Foreign Affairs Minister Dmytro Kuleba made his comments as the offensive continued.

Kuleba urged Ukraine's allies to urgently speed up the supply of weapons and ammunition to his country.

He said multiple rocket launch systems, long-range artillery, and armoured personnel carriers were particularly needed.

"The Russian offensive in the Donbas is a ruthless battle,” he said.

In the capital Kyiv, destroyed Russian tanks and military equipment were put on display for the public.

Thousands gathered at Mykhailivska Square to look at the wreckage.

Dmytro Kuleba, pictured with Liz Truss, described the Russian invasion as a 'ruthless battle' (Daily Mirror/Andy Stenning)

And images from Sevastopol show Russian tankers stealing Ukrainian grain.

The videos illustrated tons of grain being moved into the open hold of Russian ships before leaving the quayside.

Ukraine today announced it was investigating ways of getting crucial grain supplies out of the country by breaking the blockade by the Russian navy.

They are now trying to move them by land by using convoys of hundreds of tankers..

The war, together with Western sanctions against Russia, has sent the price of grain, cooking oil, fertiliser and energy soaring.

Destroyed Russian tanks and military equipment in Kyiv (Anadolu Agency via Getty Images)

That in turn is threatening a global food crisis.

Many countries rely on Ukraine and Russia for more than half of their wheat imports, including some of the poorest.

Ukraine is also a major exporter of corn, barley, sunflower oil and rapeseed oil.

The grain developments came as Vladimir Putin was publicly humiliated in a high profile Russian court case.

Opposition leader Alexei Navalny is appealing against a nine-year prison sentence he is serving for large-scale fraud and contempt of court.

Alexei Navalny is appealing against a nine-year prison sentence (AFP via Getty Images)

Navalny, 45, criticised Putin branding him as a “madman” who had started a “stupid war” based on lies.

He said: “This is a stupid war which your Putin started.

“This war was built on lies.

“What do you want to achieve - do you want short-term control, to fight with future generations, fight for the future of Russia?” Navalny asked the court.

Russian President Vladimir Putin (via REUTERS)

He went on: “You will all suffer historic defeat.

“One madman has got his claws into Ukraine and I do not know what he wants to do with it - this crazy thief.”

Navalny said Putin’s Russia was run by thieves and criminals who had become enemies of the Russian people.

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