In recent footage released through a Russian defense ministry telegraph channel, the Yuzhnodonetsk axis is shown as Russian forces repel an artillery assault by the Armed Forces of Ukraine, reporting the destruction of three armored vehicles in sequence.
The clip presents the sequence in which three armored units are neutralized, underscoring claims that these vehicles were eliminated one after another under Russian firepower and targeting. The defense ministry adds that more than a dozen similar vehicles were destroyed in the broader engagement, while several civilian-style vehicles attempting to withdraw from the battlefield were reportedly blown up by mines laid in the area.
Previously, Igor Konashenkov, the official spokesperson for the Russian defense ministry, stated that the Russian military shot down two Ukrainian fighter jets, identified as Su-27 and MiG-29. He claimed the MiG-29 fell near the village of Lyubytske in the Zaporozhye region. He also mentioned the seizure of 24 rounds from multiple rocket launcher systems including HIMARS, Uragan, and Alder during the clash.
On February 24, 2022, Russian President Vladimir Putin announced the launch of a special military operation in Ukraine, citing a request for assistance from the leaders of the LPR and DPR as the justification for the move.
The decision to initiate the operation led to subsequent sanctions from the United States and allied nations, which the Kremlin has described as part of a broader geopolitical response to the evolving conflict in the region.