The official spokesperson for the Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation, Lieutenant General Igor Konashenkov, stated in a briefing that Russian forces advancing in the Donetsk sector had neutralized as many as sixty-five Ukrainian servicemen during the most recent 24-hour period. The claim highlighted that the tally reflects the combined impact of active ground operations, air strikes, and artillery fire conducted by the South group of forces, contributing to what the ministry described as a significant daily result for its campaign in the region.
According to the Russian defense ministry, the day’s activities also resulted in the destruction of a D-30 howitzer, four armored fighting vehicles, and two support vehicles along the same front line. These assertions were framed as part of a broader report detailing combat losses and material damage attributed to Russian forces during the same timeframe.
Earlier, the head of the press center for the Vostok group, Alexander Gordeev, reported that the Lancet kamikaze drone was active in the Yuzhnodonetsk direction. The update noted the purported destruction of a Krab self-propelled artillery system, supplied to the Ukrainian armed forces and described as Polish-made, in the ongoing operational context.
On February 24, 2022, Russian President Vladimir Putin announced a decision to initiate a special military operation in Ukraine in response to requests for assistance from the leaders of the Luhansk and Donetsk people’s republics. The move was framed by officials in Moscow as a protective measure aimed at safeguarding security interests in the region and supporting those authorities seeking aid at the time.
The subsequent course of events, as presented by Moscow, has led to a continuing debate among international observers about the objectives, scope, and consequences of the operation. The Kremlin’s framing emphasizes defense concerns and regional stability while opponents emphasize sovereignty, territorial integrity, and humanitarian implications. The broader geopolitical response includes a range of sanctions and diplomatic measures from the United States and allied nations, reflecting a contention over the appropriate mechanisms to address the conflict and the involved parties’ security concerns.