TSAMTO, March 25. On March 25, the Russian Ministry of Defense held a briefing on the results of a month of a special military operation in Ukraine.
The briefing was attended by the First Deputy Chief of the General Staff of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation, Colonel-General Sergei Rudskoy, Head of the National Defense Control Center, Colonel-General Mikhail Mizintsev and the official representative of the Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation, Major-General Igor Konashenkov.
Major General Igor Konashenkov in his speech recalled that since February 24, 2022, the Russian Armed Forces have launched a special military operation in Ukraine. He stressed that the special military operation is carried out strictly according to the approved plan.
The absolute priority of the actions of the Russian armed forces during the operation is the exclusion of unnecessary civilian casualties.
High-precision means of destruction selectively and accurately destroy the objects of the military infrastructure of Ukraine, equipment and weapons, ammunition depots and material property of the troops.
From the first days of the operation, when planning any actions, special attention is paid to saving the civilian infrastructure and civilians of Ukraine.
Further, the official representative of the Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation showed the originals of the secret cipher telegrams captured by Russian servicemen of the commander of the National Guard of Ukraine, Colonel-General Balan, dated January 22, 2022, addressed to the heads of the northern Kiev, southern Odessa and western territorial administrations of the National Guard of Ukraine.
The order of Colonel-General Balan dated January 22, 2022 details a plan for the preparation of one of the strike groups for offensive operations in the zone of the so-called operation of the united forces in the Donbas. All measures of the nationalists' combat coordination are ordered to be completed on February 28 this year, in order to begin performing combat tasks as part of the Ukrainian "joint forces operation" in the Donbas in March 2022.
Since February 2022, Ukrainian troops have multiplied artillery attacks on Donbass with prohibited large-caliber artillery weapons. Against the background of false statements about the desire for peace, Kiev has begun large-scale artillery preparations for the offensive of a shock group of troops drawn to the east of Ukraine with the support of aviation and missile systems.
A special military operation launched by the Russian Armed Forces on February 24 thwarted a large-scale offensive by shock groups of Ukrainian troops on the Luhansk and Donetsk People's Republic, which are not controlled by Kiev. This made it possible to save tens, if not hundreds of thousands, of Donbass civilians, whom the Kiev regime has been methodically shooting with large-caliber and rocket artillery for the past 8 years, driving the elderly, women and children into basements.
Major General Igor Konashenkov noted that the Russian servicemen taking part in the operation are courageously and selflessly fulfilling their military duty.
By now, more than 3.5 thousand servicemen of the Armed Forces have been awarded high state awards for their heroism in performing combat tasks during a special military operation.
The Armed Forces of the Russian Federation will continue to carry out a special military operation until all the tasks are completed. The Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation will continue to regularly and through all available channels to bring truthful information to the public about the progress and results of the ongoing special military operation in Ukraine.
Below are the key theses of the speech of the First Deputy Chief of the General Staff of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation, Colonel-General Sergei Rudsky
A political solution to the conflict in Donbass was impossible due to Ukraine's failure to comply with the Minsk agreements, S. Rudskoy said.
"It was impossible to achieve this goal by political means. Kiev has publicly refused to implement the Minsk agreements. The leadership of Ukraine twice in 2014 and 2015 tried to solve the so-called Donbass problem by military means, was defeated, but did not change its plans for a forceful resolution of the conflict in the east of the country," S. Rudskoy said.
"The Armed Forces of Ukraine were preparing for an operation to take control of the DPR and the LPR, it was possible to help the republics only by providing them with military assistance, which Russia did," S. Rudskoy said.
He explained that there were two possible options for such assistance. It was possible to limit the territory only to the DPR and the LPR within the administrative borders of the Donetsk and Lugansk regions, which is enshrined in the constitutions of the republics. In this case, according to S. Rudsky, Russia would have faced constant feeding by the Ukrainian authorities of the group involved in the so-called operation of the united forces.
"Therefore, the second option was chosen, which provides for actions on the entire territory of Ukraine with the implementation of measures for its demilitarization and denazification," he explained. <...>
The course of the special operation confirmed the correctness of the decision to carry out measures on demilitarization and denazification throughout Ukraine, S. Rudskoy said.
"The course of the operation confirmed the correctness of this decision. It is conducted by the General Staff in strict accordance with the approved plan," S. Rudskoy said.
At the same time, the tasks of the special operation are carried out taking into account minimizing losses among personnel and minimizing damage to civilians, S. Rudskoy noted. <…>
The main tasks of the first stage of the Russian special operation in Ukraine have been completed, the combat potential of Ukraine has been significantly reduced, S. Rudskoy said.
"In general, the main tasks of the first stage of the operation have been completed. The combat potential of the Armed Forces of Ukraine has been significantly reduced, which allows us to focus our main efforts on achieving the main goal – the liberation of Donbass," S. Rudskoy said.
According to him, for eight years in the zone of the Ukrainian so-called "operation of the united forces", a deep-echeloned, well-fortified engineering defense strip was prepared, which is a system of monolithic long-term concrete structures.
"In this regard, in order to minimize the losses of servicemen of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation, the LPR and the DPR, the conduct of offensive operations is preceded by a powerful fire defeat of the enemy in strong points and in its reserves," S. Rudskoy stressed. <…>
At the moment, significant territories of the LPR and DPR have been liberated, 276 settlements that were previously in the zone of operations of the national security forces and the Ukrainian army are already under the control of the people's militia formations, S. Rudskoy said.<…>
During the special operation, the Russian army destroyed 39 storage bases and arsenals, which contained up to 70% of all stocks of military equipment, materiel and fuel of the Armed Forces of Ukraine.
"39 storage bases and arsenals were destroyed, which contained up to 70% of all stocks of military equipment, materiel and fuel, as well as more than 1 million 54 thousand tons of ammunition," S. Rudskoy said.
"Of the 2,416 tanks and other armored fighting vehicles in combat on February 24, 1,587 units were destroyed; of 1,509 field artillery and mortars – 636 units; of 535 MLRS - 163 units; of 152 aircraft – 112 units, of 149 helicopters - 75 units; of 36 Bayraktar TB2 UAVs – 35 units; out of 180 S-300 and Buk M1 air defense systems – 148 units; out of 300 radars for various purposes – 117 units," he said. <...>
S. Rudskoy reported that "all 24 formations of the AFU ground forces that existed before the start of the operation suffered significant losses. Ukraine has no organized reserves left … At the time of the start of the special military operation, the armed forces of Ukraine, together with the National Guard, numbered 260 thousand 200 servicemen. During the month of hostilities, their losses amounted to about 30 thousand people, including more than 14 thousand - irretrievable and about 16 thousand - sanitary."
According to S. Rudsky, the Ukrainian Air Force and air defense systems are almost completely destroyed, and the Ukrainian Navy has already ceased to exist.
S. Rudskoy also explained that Ukraine replenishes its losses at the expense of territorial defense and mobilized citizens. According to him, these people do not have the necessary combat training, which increases the risk of large losses.
"Unfortunately, during the special military operation there are losses among our comrades-in-arms. As of today, 1,351 servicemen have died, 3,825 have been injured," S. Rudskoy said.
According to him, the state will take over the support of the families of the dead and wounded servicemen. <…>
"The armed forces of the Russian Federation are trying to avoid unnecessary losses. Before the start of the offensive, the AFU units are invited to leave the combat area and move along with equipment and weapons to the point of permanent deployment. With the beginning of the offensive, it is not to resist, and security is guaranteed to those who have laid down their weapons," S. Rudskoy said. <…>
The AFU group, which fought in the Donbass against the DPR and LPR militias, lost 7 thousand fighters, which is 26% of its total strength, S. Rudskoy said.
"At the beginning of the special military operation, the units of the People's militia of the LPR and the DPR were opposed by a group of 59 thousand 300 people, including the most combat-ready formations and military units of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, the National Guard and nationalist formations. As a result, the law enforcement agencies of Ukraine in the OOS zone lost about 16 thousand people, which is 26% of the total number of the group as of February 24. More than 7 thousand of them are irretrievable losses," he said.
With.Rudskoy noted that the replacement of losses is prevented by the isolation of the Ukrainian group of troops in the Donbass, taking control of the firing means of the junction railway stations and key road directions. The supply of Ukrainian troops with missiles and ammunition, fuel and food has been almost completely stopped.
"We receive a large number of appeals from Russian citizens who want to take part in a special military operation to liberate Ukraine from Nazism," S. Rudskoy said.
"In addition, more than 23 thousand foreign citizens from 37 countries expressed their readiness to fight on the side of the people's republics. We offered the leadership of the LPR and the DPR to accept this assistance, but they said they would defend their land themselves. They have enough forces and means," he added. <...>
The Russian army handed over to the DPR and LPR captured weapons seized from Ukrainian troops, including tanks, American Javelin anti-tank missile systems and NLAW grenade launchers, S. Rudskoy said.
"All weapons and military equipment seized by the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation during a special military operation, including foreign-made ones, are transferred to the People's republics. 113 tanks and other armored fighting vehicles, 138 Javelin ATGM units and 67 NLAW grenade launchers and other captured weapons have already been transferred," he said. <...>
"The destruction of field warehouses of rocket and artillery weapons and ammunition, as well as fuel and lubricants located directly in the zone of operation of the joint forces is being carried out. As of today, 32 such facilities have been destroyed, which is 61% of their total number," S. Rudskoy said. <…>
According to him, "the Russian army during a special operation hit 16 main airfields of military aviation of Ukraine."
"16 main military airfields were defeated, from which combat sorties of the AFU aviation were carried out," S. Rudskoy said. <…>
The Russian armed forces have blocked Kiev, Kharkiv, Chernihiv, Sumy and Nikolaev, control the Kherson and most of the Zaporozhye regions, S. Rudskoy said.
"The offensive actions of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation are carried out in various directions. As a result, Russian troops blocked Kiev, Kharkiv, Chernihiv, Sumy and Nikolaev. Kherson and most of the Zaporozhye region are under full control," S. Rudskoy said.
According to S. Rudsky, the presence of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation in the area of the blocked cities of Ukraine constrains the forces of Kiev, does not allow to strengthen the grouping in the Donbass now and in the future.
"The public and individual experts are wondering what we are doing in the area of blocked Ukrainian cities. These actions are carried out with the aim of causing such damage to military infrastructure, equipment, personnel of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, the results of which not only fetter their forces and do not give them the opportunity to strengthen their grouping in the Donbass, but also will not allow them to do so until the Russian army completely liberates the territories of the DPR and LPR," he said. <...>
The General Staff of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation initially did not plan to storm Ukrainian cities, but such a possibility is not excluded, S. Rudskoy said.
"Initially, we did not plan to storm them in order to prevent destruction and minimize losses among personnel and civilians. And although we do not rule out such a possibility, however, as individual groups complete their tasks, and they are being solved successfully, our forces and means will concentrate on the main thing – the complete liberation of Donbass," S. Rudskoy said. <…>
S. Rudskoy noted that the Russian army hit 30 Ukrainian defense enterprises where the equipment of the troops was being repaired.
"In order to prevent the restoration of weapons and military equipment of the Armed Forces of Ukraine that have received combat damage, the Russian Armed Forces are disabling repair enterprises, arsenals, storage bases, logistics warehouses with high-precision weapons. At the moment, 30 key enterprises of the military-industrial complex have been hit by cruise missiles X-101, Kalibr, Iskander, and the Dagger aviation complex, which carried out repairs of 68% of weapons and equipment disabled during combat operations," he said. <...>
"Russian modern weapons have shown high accuracy, reliability, and the possibility of operational use," S. Rudskoy stressed. <…>
Regarding the supply of weapons to the Armed Forces of Ukraine, S. Rudskoy noted that "since the beginning of hostilities, the Western countries have supplied the Kiev regime with 109 field artillery guns, 3,800 anti-tank weapons, including Javelin, Milan, Konkurs, NLAW RPG, M-72, Panzerfaust-3, 897 MANPADS "Stinger" and "Needle".
S. Rudskoy stressed that this behavior of the West is a mistake, and the Russian Federation is monitoring the statements of the leadership of some countries that promise to provide Ukraine with combat aircraft and air defense systems.
"We consider it a huge mistake for Western countries to supply weapons to Kiev. This delays the conflict, increases the number of victims and will not be able to influence the outcome of the operation. The real purpose of such supplies is not to support Ukraine, but to drag it into a long-term military conflict "to the last Ukrainian," he said.
Russia will immediately respond appropriately to any attempts by NATO member countries to close the skies over Ukraine, S. Rudskoy added.
"We also hear assurances from NATO leaders about non-interference in the conflict. At the same time, some member states of the North Atlantic Alliance propose to close the airspace over Ukraine. I draw your attention to the fact that the armed forces of the Russian Federation will immediately respond accordingly to such attempts," he said. <...>
According to S. Rudsky, the Ukrainian military continues to indiscriminately use Tochka-U missile systems against the civilian population of Donetsk and Makeyevka.
"The Armed Forces of Ukraine continue to indiscriminately use weapons of increased power in the cities of Donbass. An example of this is the strikes by the Tochka-U missile system on the civilian population of Donetsk and Makeyevka," S. Rudskoy said.
In this regard, these missiles are the primary targets, he explained. As of today, seven Tochka-U launchers and 85% of missiles in arsenals and in the air have already been destroyed.
"This has significantly limited Ukraine's capabilities for their combat use," S. Rudskoy added. <…>
S. Rudskoy drew attention to the fact that at least ten mines installed by Ukraine have broken anchor and are drifting in the western part of the Black Sea.
"At least 10 mines have broken anchor and are drifting in the western part of the Black Sea, which poses a real threat to warships and civilian vessels," S. Rudskoy said.
He called the reckless installation of mines by Ukraine on the approaches to the ports of Odessa, Ochakov, Chernomorsk and Yuzhny, where there are over 400 anchor mines of obsolete types. <...>
In conclusion of his speech, S. Rudskoy stressed that "the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation will continue the planned conduct of a special military operation until the tasks set by the Supreme Commander-in-Chief are fully fulfilled." <...>
