Russian Defense Ministry spokesman Igor Konashenkov reported Tuesday that his country’s aviation had destroyed 137 Ukrainian military targets over the past 24 hours as part of their special military operation conducted since February 24.
The official added that air defenses intercepted 14 Ukrainian drones, including a Turkishmade Bayraktar TB2. In addition, a group of Russian Ka52 and Mi28N helicopters destroyed nine Ukrainian tanks and seven armored personnel carriers overnight.
Konashénkov stated that “six command posts and communications centers, two multiple rocket launchers, one antiaircraft missile system, eight missile depots, artillery and ammunition, and 101 stockpiles of war material” were neutralized.
Another action by Russian forces was the advance into the Volnovaya area of southeastern Ukraine, advancing six kilometers and taking the town of Urozháinoye, the spokesman said. In addition, the troops of the selfproclaimed Lugansk People’s Republic gained control of four villages.
Moscow said it had killed 230 drones, 181 air defense complexes, 1,528 tanks and other armored vehicles, 154 multiple rocket launcher systems, 602 howitzers and mortars, and 1,312 military special vehicles since the start of military action.
On February 24, Russian President Vladimir Putin announced the start of a special military operation in the Donbass region after the president recognized the selfproclaimed republics of Donetsk and Lugansk as states.
The separatist region signed an agreement on cooperation and mutual aid with the Russian Federation, in which the leaders of the nations asked Moscow for help in confronting the Ukrainian army. After the start of the military conflict, Moscow asserts that its goal is to denazify and demilitarize Ukraine, while the Russian Defense Ministry reiterates that its goals are only military and not civilian.
Ukraine severed diplomatic relations with Russia, imposed martial law on all its territory and a curfew in Kyiv and other cities, ordered a general mobilization and called on the international community to impose all possible sanctions on the Russian president.
Russia’s federal financial watchdog, Rosinmonitoring, said those who provide aid, particularly financial support to Ukraine and its military, face up to 20 years in prison.