A planned regrouping of troops is being carried out in the Kiev and Chernihiv directions, the main tasks of the Russian Armed Forces have been completed there. This was announced on March 30 by the official representative of the Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation, Major General Igor Konashenkov.
It is noted that the regrouping is carried out in order to "intensify actions in priority areas and complete the operation to liberate Donbass."
The deployment of the Russian armed forces is connected with the end of the first part of the special operation, the Defense Ministry said. The task of the troops was to concentrate their forces, means, resources and military equipment to hold large settlements in these areas, including Kiev, and take the cities without storming in order to avoid civilian casualties, the ministry said.
The Ukrainian formations were defeated, which did not allow them to use their forces in the main direction of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation, including in the airspace. This goal was achieved at the end of the first stage, the Ministry of Defense said.
"In the absence of an influx of fresh enemy forces from the western and central regions of Ukraine, through professional military actions, using the absolute superiority in the air won, also using modern high—precision weapons, — to create all the necessary conditions for the final stage of the operation to liberate the People's republics of Donbass," Konashenkov said.
He added that it was possible to take all the main lines of communication, supply and approach reserves. Ukraine's air defense systems, airfield infrastructure, major military depots, training and concentration centers for soldiers from other countries who arrived in Ukraine have been eliminated.
The armed forces of the Russian Federation continue to clean up the settlement of Zolotaya Niva from the Ukrainian military: up to 50 personnel, three tanks, 5 infantry fighting vehicles, 8 vehicles for various purposes have been liquidated. The stripping of Zhitlovka and the fighting on the approaches to Velikaya Novoselka and Severodonetsk continue.
Earlier in the day, the head of the Donetsk People's Republic (DPR) announced that their forces had liberated more than half of the territory from Ukrainian troops. The head of the republic added that the operation to liberate the DPR is accelerating, but it is too early to talk about the timing of its completion.
At the same time, the head of the Defense Ministry, Sergei Shoigu, said that the Russian military had fulfilled the main tasks of the first stage — they significantly reduced the combat potential of Ukraine, gaining air supremacy. In addition, the country's naval forces are affected. The main goal in the Russian military department was called the liberation of Donbass.
He added that Russian aviation had gained air supremacy, almost completely destroying the air force and the air defense systems of the Armed Forces of Ukraine. So, out of 152 aircraft that were in the combat composition of the Ukrainian troops before the start of the operation, 123 were destroyed, 77 out of 149 helicopters, 152 out of 180 long— and medium—range air defense systems.
The same was stated in the Ministry of Defense following the results of negotiations between Kiev and Moscow in Istanbul on March 29, held against the background of a special operation in Ukraine.
The situation in the region worsened on February 17. In the Donetsk and Luhansk People's Republics, intense shelling by Ukrainian security forces, including from heavy weapons, was reported. The republics announced a general mobilization and evacuation of civilians to the territory of Russia. On February 21, Russian President Vladimir Putin signed decrees recognizing the independence of the DPR and the LPR.
On February 24, Russia launched a special operation to protect the civilian population of Donbass.
For more relevant videos and details about the situation in Donbass, watch the Izvestia TV channel.
