Russian death squads launch ‘hunt to kill’ missions to wipe out Ukrainian officials – World News

After capturing the city of Lyman, Vladimir Putin’s forces now control about 95% of the Donbass region and are reportedly “hunting for the heads” of local leaders

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Putin visits wounded Russian soldiers in Ukraine

Russian troops have reportedly launched “hunt to kill” missions in eastern Ukraine to rid the area of ​​regional leaders.

Ukrainian officials in the eastern areas are kept on the move to evade death squads, while Russia advances in the Donbass region and captures the town of Lyman.

A police chief in the Luhansk region of Donbass has compared the offensive to the “Red Terror” perpetrated by the Bolsheviks in Soviet Russia between 1918 and 1922.

“Heads of local administration, including me, we are constantly on the move,” said chief Oleg Grigorov.

“The Russians are after our heads, whether by capture or outright liquidation.”

Around 95% of Luhansk is now under Russian control, and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy admitted in his recent address that the situation is “difficult”.

“Donbass will be in Ukraine because that’s us, that’s our essence,” he added.

“And even if Russia brings destruction and suffering there, we will still restore every city and every community.”

Luhansk Governor Serhiy Haidai has acknowledged that Ukrainian troops may have to withdraw to prevent a repeat of the brutal siege of Mariupol.

“It’s possible they have to leave to avoid being surrounded,” he said.

“People’s nerves are like steel. Morale is high and there is no panic.

“But the bodies are just lying there on the street. There are sacrifices among children. The Russians are indiscriminate, they shoot at residential areas, at the local population.”

Ukrainian Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal told the BBC last night that the Russian invasion had resulted in the destruction of more than 15,000 miles of roads, hundreds of bridges and 12 airports.

An area of ​​115,000 square miles of land was mined or bombed, and at least 100 schools, colleges and universities and 500 medical facilities were destroyed or damaged.