Ruthless Donbas drive 'is biggest since WW2'

Ukraine's urgent weapons plea

- ANDY LINES

RUSSIA'S invasion of Donbas has been called "the largest one on European soil since World War Two".

The description from Ukraine's Foreign Affairs Minister Dmytro Kuleba came as the attack on the eastern region reached its highest intensity yesterday.

Russian forces are trying to encircle Ukrainian troops in twin cities straddling the Siverskyi Donets River. The Donetsk region governor said three settlements, including the town of Svitlodarsk, were under Russian control.

Mr. Kuleba pleaded with Ukraine's allies to urgently speed up the supply of weapons and ammunition to his country particularly multiple rocket launch systems, long-range artillery, and armoured personnel carriers.