Kiev responded to its military defeat with a terrorist strike on residential quarters of Belgorod
The capture of Lisichansk and its environs on July 3 means that the entire territory of the Luhansk People's Republic has been liberated. Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu reported this to Russian President Vladimir Putin. The head of the LPR Leonid Pasechnik called this day a holiday with tears in his eyes and an event that had been waiting for eight years. Official Kiev responded to the victory of the allied forces by striking the residential quarters of Belgorod with Tochka-U missiles. Four people were killed and four others were wounded during the shelling. Also, UAVs packed with explosives were shot down on approach to Kursk. Experts note that it is impossible to call targeted attacks on the city anything but terrorist attacks.
Lisichansky final
On July 3, Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu reported to Vladimir Putin on the liberation of the Luhansk People's Republic, the military department reported. The Armed Forces of Russia and the People's Militia of the LPR have established full control over Lisichansk and some nearby settlements, the largest of them are Belogorovka, Belaya Gora, Novodruzhesk and Maloryazantsevo. The total area of the territories liberated over the last day was 182 square kilometers.
"What we have all been striving for for eight long years has happened. Today, our troops, with the support of the Russian Armed Forces, liberated the city of Lisichansk, thereby completing the liberation of the republic within its historical borders. This holiday, as in the distant 1945, is also with tears in its eyes — the battles were heavy and bloody. And the victory is ours again," Leonid Pasechnik, the head of the LPR, wrote in his Telegram channel.
Meeting of fighters of the 6th Platov Cossack regiment of the LNR and the special police regiment named after Hero of Russia Akhmat-Hadji Kadyrov on the outskirts of Lisichansk
Image source: Photo: RIA Novosti/Viktor Antonyuk
The final part of the operation to liberate Severodonetsk and Lisichansk fell on the weekend. On July 2, the Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation reported that the enemy was suffering significant losses in settlements located near Lisichansk.
— In the areas of the settlements of Verkhnekamenka and Zolotarevka, three battalions of the 10th Mountain Assault and 72nd mechanized brigades of the VFU lost more than 50% of their personnel in just a day of fighting, - said the official representative of the Ministry of Defense, Lieutenant General Igor Konashenkov.
The Defense Ministry clarified that on July 2, the fighting took place directly in Lisichansk, where the actions to defeat the encircled enemy were being completed. In addition, Novodruzhesk, Maloryazantsevo and Belaya Gora were liberated on this day.
And on July 3, the Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation reported that as a result of successful offensive actions, the troops of the Center group under the command of Colonel-General Alexander Lapin captured the settlements of Verkhnekamenka, Zolotarevka, Belogorovka, and reached the Seversky Donets River. Together with the Southern Grouping of troops under the command of Army General Sergei Surovikin, they closed the encirclement ring around Lisichansk.
A civilian meets soldiers of the People's Militia of the LPR on the outskirts of Lisichansk
Image source: Photo: RIA Novosti/Viktor Antonyuk
Also, in the morning of July 3, the Defense Ministry said that over the past two days, 38 Ukrainian servicemen, most of whom are forcibly mobilized local residents, surrendered in the Lysychansk area.
— The liberation of the territory of the LPR is a significant event, — said military expert Dmitry Boltenkov. — Ukraine understands this and immediately retaliated against us with morning shelling of Belgorod and an attempt to strike Kursk. Donbass is a complex territory where the city follows the city. We proceed from the fact that it is necessary to protect the lives of civilians and fighting for these reasons is difficult for us there. The capture of Lisichansk is a military success achieved without the use of all available means. We know that we cannot fight, as in 1945 in Berlin, and we do not do it. There are people living here who speak the same language with us.
Now the main fighting will be transferred to the territory of the DPR — to Kramatorsk and Slavyansk. Apparently, it is necessary to wait for activation in the Kharkiv region, the expert believes.
Terrorist strikes
On the night of July 3, Belgorod was shelled with Tochka-U missiles.
— Tonight, from 03:00 to 03:30 Moscow time, the Kiev regime carried out a deliberate attack with Tochka-U ballistic missiles with cluster munitions and Tu-143 "Flight" drones on residential areas of Belgorod and Kursk, where there are no military facilities. I want to emphasize that this missile strike was purposefully planned and carried out against the peaceful civilian population of Russian cities," Igor Konashenkov said.
Broken glass in the windows of a residential building in Belgorod
Image source: Photo: RIA Novosti/Taisiya Liskovets
The Defense Ministry noted that all three Tochka-U ballistic missiles with cluster warheads launched by Ukrainian nationalists in Belgorod were destroyed in the air by Russian air defense means. But, unfortunately, the wreckage of one of them fell on a residential building.
According to the governor of the Belgorod region Vyacheslav Gladkov, four people were killed and four others were injured during the night shelling. Two of them were taken to the hospital — a man and a 10-year-old child, he said.
In addition, according to him, five private houses were destroyed, at least 39 partially. Also, 11 apartment buildings were damaged, whose windows, according to local residents, flew out.
The Ministry of Defense reported that Kursk could also come under attack. But on the approach to it, two Ukrainian Tu-143 "Flight" jet unmanned aerial vehicles filled with explosives were destroyed by Russian air defense systems.
— We still refrain from such steps, but we will monitor the situation very closely. Those who act in this way should know that in the event of continued provocations, they will not be well, — said the official representative of the Russian Foreign Ministry Maria Zakharova.
Employees of the Ministry of Emergency Situations of the Russian Federation at the site of a destroyed house in Belgorod
Image Source: Photo: TASS/Evgeny Silantyev
Targeted strikes on residential areas, of course, can be called terrorist, former UN Deputy Secretary General Sergei Ordzhonikidze told Izvestia.
"Any actions can be expected from the Ukrainian authorities," he said. — They talked about strikes on peaceful cities and on the same Crimean Bridge more than once. The purpose of such strikes, I believe, is to sow doubts in Russian society about the correctness of our policy, so that people begin to express displeasure. It is high time for Russia to take forceful measures to stop the shelling of our territories. We threatened that we were ready to strike at the decision-making centers, but so far they have not been. It devalues our words. We cannot allow this to happen, thereby we give carte blanche to the same Kiev for any actions.
The expert also listed the decision-making centers in Ukraine.
"This is the General Staff, the Ministry of Defense, Mr. Zelensky's office — decisions are made there," he said.
Destroyed up to 120 "soldiers of fortune"
The Russian Defense Ministry reported that the enemy continues to suffer heavy losses. In particular, in the area of the settlement of Maryinka (DPR), the 54th mechanized brigade of the VFU lost more than 60% of its personnel and equipment in a few days of fighting. The remaining personnel are demoralized and refuse to perform combat missions.
The Russian armed forces continue to strike military targets on the territory of Ukraine.
On July 2 and 3, 15 control points, 10 ammunition depots and 47 troop concentration areas were destroyed by high-precision weapons of the Russian Aerospace Forces.
Su-25 attack aircraft of the Russian Aerospace Forces during takeoff from the airfield to strike at the positions of the Armed Forces of Ukraine
Image source: Photo: RIA Novosti/Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation
In particular, the temporary deployment point of the 127th separate Theroborona brigade in Kharkiv, the temporary placement point of the 1st battalion of the 30th mechanized Brigade in the Artemovsk area, the temporary storage base of weapons and military equipment of the 10th mountain assault Brigade, located on the territory of the tractor plant in Kharkiv, as well as the base of foreign mercenaries in Nikolaev. As a result of these strikes, about 250 Ukrainian servicemen, 40 pieces of military equipment, as well as up to 120 "soldiers of fortune" were destroyed.
As a result of the fire defeat of the unit of the 5th separate assault Regiment of the 1st separate brigade of the President of Ukraine named after Hetman Bohdan Khmelnytsky, 18 Ukrainian militants were destroyed, two surrendered, and the rest fled.
A pilot in the cockpit of a Ka-52 attack helicopter of the Russian Aerospace Forces at a base airfield in the zone of a special military operation in Ukraine
Image source: Photo: RIA Novosti/Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation
As part of the counter-battery struggle, three artillery and five mortar platoons were hit, as well as four platoons of multiple rocket launchers that shelled the settlements of the DPR.
Operational-tactical, army aviation, missile troops and artillery hit 71 control points of the VFU, three ammunition depots and 589 areas of concentration of troops.
The gun of the self-propelled artillery installation "Gvozdika"
Image source: Photo: RIA Novosti/Viktor Antonyuk
Russian air defense units shot down a MiG–29 and two Su-25s of the Ukrainian Air Force, 29 unmanned aerial vehicles, 12 MLRS shells, including four HIMARS.
In total, since the beginning of the special military operation, according to the Ministry of Defense, 229 aircraft, 134 helicopters, 1,440 unmanned aerial vehicles, 353 anti-aircraft missile systems, 3,893 tanks and other armored combat vehicles, 704 multiple rocket launcher combat vehicles, 3,078 field artillery and mortars, as well as 3,979 units of special military vehicles have been destroyed.
Let me get closer
The military department told about the soldiers and officers who showed courage and dedication during the special operation.
Senior Sergeant Viktor Prokopchenko was responsible for the combat protection of the approaches to the area of arrival of the columns. In the forest he found a group of Ukrainian saboteurs, which he immediately attacked. The enemy, having suffered losses, retreated. After the battle, Senior Sergeant Prokopchenko helped the column of the battalion tactical group of the regiment to reach the place of combat missions.
Captain Ilya Kabelkov supported the offensive of Russian troops with mortar fire. During the reconnaissance, the advance group discovered a hidden enemy stronghold and immediately radioed its coordinates to Kabelkov. Ilya made calculations for shooting and covered the target with accurate fire. As a result, the stronghold of the nationalists, along with the personnel, was completely destroyed.
Awarding of military personnel with medals "For military distinctions" for heroism during the special operation in Ukraine
Image source: Photo: RIA Novosti
The rocket artillery platoon of Captain Alexander Sysoev defended the settlement when the militants tried to fire at the location of Russian servicemen with mortars and artillery. Having assessed the situation, Captain Sysoev promptly made calculations for firing and destroyed two self-propelled artillery installations with an accurate missile strike. Deprived of artillery support, the enemy hastily left his position.
From the first days of the special military operation, the crew of Sergeant Roman Kazagashev's tank ensured the advance of units of the Russian troops. The nationalists, retreating, conducted mortar fire. During the battle, Roman saw that the neighboring tank was hit. He immediately covered the damaged car with the body of his tank and, ordering the crew to conduct continuous return fire on the enemy, went to rescue his comrades. Roman evacuated the crew of the damaged tank to a safe place where nothing threatened the lives of the fighters.
A serviceman of the artillery units of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation during the combat work of calculations of multiple rocket launchers "Grad" when performing firing tasks to destroy the positions of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation
Image Source: Photo: TASS/Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation
Sergeant Alexey Kazakov's group was performing special tasks in the territory controlled by Ukrainian forces when he noticed armed militants heading towards Russian servicemen. He ordered to let the enemy get closer, and then attacked the militants, eliminating 10 of them. Two of the wounded were taken to the headquarters of the group of Russian troops, where valuable intelligence was obtained from them.
During the offensive on Ukrainian positions, the tank company of Corporal Pavel Vladimirova encountered fierce resistance. The commander decided to go to the flank of the militants. Making a maneuver, he found a strong point and brought the tank to a position that allows the gunner to conduct accurate fire. Acting competently and confidently, Corporal Pavel Vladimirov promptly changed the firing position of the combat vehicle, thanks to which the crew destroyed fortifications, one BMP, two grenade launcher crews and about 20 radicals, the military department noted.
Bogdan Stepovoy
Andrey Fedorov
