Zelenskyy: Ukraine needs modern missile systems

Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky said Ukrainian and Russian forces are fighting for every meter of land in the eastern town of Sievierodonetsk. He called on international partners for help, saying Ukraine “needs modern defence missile systems”.

In his last video message, President Zelensky said that “the main tactical target” Russia's has not changed, as Russian forces continue to attack in Lysychansk, Bakhmut, Slovyansk, west and southwest of the city of Sievierodonetsk.

The Russian Army is trying to dislocate the reserve forces in Donbas. But what reserve might they already have? It seems they will throw recruits into battle with poor preparation and others secretly mobilised. Russian generals view their people as just meat for the ball, which they need only to gain advantage in numbers, people and military equipment”, President Zelensky said.

While it is difficult to confirm losses on both sides, President Zelensky said those killed in the Russian ranks could reach over 400,000 this month.

The British Defence Ministry said Monday that during the past few days there has been a strong battle around Sievierodonetsk.

The ministry said Russia's capacities to conduct operations along the rivers would probably be the determining factor for war in the coming months.

Russian forces bombed a chemical plant in Sevierodonetsk on Sunday, where hundreds of soldiers and civilians were sheltered. But the governor of the Luhansk region said the plant continues to be under Ukrainian control.