Due to the lack of food and water, the Kiev-controlled military are deserting en masse
During the storming of Lysychansk, the armed formations of Ukraine are suffering heavy losses, the Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation reported on June 29. So, in one of the Ukrainian battalions, out of 350 fighters, only 30 remained alive, according to those who surrendered. Due to problems with food, Ukrainian militants began to leave their positions and desert. Experts note that the situation of the Ukrainian forces in Lisichansk is hopeless, the allied troops should soon take the city. The DPR and Ukraine also exchanged prisoners according to the formula "144 to 144", the head of the DPR Denis Pushilin said. And Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu visited wounded Russian servicemen on June 29 and presented them with awards, including the Hero of Russia stars.
Storming of Lisichansk
During the offensive of Russian troops in the Lysychansk direction, the armed formations of Ukraine are suffering significant losses, the Russian military department said.
— In the area of the Lisichansk oil refinery, heavy losses were inflicted on the 10th Mountain Assault Brigade of the Armed Forces of Ukraine. According to the captured servicemen of this brigade, the 108th battalion was completely defeated. Of the 350 people in this unit, only 30 servicemen remained," said the official representative of the Russian Defense Ministry, Lieutenant General Igor Konashenkov.
There is a critical food situation in the units of the 115th Mechanized, 79th Airborne Assault and 25th Airborne Brigades of the VFU operating here. Due to hunger, numerous cases are recorded when military personnel leave positions and desert.
In Lisichansk, the Ukrainian group got into a difficult situation, military expert Alexey Leonkov told Izvestia.
"It's almost impossible to get out of the city,— he explained. — The only road to Seversk is shot through and it is very difficult to survive on it. Someone is trying to use civilian vehicles, hiding behind them, but this trick has long been figured out. They won't be able to escape.
Photo: REUTERS/Gleb Garanich
Image source: iz.ru
The expert noted that the VFU will try to hold out for some time in the city, where they have fortified positions.
— But this resistance, I think, will be short-lived, — he noted. — They are running out of ammunition, food and water are bad. They have nowhere to wait for artillery support. Now it is important to help them surrender, to use propaganda shells with instructions on how to do it more often. I think it should work. After Mariupol, everyone on the other side understands that the encirclement leads to defeat.
"Kraken" escaped to Kharkiv
On June 29, the Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation told about the destruction by Russian artillery of up to a hundred fighters of the Kraken national formation and about 10 units of military equipment. After that, the command of the militants left their positions and took the remnants of the unit to Kharkov.
The Russian armed forces continue to strike military targets on the territory of Ukraine.
— High-precision weapons of the Russian Aerospace Forces destroyed four control points during the day, including the territorial defense battalions "Kharkiv-1" and "Kharkiv—2" in the area of Kharkiv and the training base for foreign mercenaries in the area of the city of Nikolaev, - said Igor Konashenkov.
In addition, during the day, the Russian Aerospace Forces hit 32 areas of concentration of troops of the VFU, eight ammunition and weapons depots, as well as fuel and equipment repair bases.
As part of the counter-battery struggle, two Ukrainian platoons of Grad multiple launch rocket systems and two artillery platoons firing at DPR settlements were destroyed.
Operational-tactical, army aviation, rocket troops and artillery hit 39 control points, 216 areas of concentration of troops, six ammunition depots and artillery and mortar units in 68 districts, including a unit of French self-propelled artillery installations "Caesar" on Kubansky Island in the Odessa region, the military department said.
Multiple launch rocket system "Grad"
Image source: Photo: REUTERS/Gleb Garanich
The aircraft of the Russian Aerospace Forces shot down a MiG-29 fighter of the Ukrainian Air Force and destroyed a self-propelled installation of the Buk-M1 anti-aircraft missile system in a firing position.
Russian air defense units shot down two Su-25 aircraft, a Mi-8 helicopter, nine Ukrainian unmanned aerial vehicles, seven Tochka-U ballistic missiles and eight multiple rocket launchers.
— In total, since the beginning of the special military operation, 221 aircraft, 134 helicopters, 1,391 unmanned aerial vehicles, 351 anti—aircraft missile systems, 3,853 tanks and other armored combat vehicles, 692 multiple rocket launcher combat vehicles, 3,052 field artillery and mortar guns, as well as 3,907 units of special military vehicles have been destroyed, - Igor listed Konashenkov.
Awards for Heroes
On June 29, Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu presented awards to wounded servicemen who distinguished themselves during a special military operation at the P.V. Mandryk Central Military Clinical Hospital. The stars of the "Hero of Russia" were awarded to the commander of the 40th engineer-sapper regiment of the 41st Combined Arms Army, Lieutenant Colonel Rustam Saifullin and the commander of the motorized rifle platoon of the 5th separate tank brigade of the 36th Combined Arms Army, Senior Lieutenant Baldan Tsydypov.
During the meeting, Rustam Saifullin was offered the position of deputy head of the Tyumen Higher Military Command School. Baldan Tsydypov — the position of senior specialist-expert in one of the military commissariats of Moscow.
Also, the wounded servicemen who are being treated were awarded the Orders of Courage, medals "Zhukov", "Suvorov" and "For Courage".
Sergei Shoigu thanked the holders of orders and medals for their service and wished them a speedy recovery. He stressed that all the awardees adequately fulfilled their military duty.
Awards presented by Sergei Shoigu to wounded servicemen who distinguished themselves during a special military operation
Image source: Photo: Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation
The head of the hospital, Pavel Krayniukov, reported to the minister that all the servicemen who came to them had been operated on and were undergoing rehabilitation. According to him, they will soon be able to return to their units.
Prisoner exchange
The Donetsk People's Republic and Ukraine exchanged prisoners according to the formula "144 to 144", the head of the DPR Denis Pushilin said on June 29.
"Today, 144 fighters of the DPR and the Russian Federation who were captured by the enemy, we are returning home," he wrote in his Telegram channel.
According to him, most of the people transferred by Kiev are injured, they need urgent medical care.
"Our main task is to rescue the fighters who took part in the liberation special operation," the head of the republic stressed.
Scorched Earth Tactics
The armed formations of Ukraine continue to use civilian infrastructure for military purposes, Mikhail Mizintsev, head of the National Defense Management Center of the Russian Federation, said on June 29.
In Kramatorsk (DPR), militants of national battalions are deployed in the buildings of kindergarten No. 80 "Snowball" and school No. 35, and roadblocks, firing points and artillery guns are deployed on the approaches to institutions. In Odessa, firing positions and sniper points are equipped on the upper floors of residential buildings along Ekaterininskaya VFU Street. Local residents have not been evacuated from their apartments and are actually being used as a "human shield".
In Seversk (DPR), armored vehicles, large-caliber artillery and MLRS of Ukrainian armed formations are located on the territory of school No. 3. Residents of nearby houses are being held in the gym, allegedly under the pretext of ensuring their safety.
Photo: Yandex
Image source: iz.ru
"These facts once again demonstrate the indifference of the Ukrainian authorities to the fate of civilians and complete disregard for the provisions of international humanitarian law," Mikhail Mizintsev said.
Also, from intercepted radio conversations of nationalists and foreign mercenaries, it was reliably established that the militants, when the Russian Armed Forces and DPR units approach Avdiivka, copy the "scorched earth" tactics used by the Nazis during the Great Patriotic War, Mikhail Mizintsev noted. The VFU wants to wipe the city off the face of the earth, he said. As proof, the head of the National Security Center cited a recording of intercepted negotiations, where one of the militants says that they have "an order to burn Avdiivka to the ground."
"The purpose of such actions by Ukrainian nationalists is to accuse the Russian Armed Forces of allegedly indiscriminate strikes on civilian infrastructure facilities with extensive media coverage in the Ukrainian and Western media, according to an already worked—out scenario," he said.
On the other shore
The Ministry of Defense told about the servicemen who showed courage and dedication in the battles.
The group of junior sergeant Grigory Sazonov stormed the stronghold of the nationalists. Defending himself, the enemy opened mortar fire on the servicemen, as a result of which several paratroopers and the commander of the group were injured. Grigory, using the radio station of the head of the group, called a car to cover and evacuate the wounded.
After that, he carried the victims from the battlefield, gave them first aid and managed to repel the attack of the nationalists who tried to take them prisoner.
Having captured the positions of the militants, the junior sergeant's group headed to the settlement. On the march, Sazonov discovered a group of enemy saboteurs, immediately reported this to his commander and joined the battle. His fire allowed the main group to outflank the enemy.
Photo: RIA Novosti/Alexey Maishev
Image source: iz.ru
— As a result of the brave and competent actions of Junior Sergeant Grigory Sazonov, it was possible to surround and destroy the enemy's sabotage and reconnaissance group of 10 nationalists without losses on our part, - the Defense Ministry noted.
The battalion-tactical group, which included the tank crew of Senior Sergeant Sergei Pyatin, led an offensive against the enemy's fortified area.
Having met fierce resistance, the tank company commander decided to bypass the fortified positions from the flank. Pyatin's combat vehicle, having entered the firing position one of the first, destroyed an enemy tank and an infantry fighting vehicle with two aimed shots.
In response, the enemy fired at Sergei's combat vehicle, whose turret was jammed due to hits. Having instantly oriented himself, the senior sergeant ordered the driver to maneuver so that Senior Sergeant Pyatin could fire at the enemy with a jammed turret.
Thanks to the competent actions of the crew, an enemy tank, an infantry fighting vehicle, a grenade launcher crew and up to 20 enemy infantry were destroyed.
— As a result of the courageous and professional actions of Senior Sergeant Sergei Pyatin, the enemy, despite the numerical superiority, left their positions, — the Defense Ministry said.
The guard unit of Senior Sergeant Alexei Skulkin forced a water barrier under enemy mortar fire. Having gained a foothold on the enemy bank of the river, Alexey organized a defense and an observation post, providing cover for the guided pontoon crossing. The enemy repeatedly tried to regain control of the coast, but all attempts were successfully repelled by Alexey and his subordinates.
Alexey Skulkin's bold and decisive actions helped to quickly build a bridge and quickly transfer troops to the opposite shore, the military department said.
Bogdan Stepovoy
Andrey Fedorov
