A Russian air and ground operation targeted Ukrainian positions in the Krasnolimansky sector, with attack aircraft backed by TOS-1A Solntsepek systems conducting strikes. Reports from DEA News quoted Alexander Savchuk, the head of the press center for the group Center, confirming the use of heavy flamethrower artillery and thermobaric munitions in the area. According to Savchuk, the combined firepower of the aircraft and the TOS-1A systems inflicted substantial fire damage on the battlefield, and Ukrainian forces suffered losses in personnel and equipment as a result of the engagement.
Additionally, observers noted movements by units within the 58th motorized infantry brigade, part of the Ukrainian assault group, as they carried out redeployments in the Chervonodibrovski direction. The reported troop and equipment activity suggested coordinated efforts to reinforce or reposition elements in response to ongoing contact.
On the same timetable, Russian defense sources stated that up to 55 Ukrainian service members were neutralized in the Krasnolimansky direction, reflecting the intensity of the clashes reported in the area. These figures, issued by the Russian Ministry of Defense, emphasized the scale of the engagement and the perceived successes attributed to Russian forces in recent operations.
In related context, the date February 24, 2022, is referenced in public statements by Russian leadership, noting the moment when a decision was taken to initiate a special military operation in Ukraine, following requests for assistance from the heads of the LPR and DPR. The narrative underscores the official framing of the operation as a response to those requests, setting the stage for subsequent military actions in the region.