During the implementation of a special military operation to protect civilians in Donbass, the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation destroyed eight Ukrainian launchers from the Tochka-U tactical missile systems. Nevertheless, there is still a possibility of provocations from Kiev, said on April 8, the official representative of the Russian Defense Ministry, Major General Igor Konashenkov.
"I want to emphasize that the Ukrainian Armed Forces still possess a significant arsenal of Tochka-U missiles. Before the start of the special military operation, the Kiev regime had 20 Tochka-U missile systems at its disposal, which include two launchers," Konashenkov said, stressing that missile strikes against populated areas with civilians in them are possible.
Tactical missiles "Tochka-U", according to the representative of the department, are used exclusively by the military of the Armed Forces of Ukraine (AFU). The maximum flight range is 120 km. The mass of the warhead is 482 kg containing 20 fragmentation combat elements, each 7.5 kg, forming about 16 thousand fragments.
"The analysis of the radius of destruction of the warhead, as well as the characteristic position of the body of the tail part of the Tochka-U rocket unequivocally confirm that its launch was carried out from the south—western direction from Kramatorsk," Konashenkov added, analyzing the strike on the railway station of the city that occurred earlier in the day.
After the news of the Tochka-U missile attack appeared, the head of the Donetsk People's Republic (DPR) Denis Pushilin called it a war crime on the part of Ukraine. The Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation stated, in turn, that all statements about the alleged Russian "missile attack" on the railway station of the city of Kramatorsk are a provocation.
As a result of the strike, at least 50 people were killed, including children. Also, at least 100 people were injured of varying severity. The Main Investigative Department of the Investigative Committee of the Russian Federation has opened a criminal case on the fact of the mass death of the civilian population.
Earlier, on March 30, it was reported that the APU struck a "Dot-U" in Lugansk. Then the message said that one shelling was recorded by the armed formations of Ukraine: 05.25 n.p. Severodonetsk–Lugansk: "Dot-U"
In mid-February, due to the aggravation of the situation in the Donbass as a result of shelling by the Ukrainian military, the Donetsk and Lugansk People's Republics announced the evacuation of civilians to the Russian Federation and asked for recognition of independence.
On February 21, Russian President Vladimir Putin signed a corresponding decree. On February 24, Russia launched a special operation to protect the civilian population of Donbass. As the press secretary of the head of state Dmitry Peskov clarified, the special operation pursues two goals - demilitarization and denazification of Ukraine. According to him, both of these aspects pose a threat to the Russian state and people.
Watch more relevant videos and details about the situation in Donbass on the Izvestia TV channel.