Day 111 of the Invasion of Ukraine: Russia’s Main Goal is to Protect the Separatist "Republics"

Here are the highlights of events related to the war in Ukraine over the past 24 hours:

The Kremlin says the main goal of the war is to protect separatist "republics"

"Russia's main goal in its military operation in Ukraine is to protect the self-proclaimed Donetsk and Luhansk People's Republics", RIA Novosti reported, quoting Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov.

"In general, the defense of the republics is the main goal of the special military operation," Peskov said.

The DPR and LPR are two Russian-backed self-proclaimed republics in eastern Ukraine that Moscow says it is struggling to break them completely out of Kyiv's control.

The dire situation in Sievierodonetsk

The "human cost" of the battle for Sievierodonetsk, a strategic city in eastern Ukraine, is "appalling," Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said today as Russian forces advanced in recent days to seize the city without being able to place it entirely under their control.

"The human cost of this battle is very high. It is simply appalling," Zelensky said.

Meanwhile, Russian troops have destroyed the last bridge to Sievierodonetsk, which could evacuate civilians or deliver humanitarian aid, Luhansk Oblast Governor Serhiy Haidai said, adding that nearly 70 percent of the city was under Russian control.

"Fierce fighting continues. With the support of artillery, the enemy is conducting assault operations in Sievierodonetsk, trying to fortify itself in the city center", said the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, quoted by UNIAN.

However, the city is not blocked and part of it is under Ukrainian control. However, communications in...