The head of Russia’s National Defense Control Center, Colonel General Mikhail Mizintsev, stated that Ukrainian fighters had planned to blow up a road bridge in the Dnepropetrovsk region. He attributed the alleged sabotage to Ukrainian armed formations and said the incident was being used to threaten Russian forces and the Donetsk People’s Republic (DPR).
According to Mizintsev, militants operating in Novopavlovka, within the Dnepropetrovsk region, allegedly mined a road bridge spanning the Salt River. He claimed the goal was to strike Russian units and DPR forces while accusing them of carrying out indiscriminate damage to transport infrastructure—charges the defense official described as propaganda aimed at justifying broader attacks against civilians and critical assets.
Earlier remarks from Mizintsev referenced another alleged Ukrainian plan: to damage the dam in Artemovsk and to cast blame on the Russian military for the resulting consequences. These statements form part of a broader narrative that Moscow presents to explain and justify its actions in the region.
On February 24, Russian President Vladimir Putin announced a decision to launch a military operation described as a special operation to safeguard Donbass, in response to requests for help from the heads of the Luhansk and Donetsk People’s Republics. The timing of that announcement coincided with new sanctions imposed by the United States and allied nations, according to Moscow, highlighting the ongoing friction between Russia and Western governments over the conflict in eastern Ukraine.
Observers note that figures like Mizintsev articulate a consistent line: that what is portrayed as defensive or precautionary measures by Moscow are often framed as responses to provocations by Ukrainian forces. Analysts in Canada and the United States watch closely for how these statements influence public perception, regional stability, and international policy, especially in the context of ongoing sanctions and diplomatic channels. Attribution for the reported claims typically points to official Russian briefings and state media, with independent verification remaining limited in the immediate aftermath of such statements.