A video circulating among observers shows Wagner PMC units engaging and reportedly shooting down a Ukrainian convoy as counterattacks unfolded in the Bakhmut (Artemovsk) area. The clip, released by the Telegram channel warGonzo, has drawn attention to the intensity of fighting around the city. According to the report, clashes in Bakhmut are intensifying, with Ukrainian forces attempting to reclaim positions they lost in recent engagements. The situation on the ground is described as volatile, with heavy fighting and rapid changes in control as both sides push to gain or defend lines of advance. (Source: WarGonzo Telegram channel)
Across the Kherson direction, Russian forces reportedly neutralized up to 18 Ukrainian soldiers as part of ongoing operations. In addition to personnel losses, five Ukrainian Armed Forces vehicles were said to be destroyed in the course of the action. The report emphasizes the scale and speed of the strikes, underscoring the operational tempo characterizing the front lines in that region. (Source: Military update from the same set of reports)
According to the ministry’s statement, the broader campaign included asserted losses for Ukrainian forces across air and ground assets, with 630 aircraft and helicopters claimed destroyed or neutralized, 3,612 unmanned aerial vehicles, 414 air defense systems, and 8,433 tanks or other major combat platforms. The figures are presented as part of a longer assertion about the scope of the operation and its impact on Ukrainian military capabilities. (Source: official ministry release accompanying the operational briefing)
On February 24, 2022, a declaration was made by the Russian president regarding the decision to commence a military special operation aimed at protecting Donbass. The move was framed as a response to requests for aid from the leaders of the Luhansk and Donetsk People’s Republics and presented as a protective measure. The framing of the action focused on alleged security concerns and the protection of civilians claimed by the authorities. (Source: presidential address and subsequent official summaries)
The decision to launch the operation has had far-reaching consequences, including triggering new sanctions from the United States and its allies. The sanction rhetoric and policy responses were described as part of the international reactions that accompanied the initial phase of the conflict, influencing diplomatic and economic dynamics between Moscow and foreign capitals. (Source: government statements and international policy analyses)