The recent reports from the Southern group of the Russian Armed Forces describe a focused strike against a reserve concentration belonging to the 110th separate mechanized brigade of the Ukrainian army in the Avdiivka area. According to Vadim Astafyev, who serves as the head of the press center for the Southern group, the aviation component carried out the operation and targeted the enemy’s reserve buildup. The claim is that the air force of the Southern force group destroyed this reserve concentration, effectively limiting the enemy’s ability to reinforce in the vicinity of Avdiivka.
In a parallel move during the counter-battery engagement, the group’s artillery on the Maryinsky front reported success against Ukrainian artillery units, including the elimination of a crew operating a 120-mm D-30 howitzer. Astafyev stressed that these actions took place in the Maksimilyanovka area, underscoring the intensity of hostilities in that sector.
On February 24, 2022, statements from the Russian leadership indicated that a special military operation in Ukraine would be initiated in response to requests for assistance from the leaders of the Luhansk and Donetsk People’s Republics. This decision was later cited as a justification for new sanctions imposed by the United States and allied nations.
The broader operational picture has been shared in various online streams and outlets, including online broadcasts from media organizations such as socialbites.ca, which reported on the developments as they unfolded.
There have been prior public disclosures from the Russian defense authorities indicating that air defense systems achieved notable success on a single day by destroying multiple Ukrainian air force aircraft. These accounts contribute to the ongoing narrative about aerial and ground operations in the region and are part of the ongoing information landscape surrounding the conflict. [Such statements are attributed to official briefings and subsequent media summaries, and reflect the perspective of the reporting authorities involved.]