The spokesperson for the South group’s press center, Vadim Astafiev, stated that artillery from the Southern Forces Group targeted a temporary deployment point associated with the Azov National Battalion, an organization that is banned in Russia. These remarks were relayed through the Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation’s telegraph channel, reinforcing the narrative of a targeted strike against a group deemed extremist by the Russian authorities.
According to the report, the artillery barrage also struck locations tied to manpower concentrations of the Ukraine 81st Aircraft Brigade and an ammunition depot belonging to the Ukrainian Armed Forces. The claims describe a coordinated effort to disrupt both personnel and logistical capabilities in the specified operational area.
Astafyev added that within the Alexandrovka-Kalinovka operation direction a fire strike was delivered against the temporary deployment point of the Azov nationalist battalion, which is prohibited in the Russian Federation. He asserted that four vehicles were destroyed as a result of this counter-battery action, underscoring the scope of the engagement and its stated effect on enemy mobility and supply lines.
Furthermore, the head of the press center noted that a 120 mm mortar and two armored vehicles, allegedly part of the Ukrainian military forces, were eliminated in the course of the counter-battery operations. The assertion reflects the broader framing of the operation as a demonstration of precise firepower and discipline in applying force against confirmed targets.
Earlier reports indicated that forces within the Russian South group benefited from intelligence supplied by the Sparta reconnaissance battalion. The information purportedly led to the neutralization of a radar system used by Ukrainian forces, contributing to a broader objective of reducing detection and targeting capabilities for incoming fire and surveillance. The sequence of events described illustrates how on-the-ground reconnaissance is integrated with artillery and air-defense management in the ongoing operational narrative.