In Mariupol, the storming troops prevented an attempt by Ukrainian units to break out of the encirclement
It would be possible to carry out a special military operation in Ukraine faster, Russian President Vladimir Putin said on April 12. However, the priority, according to him, is another — the task is "to achieve all the goals set, minimizing losses." The Russian Armed Forces continue to strike at military facilities in Ukraine. The defeat of the remnants of the group in Mariupol is coming to an end. According to the Ministry of Defense, an attempt by Ukrainian formations to break out of the city was prevented the day before. According to experts, now one of the main goals of the Russian army is the destruction of the enemy's remaining air defense systems.
Breakthrough Attempt
On Tuesday, April 12, the Russian Ministry of Defense reported an unsuccessful attempt by a part of the Mariupol garrison to break out of the blockaded city. On the evening of April 11, at night, the remnants of units of Ukrainian troops numbering up to 100 people in armored vehicles, surrounded on the territory of the Ilyich plant, tried to leave the city in a northerly direction. This plan was thwarted by air strikes and artillery.
— Three Ukrainian tanks, five infantry fighting vehicles, seven vehicles and up to 50 personnel were destroyed, another 42 Ukrainian servicemen voluntarily laid down their weapons and surrendered, — said the official representative of the Ministry of Defense, Major General Igor Konashenkov.
The operational and tactical aviation of the Russian Aerospace Forces hit 70 military facilities of Ukraine during the day, the general said. Among them are the Buk—M1 anti-aircraft missile system in the Novomikhailovka area, the illumination and guidance radar of the S-300 anti-aircraft missile system near Zolotarevka.
Also, the aircraft attacked an ammunition depot in Toshkovka, Luhansk region, and eight areas of concentration of Ukrainian military equipment in the settlements of Glazunovka, Pyatigorsk and Prishib, Kharkiv region.
— During the night, high—precision air- and sea-based missiles destroyed an ammunition depot and a protected hangar with Ukrainian aviation equipment at the Starokonstantinov military airfield in the Khmelnytsky region, as well as an ammunition depot near the settlement of Gavrilovka in the Kiev region, - Igor Konashenkov said.
The damaged tank of the Ukrainian Armed Forces
Image source: Photo: IZVESTIA/Dmitry Korotaev
The Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation states that since the beginning of the special military operation, 130 aircraft, 99 helicopters, 244 anti-aircraft missile systems, 445 unmanned aerial vehicles, 2,153 tanks and other armored combat vehicles, 241 multiple rocket launchers, 924 field artillery and mortar guns, as well as 2,063 units of special military vehicles have been destroyed.
Colonel-General Mikhail Mizintsev, head of the National Defense Management Center (NCSO), said on Wednesday that 25,560 people, including 3,482 children, had been evacuated to Russia from the Donetsk and Luhansk People's Republics and dangerous regions of Ukraine. A total of 765,779 people have been evacuated since the beginning of the operation, of which 144,105 are children.
Colonel-General Mizintsev pointed out that in Kharkiv, militants continue to equip positions in residential buildings, kindergartens, schools, and place heavy weapons in densely populated neighborhoods. At the same time, since April 10, the evacuation of citizens from the city has been prohibited.
In the Chernihiv region, according to him, nationalists continue to conduct raids on private households, during which, under threat of physical violence and murder, they forcibly seize food, material valuables, as well as personal cars from people.
"The Kiev authorities, under the patronage of the countries of the collective West, led by the United States, continue to collect pseudo—evidence of Russia's guilt," the general also said. — For this purpose, a curfew and a complete blockade of the city will be imposed in Irpen from 06:00 on April 12, 2022 to 09:00 on April 15, 2022, while only representatives of law enforcement agencies and incomprehensible volunteers will be allowed to enter during this period. It has been reliably established that this period of time will be used by Kiev to carry out a provocation with the organization of cynical staged filming and further promotion of fake by Western media. We already know about this, so we warn the so-called civilized West in advance.
Hunting for air defense
Military expert Vladislav Shurygin explained to Izvestia why the Defense Ministry has been paying special attention to strikes on Ukrainian air defense complexes for several days in a row.
— Such fortifications have been created on the Donbass arc for eight years that it is difficult to take them with artillery alone — aviation assistance will be very useful, — the expert believes. — And now it is necessary to suppress ground air defense so that aircraft can operate as intensively as possible to support ground troops. During the negotiating respite, Kiev managed to regroup its air defense forces. The command of the AFU pulled them closer to the Donbass, where, in his opinion, a decisive battle should take place. The recently destroyed S-300s, which were handed over by Slovakia, were also taken there.
Strike by the Iskander operational-tactical missile system
Image source: Photo: RIA Novosti/Press Service of the Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation
The expert noted that the maximum danger will be posed not even by the S-300, but by the Buk mobile complexes and similar systems. Their early suppression is necessary for the success of any offensive.
— The old S-300s available to the APU are a very complex system that requires good training and interaction of dozens of people, a serviceable match. The division is clearly visible both on the march and in the position, it is easier to find it, then to cover it with an Iskander or a Tornado. Small complexes, such as Buk and Osa, will be even more dangerous for airplanes and helicopters. They are easy to hide and disguise. Individual vehicles can operate from ambushes, activating only for a short time, shooting and hiding again, even when all the S-300s have already been suppressed," Vladislav Shurygin noted.
Evacuated from under fire
On April 12, the Russian Defense Ministry told about soldiers and officers who showed courage and dedication during the fighting. Corporal Mikhail Krylov, being part of the inspection group that ensures the safety of the movement of the military column, discovered a Ukrainian sabotage and reconnaissance group. Having reported to the main forces about the upcoming ambush, Mikhail was one of the first to join the battle.
With heavy fire from the combat vehicle, Mikhail shackled the actions of the saboteurs, allowing the column to turn into battle formation. Even after being wounded, he did not withdraw from the battle, continuing to fire. Regrouped Russian forces attacked Ukrainian saboteurs.
"Thanks to the skillful actions of Mikhail Krylov, the formation of Ukrainian militants was destroyed, and the Russian column arrived in the designated area at the set time without losses," the Russian Defense Ministry noted.
A DPR NM serviceman on the front line in the Left-bank district of Mariupol
Image source: Photo: RIA Novosti/Ilya Pitalev
The engineering brigade of Colonel Roman Brikulsky in an important strategic direction under heavy fire brought a river crossing. On the bridge under construction, Ukrainian formations fired mortars, anti-aircraft guns and RPG—7 grenade launchers, cold water and bad weather did not contribute to the work - a squall wind rose. Despite this, by the end of the day, the ferry with a length of about 100 m was ready.
— Thanks to the professional actions of Colonel Brikulsky, columns of Russian equipment crossed to the other side in a timely manner and forced the enemy out of their positions, — the Defense Ministry noted. At the same time, there were no losses among the soldiers and officers of the engineering brigade.
The squad leader of the automobile platoon, Senior Sergeant Vladimir Vatrusenko, saved a large amount of military equipment and ammunition. During the urban battles, Ukrainian formations opened heavy artillery fire on the parking lot. Sergeant Vatrusenko was the first to understand where the danger was coming from, and brought out a car loaded with ammunition from under fire. After that, he returned to the parking lot to help his comrades. Taking out the wounded from under fire, Senior Sergeant Vatrusenko received a shrapnel wound, but despite this, he was able to deliver them to a safe place.
The actions of Senior Sergeant Vladimir Vatrusenko, who saved a large amount of ammunition, allowed Russian paratroopers to liberate the settlement from nationalists, the Russian military department noted.
Anton Lavrov