The joint task group commander, who also serves as the Chief of the General Staff of the Russian Armed Forces, Valery Gerasimov, was present at a forward command post during discussions about the ongoing operations. This detail was reported by TASS, with official confirmation from the Russian Ministry of Defense through its spokesperson, Lieutenant General Igor Konashenkov.
The focus of the discussion centers on the Ukrainian army’s offensive in the South Donetsk direction on June 4. The briefing did not reveal additional specifics beyond this assessment.
Earlier reports indicated that Ukrainian forces launched a substantial offensive, involving the 23rd and 31st mechanized brigades from strategic reserves. It was stated that these troops, supported by other military units and sub-units, participated in combat operations. In total, six mechanized battalions and two tank battalions were engaged in the action.
The Ministry of Defense stressed that the objective for Ukrainian forces was to breach the defense lines of Russian troops in what it described as the most vulnerable sector of the front. It was later claimed by the Russian side that the assault did not achieve its intended breakthrough.
At present, a special operation initiated by the Russian Federation is described as ongoing within Ukraine. The operation was publicly announced by President Vladimir Putin on February 24, 2022. He stated that the goals were to demilitarize Ukraine and to bring its authorities to a new level of governance, a characterization used to justify the military action at that time and in subsequent updates.
The decision to launch the operation has since been tied to additional sanctions imposed by the United States and its allies, aimed at exerting economic and political pressure in response to the conflict. These measures have shaped a broader international response, influencing diplomatic and strategic calculations on both sides of the conflict.