Missile forces and aviation destroy strategic reserves of fuel, ammunition and military-industrial complex of Ukraine
The Russian Armed Forces have begun the second stage of a special operation in Ukraine. High-precision strikes of missile systems and aviation hit strategically important military and military-industrial facilities: fuel depots, ammunition, military-industrial complex enterprises where equipment of the Armed Forces of Ukraine (AFU) is repaired. On March 26, the Russian Defense Ministry told about the humanitarian situation in Ukraine and the recorded crimes of militants.
A new stage
The troops of Russia and the People's Republics of Donbass continue to advance. As told on March 26 in the Ministry of Defense, units of the Russian Armed Forces are fighting for the settlement of Novomikhailovka. In addition, the offensive against long-term strongpoints in Novoselovka and Novobakhmutovka, well-fortified with concrete structures, continues.
The forces of the Donetsk People's Republic on Saturday blocked Ukrainian nationalists in the Mariupol industrial zone, said the representative of the People's militia Eduard Basurin.
In the Luhansk People's Republic, they announced the shelling of residential quarters by the Armed Forces of Ukraine. On Saturday evening, the air defense means of the People's militia of the LPR shot down a tactical missile "Tochka-U" near the settlement of Rovenki. "The missile hitting the target could lead to numerous casualties among the civilian population of the republic and damage to civilian infrastructure. As a result of the fall of the rocket, private households were damaged by debris," the official representative of the People's militia of the LPR said.
Photo: IZVESTIA/Pavel Volkov
Image source: iz.ru
On March 26, the Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation reported that on the eve of high-precision cruise missiles of sea-based "Caliber" destroyed a warehouse with ammunition and weapons near the settlement of Velikiye Korovintsy, Zhytomyr region. A high-precision Onyx cruise missile destroyed a fuel base near Mykolaiv, from which the AFU grouping in the southern part of Ukraine was supplied with fuel.
- During the day, 117 military facilities of Ukraine were hit by operational-tactical and army aviation, - said the official representative of the military department, Major General Igor Konashenkov. — Among them are six command posts, three multiple rocket launchers, one S-300 anti-aircraft missile system, nine warehouses with weapons and ammunition, two with fuel, as well as 92 strong points of the AFU units, nationalist battalions and the area of concentration of military equipment.
Russian air defense systems shot down three Ukrainian aircraft — two Su-25 and one Su-24 — as well as six drones in the air over the village of Vishnevoye. In addition, a tactical missile of the Tochka-U complex was destroyed near the village of Vasilevka. Later, the Defense Ministry also reported that a Ukrainian Mi-24 helicopter was shot down over the village of Staraya Basan during the day.
During the day, three Ukrainian drones were destroyed over Balakleya, Kiev and Chernihiv, the ministry said. One Ukrainian UAV approaching Sevastopol in the airspace over the Black Sea was also destroyed.
Photo: IZVESTIA
Image source: iz.ru
Now the Russian military has begun the second stage of the operation, said military expert Vladislav Shurygin. Its main task is to knock out the military potential of Ukraine. At the first stage, strikes were carried out primarily on control points, positions and locations of troops, as well as on air defense systems.
- But now strikes are being carried out on all objects significant for the military construction of Ukraine, - said the military expert. - These are warehouses, storage bases of material assets, storage of fuel and lubricants. Also, production facilities where military equipment can be restored are being destroyed. The elimination of such facilities has far-reaching consequences. Ukrainian armed formations are being deprived of the necessary supplies. They will no longer be able to restore their military potential even after the end of hostilities.
General Konashenkov said on Saturday that over the past few days, many Russian citizens have received phone calls in which the voice of the answering machine reported that they were allegedly summoned to the military commissariat.
— I want to emphasize that all such calls are made from the territory of Ukraine and are a provocation of the Ukrainian special services. I officially declare: the Ministry of Defense of Russia does not conduct and does not plan any calls to military commissariats of citizens staying in reserve," the representative of the military department said.
Humanitarian operation
On Saturday, Colonel-General Mikhail Mizintsev, head of the National Defense Control Center (NCSO), spoke about the humanitarian operation in the war zone.
According to him, over the past day, 19,694 people, including 3,300 children, were evacuated to Russia from dangerous areas of Ukraine, Donetsk and Luhansk People's Republics without the participation of the Ukrainian authorities. Since the beginning of the operation, 439,420 people have already been taken out, of which 91,673 are children.
- From Mariupol, also without any participation of the Ukrainian side, 98,081 people have already been saved from the lawlessness organized by the nationalists, including 4183 people over the past day— - Mikhail Mizintsev said.
He noted that neo-Nazis continue to hold more than 4.5 million civilians as human shields in Kiev, Kharkiv, Chernihiv, Sumy and more than two dozen other large settlements.
Photo: IZVESTIA/Dmitry Korotaev
Image source: iz.ru
- In addition, 6,577 foreigners from 23 countries remain hostage to the militants of territorial defense battalions, and 67 foreign ships from 15 countries are blocked in Ukrainian ports. The threat of shelling and high mine danger created by official Kiev in its internal waters and territorial sea do not allow ships to safely leave the ports of Kherson, Nikolaev, Chernomorsk, Ochakov, Odessa, Yuzhny and go to the open sea," the general said.
The head of the NCSO told about the crimes of the militants, which are recorded by the Russian military.
- In Kramatorsk, a car that delivered drinking water to civilians of the city was subjected to mortar fire by nationalists. As a result, three people were injured, two were shell-shocked. The shelling was cynically carried out at the time of distribution of water to the local population. In Odessa, on the instructions of the governor of the region, the Khadjibey dam was mined, which the neo-Nazis plan to blow up. When these criminal actions are carried out, densely populated areas along with citizens will be in the flood zone. At the same time, the attempt of the representative of the State Emergency Service of Ukraine to prevent this insane decision was rudely and harshly suppressed up to the threat of execution. Thus, the Kiev authorities everywhere demonstrate complete indifference to their own people and willingness to sacrifice innocent people for the sake of realizing the geopolitical goals of their "Western masters," General Mizintsev said.
Against superior forces
On Saturday, March 26, the Russian Defense Ministry told about the soldiers and officers who showed courage and dedication in the battles. Paratrooper Corporal Vitaly Hismatullin, along with other soldiers and officers, came under heavy fire from the nationalist infantry fighting vehicles. Under fire, he managed to get close to the combat vehicle and destroy it with an accurate shot from a grenade launcher.
- The actions of the corporal allowed us to develop an offensive, as a result of which the enemy retreated, losing 29 people, — the Defense Ministry said. The paratroopers unit suffered no losses.
The group of the commander of the engineering assault company, Captain Ivan Bukharov, was engaged in mine clearance when it was attacked by superior forces of nationalists. The officer competently organized the defense and repulsed the attacks for an hour.
- After the approach of reinforcements, having destroyed the enemy, the personnel of Bukharov's group continued demining, - the military department noted. There were no losses on the part of Russian servicemen.
Photo: IZVESTIA/Andrey Erstrem
Image source: iz.ru
Lieutenant Vladimir Shapkhaev was responsible for organizing uninterrupted communication for the Battalion Tactical Group (BTG) during intense battles. When crossing the river, the units got into a fire bag. The bridge was destroyed, and the Russian forces were literally pinned to the ground. The lieutenant was able to deploy a complex hardware under fire, which provided communication with the headquarters. They managed to report the coordinates of the enemy there, which allowed them to return fire.
- The actions of the signalmen helped to repel the enemy's attack, ensure the prompt construction of the crossing and the advance of Russian troops, - the Defense Ministry said.
On Saturday, Deputy Defense Ministers of Russia Colonel-General Alexander Fomin and Colonel-General Yunus-Bek Yevkurov awarded soldiers and officers in hospitals, presenting distinguished Orders of Courage and medals "For Bravery".
Rosgvardiya also told about the actions of its units on March 26. Colonel I. Masalov's armored personnel carrier was set on fire from a grenade launcher, some of the servicemen were injured, and the combat vehicle caught fire. Despite the concussion, the officer evacuated the soldiers and continued to lead the battle. Having organized a rebuff, he returned to the burning APC for his krapov beret - a symbol of valor and honor of the special forces of the Russian Guard.
- Thanks to the decisive actions of the colonel, it was possible to withdraw a large amount of equipment and about a hundred people from under fire— - noted in the Rosgvardiya.
The special forces group of Colonel R. Tarasenko ensured the crossing of the river. During the battle, they summoned the fire of the main enemy forces, allowing neighboring units to break through the defense. During the battle, the colonel corrected the artillery fire, which destroyed the band and its arsenal.
Photo: IZVESTIA/Andrey Erstrem
Image source: iz.ru
Special Forces ensign R. Galyamov crossed the river under heavy fire and covered his comrades with fire. The seriously wounded Regardie kept the defense to the last.
Senior Sergeant D. Derbinsky, Corporal A. Danilov and R. Alykechev held an important line during the day, repelling several enemy attacks.
- Thanks to the courage and steadfastness of the fighters, the assault squad took a bridgehead, - noted in the Regardie.
The unit of captain Yu. Milanin was attacked by nationalists on the march. Even after being wounded, he competently organized the defense of the column, which made it possible to repel the militants. For courage and heroism, the officer was awarded the medal of the Order of Merit for the Fatherland of the II degree with swords, the Rosgvardiya noted.
Roman Kretsul
