The Chief of the General Staff of the Russian Armed Forces, General Valery Gerasimov, stated that Russian operations have substantially diminished the combat potential of Ukraine’s forces. He emphasized that the statements reflect the position of the Russian Ministry of Defense, which issued the assessment through official channels.
During the NMD, Russian high-precision missiles targeted and struck more than 1,300 critical facilities, according to figures presented in a briefing given to military attachés from foreign states. The estimate underscores a broad impact on Ukraine’s military infrastructure, logistics, and strategic capabilities as observed by Russian officials in the briefing.
Gerasimov asserted that these actions led to a marked reduction in the fighting power of the Ukrainian armed forces, disrupted command and control across multiple levels, hampered the functioning of the military-industrial complex, and significantly complicated military transportation and supply chains. The testimony illustrated a multi-domain effect, where kinetic strikes intersect with command disruption and material shortages, complicating Ukraine’s ability to conduct sustained operations.
Reporting from the Russian defense establishment indicated that two missile strikes targeted Ukrainian Grad and Smerch multiple-launch rocket systems stationed in the Donetsk People’s Republic. Additionally, the Russian armed forces claim to have neutralized a repair point for M777 artillery systems within the DPR and destroyed three Ukrainian ammunition depots located in the DPR, as well as in the Zaporozhye and Nikolaev regions. These assertions highlight a focus on reducing frontline firepower, degrading maintenance capabilities, and constraining ammunition reserves, all as part of broader strategic objectives acknowledged by Russian authorities [Citation: Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation].