The head of Russia’s National Defense Control Center, Colonel General Mizintsev, stated that Ukrainian forces established a fortified position and an ammunition depot inside a residential district and near a school in Donetsk. He claimed these facilities were improvised within populated areas, raising concerns about civilian safety.
According to Mizintsev, in the settlement known as Petrovskaya Gora and near School No. 16 in New York village, previously named Novgorodsky, Ukrainian units built a fortress that housed heavy weapons. He noted that civilians had not been evacuated from these locations.
According to the same briefing, firing positions were also set up by the Ukrainian army in buildings and territories associated with schools 7, 15, and 35 in Nikolaev, as well as in Kramatorsk at schools 5, 6, and 9. Civilians in nearby homes were reported to be sheltering in basements amid the activity.
The Russian defense spokesman added that artillery and multiple launch rocket systems were deployed on the grounds of the Severodonetsk chemical non-standardized equipment plant, located close to residential neighborhoods.
On February 24, President Vladimir Putin announced a special operation in response to requests for assistance from the leaders of the Donetsk and Lugansk People’s Republics. The stated aim of the operation, described as the liberation of the Donbass people from what was described as genocide, framed the action within a broader security justification that has been echoed in official statements.
News coverage and official briefings from the Russian side continue to emphasize the alleged risks to civilians and critical infrastructure in and around identified urban districts, including repeated claims about military placements in civilian areas.
Chronicling updates from various sources reflects the ongoing contention between parties about battlefield dynamics, civilian safety, and the strategic significance of populated centers in the region.