Russian forces attacked more than 50 settlements in Ukraine: Zelenskyy

Russian forces struck more than 50 settlements in Ukraine, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said Monday.

Zelenskyy said in his daily video message that Russian soldiers continued to target various regions of his country, but Ukraine is fighting back and gradually moving forward.

“We respond everywhere. We have the necessary results -- another Russian aircraft was shot down,” he said, adding they have received new systems that will considerably strengthen Ukrainian air defenses.

"Of course, Ukrainian airspace is not completely secure, but we are making progress," he said.

Noting that “along the front, our forces are in a state of active defense,” he said “in some parts of the east and south, we are gradually pushing back the enemy.”

With the most intensive combat taking place in Donetsk, Zelenskyy said Russian forces suffered significant losses on the Donetsk front.

He addressed Russian soldiers fighting against Ukraine, urging them to save their lives by surrendering to the Ukrainian army.