Military operation in Ukraine. The main thing

The Ministry of Defense reported that a Ukrainian helicopter had been shot down, and Ukrainian military men who had hidden were found at Azovstal.The main thing about the events around the special military operation - in the material of RBC *

Main by 11:45 Moscow time

The Russian Ministry of Defense announced the destruction of Ukrainian military equipment and areas of concentration of manpower, including in the areas of the settlements of Nikolaevka and Berestovoye (DPR), Dneprovskoye (Nikolaevskaya news).

“In the area of ​​​​the Pokrovsk railway station (DPR), as a result of the strike, units and military equipment of the 10th mountain assault brigade of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, which arrived to reinforce the Ukrainian group in the Donbass, were destroyed during the unloading.”

The military department also reported that a Ukrainian Mi-24 helicopter was shot down by air defense forces over the village of Gusarovka (Kharkiv region).

The HEAD of the DPR, Denis Pushilin, told RIA Novosti that it would be expedient to talk about holding a referendum on joining RUSSIA after reaching the borders fixed in the republic's constitution.

Pushilin also said that during the inspection of Azovstal, the Ukrainian military were detained at the enterprise, who were hiding or lagged behind when the main group was taken prisoner. “But isn’t there someone else hiding? We have yet to answer 100% until we thoroughly check every nook and cranny of Azovstal, and there the territory is quite serious,” said the head of the DPR.

Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi said that efforts should be made to resolve the conflict in Ukraine, and not "add fuel to the fire." According to him, Beijing's role in this matter is constructive.

The Ambassador of the Luhansk People's Republic in Russia, Rodion Miroshnik, said that about 8,000 Ukrainian prisoners of war are in the territory of the LPR and the DPR. "That's a lot, and literally hundreds are added every day," he said.

Israel refused to allow the delivery of Spike missiles, which are produced in Germany using Israeli technology, to Ukraine, Axios reported. Tel Aviv asked the Pentagon to supply missiles, but Israeli Defense Minister Amir Eshel refused.

The index of the Moscow Exchange as of 11:45 increased by 1.8% to the mark of 2382 points.

On the Moscow Exchange, the DOLLAR rate as of 11:30 was ₽60.72, the euro rate was ₽63.47.

The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) has stopped supplies of vital medicines to medical institutions in Donbass "under the pretext of an allegedly unstable situation," Colonel-General Mikhail Mizintsev, head of Russia's National Defense Control Center, said.

The crisis associated with military operations in Ukraine could lead to default in 70 developing countries of the world, warned the administrator of the UN development program Achim Steiner. This is due to the global rise in inflation, food and energy prices.

Where is the fighting taking place

On May 25, Ivan Filiponenko, a representative of the people's militia of the LPR, announced the occupation of the settlement of Toshkovka (southeast of Lisichansk).

On May 24, the TASS agency, citing the mayor of Debaltseve, reported that the Russian flag had been raised over the building of the mayor's office in the city of Svetlodarsk (northeast of Gorlovka).

The head of the DPR, Denis Pushilin, told Interfax that an assault on the city of Krasny Lyman (Liman) began in the Donbass, in which Russian units, as well as the people's militia of the DPR and LPR, are participating. According to him, "about half of the city" is under the control of the attackers.

On May 23, Deputy Head of the Ministry of Information of the DPR Daniil Bezsonov said on the air of Channel One that the offensive had resumed in the areas of Avdiivka and Liman (Krasny Liman).

On May 17, a representative of the people's militia of the LPR reported that the units of the republic managed to occupy the village of Orekhovo (east of the city of Zolote). The day before, parts of the LPR occupied the village of Novozvanovka (to the north of the city of Popasnaya).

On May 12, the defense department of the LPR reported that the people's militia had pushed Ukrainian servicemen away from Popasna. “The units continue to develop an offensive south of the city and on Lysichansk, cutting off Ukrainian fighters from supply lines and leaving them no room for maneuver,” the message, which was published by the Luhansk Information Center, said.

On May 11, the head of Chechnya, Ramzan Kadyrov, announced that during the joint offensive of the people's militia of the LPR and the Akhmat unit, the settlements of Yuzhny and Voevodovka, the Zarya gunpowder factory, as well as several summer cottages to the north and northwest of Severodonetsk were occupied.

On the morning of May 10, the Russian Ministry of Defense reported that the forces of the People's Militia of the LPR, together with Russian troops, had reached the administrative border of the LPR (west of Popasnaya), in the evening they again commented on the situation around Snake Island. According to Igor Konashenkov, the attempt to seize the island over the past three days resulted in the death of more than 50 Ukrainian soldiers, the loss of four aircraft, ten helicopters, three boats and 30 drones, which became a "catastrophe for the Armed Forces of Ukraine."

On May 5, the People's Militia of the DPR occupied the village of Troitskoye, from which Gorlovka was shelled. According to the Donetsk News Agency, the First Separate Mechanized Battalion of the Territorial Defense of the DPR, with the support of special forces, was engaged in cleaning up the settlement.

On the morning of May 5, the Ministry of Defense announced the destruction of three Ukrainian Su-24, Su-25 and Su-27 aircraft, more than 600 people and 61 pieces of equipment and weapons. A front-line bomber was shot down in the vicinity of Zmeiny Island, where the Russian military shot down a Ukrainian Bayraktar-TB2 drone during the night. In total, 14 Ukrainian unmanned aerial vehicles were shot down by the morning and two rockets of the Smerch multiple launch rocket system were intercepted.

High-precision air-launched missiles at a military airfield near Kirovograd destroyed aviation equipment, a large ammunition depot in the city of Nikolaev, and a fuel storage facility for Ukrainian military equipment in the Zhovtneve region. Also, strikes were made on the forward command post of the 17th separate tank brigade of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, four areas of concentration of manpower and military equipment, as well as two warehouses of military equipment at a military airfield near Kramatorsk. Russian operational-tactical and army aviation attacked 93 areas of concentration of manpower and Ukrainian military equipment.

The evening message of the Russian Defense Ministry dated May 4 reported the destruction of four artillery batteries and three ammunition depots in the areas of the settlements of Mirnaya Dolina and Toshkovka. Operational-tactical and army aviation of the Russian Aerospace Forces hit 77 areas of concentration of manpower and military equipment. Up to 310 nationalists and 36 units of weapons and military equipment were destroyed. In addition, a Ukrainian battery of multiple launch rocket systems BM-21 Grad was hit at firing positions.

On the morning of May 4, the Ministry of Defense reported long-range strikes in the areas of several railway stations in Ukraine: Podbortsy, Lvov, Volonets, Timkovo and Pyatikhatka. According to the agency, the strikes destroyed six traction electrical substations on the railways, "through which the Ukrainian group of troops in the Donbas was supplied with weapons and ammunition manufactured in the United States and European countries."

On the afternoon of April 29, the Ministry of Defense announced the destruction of the production buildings of the Artem rocket and space industry enterprise in Kyiv.

By the evening of April 28, the Ministry of Defense announced the destruction of seven Ukrainian drones over the settlements of the DPR, LPR and Kherson region by air defense forces. Also during the day, three Ukrainian Tochka-U ballistic missiles were shot down in the areas of the settlements of Petropillia and Malaya Kamyshevakha [Kharkiv region]. Russian missile troops destroyed the Ukrainian launcher of the Tochka-U tactical missile system.

During the day on April 28, the operational-tactical and army aviation of the Russian Aerospace Forces hit 76 military facilities of Ukraine, including two depots of missile and artillery weapons. More than 320 personnel of the Armed Forces of Ukraine and 35 units of armored vehicles and vehicles were destroyed. Another 38 Ukrainian military facilities, including six depots of rocket and artillery weapons, ammunition and fuel, were hit by high-precision air-launched missiles of the Russian Aerospace Forces.

On the morning of April 27, the Russian Ministry of Defense announced the destruction of hangars on the territory of the Zaporozhye aluminum plant, where a large batch of foreign weapons and ammunition was stored, by Kalibr missiles. During the day, 17 military targets were hit by high-precision air-launched missiles.

Among the targets that were hit by VKS aviation were the Buk-M1 anti-aircraft missile systems in the Slavyansk region and the S-300 in the Nikolaevka region. Rocket troops and artillery on the night of April 27 delivered 573 strikes, during the day - another 309.

On April 26, the Ministry of Defense announced the destruction of two Ukrainian Tochka U missiles over the settlements of Tokmak and Svatovo. In addition, two launchers of Buk-M1 and Osa AKM anti-aircraft missile systems were destroyed in the areas of Vesely and Prishib. Two Ukrainian S-300 anti-aircraft missile systems, a Tochka-U tactical missile launcher, and an electronic warfare station were destroyed in the area of ​​the Barvenkovo ​​settlement.

The military department stated that 87 objects of Ukraine were hit by operational-tactical and army aviation: “About 500 enemy personnel, 59 armored vehicles, artillery pieces and vehicles were destroyed, as well as more than 60 militants of a nationalist formation in the area of ​​​​the Rubtsy settlement of the Donetsk People's Republic Donbass.

On April 25, the People's Militia of the LPR announced the occupation of the village of Novotoshkovskoye (to the northeast of Popasnaya). On the same day, the head of the LPR, Igor Plotnitsky, visited the city of Rubizhnoye, the occupation of which was previously announced by the head of Chechnya, Ramzan Kadyrov.

On April 19, Russian missile forces and artillery attacked 1,053 military targets in Ukraine, Defense Ministry spokesman Igor Konashenkov said. As a result, according to the agency, 910 strongholds and "areas of concentration of enemy manpower", 106 artillery firing positions, 31 command posts and six warehouses of fuel and lubricants were destroyed.

During the night, the Russian Aerospace Forces attacked 73 Ukrainian targets, including four command posts and four ammunition depots, and destroyed six tanks, nine armored vehicles and a battery of 152-mm Msta-B howitzers. Air defense forces shot down two Ukrainian Tochka-U tactical missiles and six drones.

The Ministry of Defense during the evening briefing on April 19 reported attacks on regular military facilities in Ukraine. In particular, in the Barvenkovo ​​area (Kharkiv region), air-launched missiles managed to destroy the launcher of the Buk-M1 anti-aircraft missile system. In addition, in the areas of the settlements of Mirnoye, Slavyansk and Popasnaya, 15 armored vehicles were destroyed during air attacks. The loss in manpower of the Ukrainian army in the Ministry of Defense was estimated at 180 people.

On the morning of April 19, the Russian defense department reported that missile troops and artillery of the Russian ground forces during the night struck 1,260 military facilities of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, and 13 strongholds of Ukrainian troops were suppressed by high-precision air-launched missiles. Russian aircraft attacked 60 Ukrainian military facilities, including the destruction of two warehouses with Tochka-U missile warheads in Chervonaya Polyana and Balakleya.
Russian air defense systems shot down a Ukrainian MiG-29 in the Malinovka region, and two Tochka-U missiles were intercepted in the regions of Petropolie and Malaya Kamyshevakhi.

On the evening of April 18, the Ministry of Defense announced the strike with precision-guided missiles at the 124th Joint Logistics Support Center of the Logistics Forces of the Ukrainian troops in the Lviv region and the destruction of "large consignments of foreign weapons." Another large ammunition depot was destroyed near the city of Vasilkov (Kyiv region). According to the military department, in addition to this, the plant for the repair of warheads of Tochka-U tactical missiles in the Dnieper was also destroyed.

On April 18, the Ministry of Defense reported that high-precision missiles from aircraft had been hit by 16 Ukrainian military facilities, five enemy command posts, a fuel storage facility, three ammunition depots, as well as personnel and military equipment concentrated in the areas of the settlements of Barvenkovo, Gulyaypole, Kamyshevakh, were destroyed. Green Field, Velikomikhaylovka and Nikolaev. Aviation also struck at 108 areas of concentration of personnel and Ukrainian military equipment.

With Iskander missiles, the Russian military destroyed four warehouses of weapons and Ukrainian military equipment, as well as three enemy manpower concentration areas near the settlements of Popasnaya, Yampol and Kramatorsk. During the night, Russian artillery units attacked 315 targets of Ukrainian troops.

The Ministry of Defense also reported that air defense forces shot down three Ukrainian combat aircraft: two MiG-29 fighters in the Izyum area and a Su-25 in the Avdiivka area. 11 Ukrainian unmanned aerial vehicles were also shot down.

On April 16, the Ministry of Defense announced that the metallurgical plant named after Ilyich had been taken under control in Mariupol.

The military department spoke about the Caliber missile attack on the Vizar Zhulyansky machine-building plant in Kyiv, where anti-aircraft missile systems and ship-based missiles were manufactured and repaired. The Ministry of Defense warned that the scale of missile strikes against targets in Kyiv would increase in response to attacks and sabotage in Russia.

On April 15, the Ministry of Defense announced that the metallurgical plant named after Ilyich had been taken under control in Mariupol. Before that, the military department was told that more than a thousand soldiers of the 26th Marine Brigade of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, who defended the enterprise, had surrendered.

On April 11, the Russian Ministry of Defense announced the occupation of the village of Kamenka in the Kharkov region. The military department noted that it was "one of the most fortified defense lines in the Izyum region."

On the evening of April 7, the Russian Ministry of Defense reported that Russian units had completely blocked the settlements of Ugledar and Novomikhailovka (southwest of Donetsk).

On the morning of April 7, the Russian Ministry of Defense announced the destruction of four bases for storing fuel and lubricants near Nikolaev, in Zaporozhye, near Kharkov and near Chuguev. The department also announced a complete cleansing of the village of Sladkoe.

According to the Ministry of Defense, on the morning of April 6, Russian military air and ground-based high-precision missiles destroyed five bases for storing fuel and lubricants in Ukraine in the areas of the settlements of Radekhov (Volyn region), Kazatin (Vinnitsa region), Prosyanaya (Dnipropetrovsk region), Nikolaev ( Mykolaiv region) and Novomoskovsk (Dnepropetrovsk region).

By the end of the day on April 5, the Ministry of Defense announced the destruction of two more Ukrainian helicopters in the Mariupol region. The military department believes that they tried to evacuate the leaders of the nationalists. Formations of the LPR continued to fight on the outskirts of the village of Novotoshkovskoye (east of Severodonetsk).

On the morning of April 5, the Ministry of Defense announced the destruction the night before in the Ochakov area of ​​the Training Center for Ukrainian Special Operations Forces, which was used, among other things, "to accommodate foreign mercenaries." Also, high-precision missiles destroyed four fuel storage facilities for supplying groups of Ukrainian troops in the areas of the settlements of Kremenets, Cherkassy, ​​Zaporozhye and Novomoskovsk.

During the night, Russian Aerospace Forces aviation and missile forces hit 134 Ukrainian military facilities, shot down four Ukrainian drones.

On the evening of April 4, the Ministry of Defense reported that during the offensive, the people's militia blocked Novotoshkovskoye, Borovskoye and Metelkino (settlements east of Severodonetsk). Earlier, only a partial blocking of Novotoshkovsky and Metelkino was reported.

The Ministry of Defense also offered the Ukrainian military to lay down their arms and leave Mariupol. They will be able to leave the city from 6:00 on Tuesday, April 5. The Russian department claims that the route has been agreed with Kyiv, and the soldiers who laid down their arms are promised to save their lives.

On the morning of April 4, the Russian Ministry of Defense reported that Russian aviation had hit 14 military targets of Ukraine during the night, including two command posts, two launchers of Buk-M1 anti-aircraft missile systems in the Krasnogorka (Kirovograd region) and Verkhnetoretskoe (Donetsk oblast), one artillery battery, two depots of rocket-artillery weapons and ammunition, and three fuel depots, as well as six strong points and areas of concentration of military equipment of Ukrainian troops.

The Russian armed forces also attacked an airfield in the suburbs of Nikolaev, destroying three helicopters of the Armed Forces of Ukraine. In addition, according to the Ministry of Defense, the Russian military shot down six unmanned aerial vehicles over the past night in the areas of the settlements of Nikolaev, Kherson, Kurakhovka (Donetsk region), Industrialnoe (Luhansk region), Velikaya Novoselka (Donetsk region). In total, 392 Ukrainian drones have been shot down since the beginning of the special operation.

According to the Ministry of Defense on April 3, LPR units blocked the settlement of Borovskoye (a village in the Luhansk region) from the east and south. The Mirgorod airfield in the Poltava region was also disabled. More than 100 "nationalists and mercenaries of Western countries" were killed by an Iskander missile strike at the defense headquarters in Kharkov. During the day, the Russian military hit 28 military facilities in Ukraine.

The head of Chechnya, Ramzan Kadyrov, said that Chechen fighters began to storm the plant in Mariupol. Earlier, he demanded that the Ukrainian forces leave the territory of Azovstal, threatening to launch an assault.

On March 31, the Ministry of Defense announced the complete occupation of the settlement of Zolotaya Niva. Russian units "crossed the Kashlagach River and entrenched themselves at an advantageous line."

According to the Russian Ministry of Defense, units of the LPR have completed the cleansing of Zhitlovka, advanced 5 km and are fighting on the outskirts of Kremennaya.

On March 30, the Russian Ministry of Defense announced a breakthrough in the enemy’s defenses, forcing the Shaitanka River, reaching Velikaya Novoselka and clearing the Golden Niva of the nationalists.

The Ministry of Defense also reported that the people's militia of the LPR continued its offensive against Severodonetsk and was cleaning up the settlement of Zhitlovka.

On March 28, the Ministry of Defense reported that Russian units managed to penetrate 2 km deep into the defenses of the 95th Airborne Assault Brigade of the Ukrainian Army and reach the southern outskirts of Novoselivka.

According to the military department, the people's militia of the LPR captured the settlements of Ivanovka, Novosadovoe, reaching the Novolyublino-Terny line.

On the morning of March 25, the Ministry of Defense reported that during the night the Russian Armed Forces advanced 4 km and captured the settlements of Batmanka, Mikhailovka, Krasny Partizan, Stavki and Troitskoye.

On the morning of March 24, the Ministry of Defense announced that the Russian armed forces had taken full control of the city of Izyum in the Kharkiv region of Ukraine. According to the morning report, Russian aircraft attacked 60 Ukrainian military targets overnight. Near Kyiv, 13 anti-aircraft missile systems of the Armed Forces of Ukraine were hit by high-precision weapons.

On March 23, the Ministry of Defense reported that units of the Russian Armed Forces had advanced 2 km and were fighting on the southern outskirts of Novomikhailovka. The DPR detachments, in turn, fought for the capture of Kamenka and Novobakhmutovka. On the same day, the Russian military reported an attack by “sea-based long-range precision weapons” on military targets near the Ukrainian city of Rivne. According to the Ministry of Defense, an arsenal with weapons and military equipment was destroyed there.

On March 22, the Ministry of Defense announced that Kyiv had lost control over ten settlements. The Russian military occupied the village of Urozhaynoye in the Donetsk region and advanced 6 km, the forces of the Donetsk People's Republic took four settlements: Glorious, Trudovskoy, Chelyuskintsev Mine and Maryinka. Five more Ukrainian settlements, according to the Ministry of Defense, came under the control of the people's militia of the LPR: Kalinovo, Popasnaya, Novoaleksandrovka, Stepnoye and Boguslavskoye.

On March 21, the military department announced that Ukrainian military personnel had been forced out of the suburbs of Kyiv by units of the Russian Airborne Forces, who, during the retreat, abandoned serviceable armored vehicles and weapons. The Ministry of Defense did not specify what specific settlement they were talking about, but published a video with destroyed T-64 and T-72 tanks, tank ammunition, BTR-70, MANPADS, as well as various types of small arms.

On March 20, the Russian military killed more than a hundred members of the Armed Forces of Ukraine (AFU) and foreign mercenaries in the Zhytomyr region, the Defense Ministry reported. Russian forces attacked an object near the city of Ovruch in the Zhytomyr region, where, according to the Ministry of Defense, there was a training center for special operations forces of the Armed Forces of Ukraine and foreign mercenaries were stationed. The strike was carried out by "high-precision air-launched missiles."

On March 19, the Russian military announced the destruction of the centers of radio and electronic intelligence of the Ukrainian armed forces in the Odessa region. The objects were located in the villages of Veliky Dalnik and Velikodolinskoye, the blow was delivered by the Bastion coastal missile system.

On March 18, the Russian Armed Forces reported the destruction of firing points from which the Ukrainian military, according to Defense Ministry spokesman Igor Konashenkov, fired missiles at Melitopol. Konashenkov said that residential areas of the city were fired upon by Tochka U missiles with cluster warheads. The missile attack was repelled by Russian air defense systems, the launch complexes were destroyed by Iskander missile systems. The shelling was carried out from the south-eastern outskirts of the city of Zaporozhye.

On March 17, the Russian Ministry of Defense reported that the people's militia of the Luhansk People's Republic during the night "led successful battles against Ukrainian nationalists inside Severodonetsk and Rubizhne." The military department said that the DPR units were attacking Marinka, Slavnoe and Sladkoe, advancing 4 km in a day.

The Ministry of Defense reported that on the evening of March 16, an air strike was carried out on an ammunition storage arsenal in the city of Sarny (Rivne region).

On March 16, the Russian Ministry of Defense announced the offensive of the people's militia of the LPR in the northwest, northeast and east of Severodonetsk.

According to the Russian military department, the DPR forces took control of Mikhailovka, Headquarters, Betmanovo (Red Partizan), Vasilyevka.

The National Guard reported that they repelled an attempt by nationalists to recapture the Kakhovka hydroelectric power station in the Kherson region without loss. The department noted that initially "the Ukrainian side surrendered the station without a fight, the local paramilitary guards laid down their arms and went home."

On the evening of March 13, the Russian Ministry of Defense reported that the people's militia of the LPR "liberated the city of Popasnaya from the nationalists." The Russian Armed Forces have established full control over the settlements of Pavlovka, Nikolskoye, Blagodatnoye, Vodianovka and Vladimirovka.

The Russian Defense Ministry reported that on the morning of March 13, precision-guided weapons struck at the training centers of the Armed Forces of Ukraine in the village of Starichi and at the military training ground Yavorovskiy. The military department said that it was there that the training and combat coordination of foreign mercenaries, as well as the storage base for weapons and military equipment coming from foreign countries, were located. The strike resulted in the death of 180 foreign mercenaries and a large consignment of weapons.

On the morning of March 13, the Ministry of Defense reported that the Russian Armed Forces had established control over the southern regions of the settlements of Blagodatnoye, Vladimirovka, Pavlovka and Nikolskoye.

According to the Russian Ministry of Defense, the people's militia of the LPR blocked the village of Borovskoye, as well as the eastern and southern parts of Severodonetsk. In addition, the LPR units managed to gain a foothold in the northern districts of the city of Popasnaya.

On March 12, the Russian Defense Ministry showed a map of the southern territories of Ukraine, which came under the control of Russian troops and the people's militia of the DPR. “The armed forces of the Russian Federation, continuing the offensive on a broad front, reached the Novodonetskoye-Novomayorskoye-Yegorovka line. The advance was 11 km, ”the agency said.

On March 9, the Ministry of Defense reported that in the units of the Russian Armed Forces participating in the special military operation, "unfortunately, several facts of the presence of conscripts were discovered."

“Practically all such servicemen have already been withdrawn to Russian territory.” At the same time, the military department indicated that as a result of the attack by the sabotage group of the national battalion, “a number of servicemen, including conscripts, were captured.”

Vladimir Putin instructed to send to the Chief Military Prosecutor's Office materials on revealed cases of the presence of conscript soldiers in units participating in a special military operation. “The materials were sent for verification, legal assessment of the actions and punishment of officials responsible for failure to comply with the president’s instructions,” the TASS news agency quoted the head of state as saying. Peskov added that even before the start of the operation, all commanders of units of the Armed Forces were instructed to categorically exclude the involvement of conscripts to perform any tasks on the territory of Ukraine. “President Putin was informed about the implementation of this instruction,” he said.

On March 9, the Russian Defense Ministry reported that units of the Russian Armed Forces had taken control of the settlements of Krasnaya Polyana and Stepnoe. The people's militia of the LPR occupied Toshkovka and Grachevo, the people's militia of the DPR - Signalnoe, Taramchuk, Yelenov and Trudovoe. In Mariupol, the DPR forces advanced more than 1 km.

What are the results of two weeks of military special operation in Ukraine Politics

On the evening of March 4, the Russian Ministry of Defense reported that the people's militia of the LPR occupied several settlements: Shandrigolovo, Aleksandrovka, Derilovo, Srednee, Lozovoe. All of them are located to the north or northwest of the city of Krasny Lyman. The people's militia of the DPR occupied four settlements: Rozovka, Truzhenka, Znamenovka and Puzatoe. Russian troops occupied several settlements in the Zaporozhye region, including the city of Pologi.

In Ukraine, the flagship frigate Hetman Sahaidachny was partially sunk, the Center for Strategic Communications and Information Security under the government of the country said.

On the night of March 3-4, a fire broke out in the training building near the Zaporozhye NPP. It was extinguished. Kyiv indicates that the main equipment of the nuclear power plant was not damaged. The head of the IAEA, Mariano Grossi, said that no changes in the radiation background in the area of ​​​​the nuclear power plant were recorded.

The Russian Ministry of Defense claims that the fire at the nuclear power plant was set up by a Ukrainian sabotage group. The military department called the incident an attempt at a monstrous provocation.

On March 3, the Russian Ministry of Defense reported that the city of Balakleya (Kharkiv region) had been “liberated from nationalist battalions.” In addition, Russian troops, acting on the adjacent flank with the units of the DPR, took control of several settlements in the Zaporozhye region, including Sinya Gora, Sladkaya Balka, Ilchenkovo.

The Russian military department also said that as a result of a long-range high-precision strike, a reserve technological radio and television center in the Lysaya Gora area in Kyiv, which was used by the SBU for psychological operations against Russia, was disabled. There were no casualties or destruction of residential buildings.

The people's militia of the LPR reached the line Krasny Lyman - Privolye - the northern outskirts of Severodonetsk. The DPR forces that surrounded Mariupol occupied the village of Vodiane, as well as Sartana and Grape.

On March 2, the Russian Ministry of Defense announced the establishment of control over Kherson, as well as Vasilievka and Tokmak (Zaporozhye region).

In the Lugansk region, the people's militia of the LPR established control over the cities of Starobelsk and Svatovo. The head of the republic, Leonid Pasechnik, said that the fighting was going on for Severodonetsk. Later, the people's militia of the LPR announced the occupation of the Novoaydar regional center northwest of Lugansk.

Also on March 3, the Russian Ministry of Defense reported that the people's militia of the DPR had connected with units of the Russian army moving from the west. The main grouping of the Armed Forces of Ukraine in the Donbass, thus, was cut off from the Sea of ​​Azov.

On February 27, the Russian Ministry of Defense announced the blocking of Kherson and Berdyansk, as well as the occupation of Genichesk (Kherson region).

According to the Russian military department, in the Kharkiv region, the 302nd anti-aircraft missile regiment of the Ukrainian army laid down its arms, "471 servicemen were detained."

The people's militia of the LPR occupied the settlements of Novoakhtyrka, Smolyaninovo (east of Severodonetsk), Stanitsa Luganskaya. In the DPR, according to the Russian military department, the people's militia forces are completing the defeat of the reserves of the Vostok operational-tactical group in the Volnovakha region.

On February 26, the Russian Ministry of Defense reported that Russian troops had taken full control of Melitopol overnight. On February 25, the military reported that they blocked Kyiv from the western side, as well as Chernigov, Sumy and Konotop.

On the morning of February 25, the Russian Ministry of Defense announced that the military had agreed on the joint protection of the Chernobyl nuclear power plant with the Ukrainian security battalion. Control over the power plant was established the day before.

The military department also announced the occupation of Snake Island in the Odessa region of Ukraine. The Serpentine garrison laid down their arms.

On the evening of February 24, the Russian Ministry of Defense announced the resumption of water supply to the North Crimean Canal. This happened after the landing on the approaches to Kherson. The head of the Crimea, Sergei Aksyonov, said that the water blockade of the peninsula has been completed.

The Russian Ministry of Defense on the morning of February 24 announced pinpoint strikes on Ukrainian military infrastructure. Airfields and command posts in the area of ​​Kyiv, Kharkov and Odessa were attacked.

The military department announced the suppression of Ukrainian air defense systems, the destruction of the infrastructure of Ukrainian air bases.

Ukrainian authorities reported shelling of military units and warehouses in Kyiv, Khmelnitsky, Dnepropetrovsk, Vinnitsa regions.

The border service of Ukraine on the morning of February 24 reported attacks and shelling along the entire border from the Zhytomyr region (bordering only with Belarus) to Luhansk, as well as from Crimea. In Kyiv, they also claimed that Russian units had crossed the border. The FSB reported that all border units of Ukraine left their places of deployment on the border with Russia.

On the evening of February 24, the IAEA was notified in Kyiv that they had lost control over the Chernobyl nuclear power plant.

The DPR authorities reported that they were shelling Ukrainian positions along the entire line of contact.

The Ministry of Defense reported that in the direction of the Volnovakha district center (Donetsk region), the people's militia of the DPR advanced 7 km. There are also fighting in the area of ​​the settlement Stepovoe (to the north of Stanytsia Luhanska).

On the afternoon of February 25, the Russian Defense Ministry reported that a Russian Su-25 had crashed in Ukraine "due to a technical error." The military department reported that the pilot ejected and had already returned to his unit. In the evening, the Russian military department reported the crash of an An-26 with military equipment in the Voronezh region. The cause of the accident was said to be a technical failure. The crew of the plane was killed.

What sanctions were imposed against Russia

On March 15, the European Union, following the United States, tightened sanctions against Russia. The fourth sanctions package provides for restrictions on trade in iron, steel and luxury goods. The sanctions will affect individuals and organizations, and they also include a ban on access to the services of rating agencies. The exact list has not yet been given, the EU promises that "lobbyists and propagandists" will be included in it. The head of the French Ministry of Finance said that the new sanctions could affect more than 600 Russians.

The G7 countries (usa, CANADA, Japan, UK, Germany, France, Italy) have announced a new round of economic sanctions against Russia: Moscow will lose its most favored nation status when trading with these countries. In addition, the United States will stop the supply of dollar bills to Russia and the EXPORT of luxury goods. They also ban imports of Russian seafood, liquor and diamonds.

The United States imposed sanctions against Communist Party leader Gennady Zyuganov, State Duma Speaker Vyacheslav Volodin and 10 other deputies of the lower house of parliament. The management of Novikombank and ADB Management, members of the board of VTB, Peskov's wife Tatyana Navka and his adult children fell under the restrictions.

On March 9, the European Union imposed sanctions against 14 Russian businessmen and their families, as well as 146 members of the Federation Council, who voted for the recognition of the Donetsk and Lugansk People's Republics.

Alexander Vinokurov (President of Marathon Group), Dmitry and Alexander Pumpyansky (TMK), Galina Pumpyanskaya (Sinara), Andrey Guryev (CEO of PhosAgro), Vadim Moshkovich (Chairman of the Board of Directors of RusAgro), Dmitry Mazepin (General DIRECTOR of Uralchem) (as well as his son, former Formula 1 driver Nikita Mazepin), Mikhail Poluboyarinov (CEO of Aeroflot), Dmitry Konov (Chairman of the Board of Sibur Holding), Mikhail Oseevsky (President of Rostelecom), Sergey Kulikov (head of Rosnano), Vladimir Kiriyenko (head of VK), Andrey Melnichenko (SUEK).

The US, EU and UK have imposed sanctions on Russian President Vladimir Putin and Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov. The sanctions imply the freezing of foreign assets. In the case of the restrictions imposed by the EU and Britain, they do not apply to movement. But in the United States, Putin is prohibited from entering, except in cases specifically determined by the American authorities. Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu and Chief of the General Staff Valery Gerasimov also fell under US sanctions.

The United States has officially banned American individuals and legal entities from transactions with the Russian Central Bank, FNB and the Ministry of Finance. Restrictions have also been placed on RDIF and its CEO, Kirill Dmitriev.

On March 4, the United States imposed sanctions against the founder of USM Holdings and Metalloinvest, Alisher Usmanov, press secretary of Russian President Dmitry Peskov, head of Transneft Nikolai Tokarev, billionaires Arkady and Boris Rotenberg, businessman Yevgeny Prigozhin, head of VEB Igor Shuvalov and head of Rostec Sergei Chemezov. In total, 19 individuals (the White House calls them oligarchs) and 47 members of their families were included in the new sanctions list.

In addition, Biden said that the new restrictions will also affect the Russian space program, and a blow to the export of high technologies should slow down the development of the Russian economy, including the modernization of the army.

The EU banned the sale, supply, transfer and export of euro banknotes to Russia. Exceptions will be made if the banknotes are for personal use, or their owners are persons with diplomatic immunity.

On February 25, the EU imposed sanctions against a number of sectors of the Russian economy (finance, defense, aircraft and shipbuilding). In particular, Alfa-Bank, Otkritie and Rossiya banks, Promsvyazbank, the Ministry of Defense and the SVR, Russian Railways, Irkut, Tupolev, and the Progress rocket and space center were subject to restrictions. It is forbidden to make transactions with them, as well as to supply goods and technologies, to provide financial assistance.

The European Union has introduced restrictions on deposits in European banks: they are prohibited from accepting deposits from Russian citizens or Russian legal entities in excess of €100,000 per credit institution. It is also prohibited to buy and sell financial instruments denominated in euros in the interests of Russian individuals and legal entities.

The EU also announced sanctions against the Russian transport sector. These include a ban on the sale of aircraft and aircraft parts.

Canada imposed sanctions against the Central Bank and several Russian financial institutions: Sberbank, VTB, Otkritie, Sovcombank, Alfa-Bank. Russian Railways, Transneft, Gazprom, the Ministry of Finance, the Central Bank, the National Welfare Fund and individuals fell under the restrictions: State Duma deputies, head of Sberbank German Gref, head of VEB.RF Igor Shuvalov, businessman Yevgeny Prigozhin and others.

On March 3, the Canadian Foreign Ministry announced sanctions against ten key employees of Gazprom and Rosneft. Who exactly fell under the restrictions, is not reported. The sanctions also included former President and former Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev, Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin, Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin, and Governor of St. Petersburg Alexander Beglov.

Japan, as part of the new sanctions package, will freeze the issuance of visas to some Russians, the assets of Russian financial institutions and restrict the export of a number of goods.

The International Olympic Committee recommended that the federations not allow Russian and Belarusian athletes to compete. Due to the decision of the IOC, the Russians were denied participation in a number of major tournaments. Many competitions planned in Russia were also cancelled. In particular, the Champions League final, the Formula 1 Grand Prix stage, the World Chess Olympiad were postponed. The Russian national football and hockey teams will not be able to play at the world championships, Russian football clubs have been suspended from participating in European competitions.

On March 10, Britain included several Russian businessmen on the sanctions list, including Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich. They are banned from entering the United Kingdom, assets in the country are being frozen.

Andrey Kostin, Alexey Miller, Oleg Deripaska, Nikolai Tokarev, Dmitry Lebedev, Igor Sechin also fell under the sanctions.

The English Premier League has removed Russian billionaire Roman Abramovich from the management of Chelsea. The decision will not affect Chelsea's competitive activities under a special license issued to the club by the country's government earlier, the league said.

Russian measures to support the economy

An operational headquarters has been set up in Russia to counter sanctions. Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin will head it, Andrey Belousov and Sergei Sobyanin will be his deputies.

The head of government also said that the authorities would impose temporary restrictions on the exit of foreign investors from Russian assets.

On March 10, Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin announced that external management of enterprises with foreign capital would be introduced if they decide to leave Russia. In the event of a suspension of activities in Russia, the authorities will monitor the situation.

The government has decided on a list of foreign-made goods temporarily prohibited from being exported from Russia. The list includes tanks, turbines, locomotives, wagons, containers, fuel rods, engines and knives.

On March 9, the government announced its intention to exempt citizens from paying personal income tax on interest on bank deposits. The fee will not be charged to contributors on income for this and last year. This tax has never been collected: for 2021, the Russians had to pay it before December 1, 2022.

Mikhail Mishustin announced the introduction of a moratorium until the end of the year on scheduled inspections of individual entrepreneurs and small businesses. The government will also allocate 6 billion rubles. to maintain preferential lending programs for small and medium-sized businesses.

In addition, Mishustin said that IT companies would be exempt from income tax for three years.

The government has submitted a draft law to the State Duma, according to which the Bank of Russia may be entitled to suspend operations and transactions of credit institutions for up to six months. A stop is possible if the regulator deems it necessary to maintain financial stability.

Rostransnadzor has decided to cancel scheduled inspections of organizations that use Airbus and Boeing aircraft.

The authorities are discussing the revision of rates on subsidized mortgage loans due to an increase in the key rate to 20%, sources told RBC. The value of the new marginal interest on state programs has not yet been disclosed to bankers.

Since March 2, it has been forbidden to export currency in cash from Russia in excess of $10,000, Putin signed the corresponding decree.

The Bank of Russia allowed companies to make their own decision on the payment of dividends and other payments on securities. Non-residents will not be paid dividends.

The Bank of Russia banned banks from making money transfers from Russia abroad to non-residents who are citizens of countries that have announced sanctions against Russia. The Central Bank sent a letter with the corresponding order to credit institutions on March 1. The ban is valid from March 1 to March 31, 2022. It applies to individuals and legal entities. The list of countries whose citizens are affected by this ban includes 43 states. Among them are Great Britain, Germany, USA, etc.

The Moscow Exchange has established a ban on short sales in euros in the currency and financial markets.

The Ministry of Digital Development has prepared measures to support telecom operators in the face of sanctions. Among them, the weakening of the requirements of the Yarovaya Law, the ability to change tariffs, a delay in covering roads and small towns with LTE networks.

On March 10, the government submitted to the State Duma a bill on anti-crisis tax measures. In particular, we are talking about exempting the hotel business from VAT for five years, raising the “luxury tax” bar for cars to 10 million rubles, a zero income tax rate for IT companies for 2022-2024, as well as exempting citizens from payment of income tax on interest on bank deposits.

What Vladimir Putin said in an emergency address

Russian President Vladimir Putin issued an emergency address and announced the start of a special military operation in the Donbass. “Her [operation] goal is to protect people who have been subjected to bullying, genocide by the Kyiv regime for eight years,” he stressed.

According to him, Russia cannot feel safe and exist with a constant threat from Ukraine. He stressed that the military operation in Donbass will be carried out in accordance with the UN Charter, the decision of the Federation Council and agreements with the DPR and LPR.

Recognition of the DPR and LPR On February 21, Russian President Vladimir Putin signed decrees recognizing the sovereignty of the Donetsk and Lugansk People's Republics. Putin also signed treaties of friendship and mutual assistance with the leaders of the DNR and LNR. He asked the Federal Assembly to ratify them. Official Kyiv refused to recognize the decision of Russia and the independence of Donbass. Volodymyr Zelenskyy stressed that Ukraine's borders would remain as recognized by the international community, "despite the statements of the Russian Federation." In accordance with the decrees on recognition, Putin instructed to provide peacekeeping functions in the DPR and LPR by the Russian armed forces until the conclusion of the corresponding agreement. In accordance with the treaties of friendship, Russia receives the right to build, the use and improvement by its armed forces of the military infrastructure and military bases on the territory of the republics, jointly defend the border, protect their citizens. Friendship agreements are concluded for ten years with automatic prolongation for the next five years. On Tuesday, February 22, at an emergency meeting, the Federation Council unanimously allowed President Vladimir Putin to use the Russian Armed Forces abroad - in the DPR and LPR. Vladimir Putin said that the friendship treaties contain clauses on the provision of military assistance: “By this decision, we make it clear that, if necessary, we are ready to fulfill our duties. <...> I'm not saying that the troops will go right now. And where they will go will depend on the specific situation on earth.” The President of Russia also announced the boundaries within which the DPR and LPR are recognized. We recognized the republics and hence their constitution. And there are registered borders within the Donetsk and Luhansk regions. All controversial issues will be resolved at the negotiations between the Kyiv authorities and these republics. At the moment this is not possible. But I hope this will be the case in the future,” he said.

What was said at the meeting of the Security Council on Donbass

On February 21, Putin, during a meeting of the Russian Security Council, said that the Ukrainian authorities were not going to implement the MINSK agreements. He suggested discussing the request of the leaders of the DPR and LPR for recognition of the sovereignty of the self-proclaimed republics at a meeting of the Russian Security Council. Putin explained that the danger of Ukraine joining NATO also lies in the fact that official Kyiv threatens to “recapture Crimea and Sevastopol.” This carries the threat of a clash between Russia and the entire North Atlantic Alliance. At the same time, Putin considered that the moratorium on Ukraine's accession to NATO is not a concession. This is the time to prepare Kyiv's accession to the alliance. Putin said that he spoke with French President Macron until two in the morning, and he said that there were changes in the American position. “But what these changes are, he could not explain,” the president said. During a discussion in the Kremlin, Security Council Secretary Nikolai Patrushev said that the Duma's request for recognition of the LPR and DPR should be supported in order to protect the people who live there. At the same time, Patrushev offered to respond to Biden's proposal for negotiations and "offer him two or three days to stop the carnage." A similar position was expressed by Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin. According to him, it is necessary to catalyze the issue at the meeting between Putin and Biden, and in case the US refuses to recognize the DPR and LPR, despite the threat of sanctions. Deputy Head of the Security Council Dmitry Medvedev recalled his experience of recognizing Abkhazia and South Ossetia. “This has saved the lives of hundreds of thousands of people. It was a lesson for NATO and a number of European countries that this is not the way to deal with Russia. We know what will happen, all proposals for sanctions. We understand that the pressure will be overwhelming, but we understand how to resist it. Bitter experience has shown that it will be difficult, but after a while this tension around our country will subside. Not quickly, but they will get tired of this situation and will ask us to return to negotiations,” Medvedev said. Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov proposed to continue the dialogue with the United States on security guarantees, taking into account that the key points are the non-expansion of NATO to the east and the configuration of the deployment of the alliance's troops in Europe. At the same time, he expressed confidence that the West would not change its position. Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu said that more than 59,000 Ukrainian troops are concentrated near the borders of the DPR and LPR, not counting representatives of nationalist detachments. According to him, there is a threat that nuclear weapons may appear in Ukraine. “We were left with no choice. We have to admit" Shoigu said. Interior Minister Vladimir Kolokoltsev called for recognition of the DPR and LPR within the borders of the Donetsk and Luhansk regions until 2014. You can see the speeches of all the participants in the discussion at the meeting of the Security Council in the broadcast that went on RBC.

What Putin said in his address before he announced the recognition of the DNR and LNR

At the beginning of his address to Russians and compatriots abroad, Vladimir Putin recalled the history of Ukraine. “Ukraine was entirely created by Bolshevik Russia. Lenin and his associates did this in a very crude way, by tearing away her own territories. Lenin, with his directives, created Ukraine and pushed the Donbass into it. And grateful descendants demolished monuments to him. Do you want decommunization? It suits us. We are ready to show Ukraine what real decommunization is,” the president said. “The leaders of the Communist Party considered that they had solved the national question. But fraud and deceit are costly. The originally laid mine of nationalism - the right to secede from the USSR - was waiting in the wings. And the leadership of the Communist Party limited itself to frank verbiage about the restoration of Lenin's right to self-determination. According to Putin, Russia has helped Ukraine since 1991 with $250 billion in soft loans. Russia took upon itself the repayment of all Soviet debt and fulfilled its obligations. But Kyiv continued to demand Russian assets abroad. “Instead of partnership, dependency began to prevail. Suffice it to recall the banal theft of gas. The West was blackmailed by rapprochement with Moscow, seeking preferences.” Putin noted that the radicals over and over again put pressure on the weak government. There was no stable statehood, and the elections became a screen for the redistribution of power between the clans. “Corruption has corroded all branches of government. The radicals took advantage of this. The country was swept by a wave of terror. Nobody is looking for criminals in Odessa, but we know them by name, we will do everything to punish them.” “The radicals pushed Ukraine into the abyss of civil war. Almost 6 million Ukrainians were forced to go abroad in search of work. The dowry from the USSR and the Russian Empire was squandered and taken into pockets. Ukraine itself has been driven under external control, it is carried out through a network of foreign advisers, NGOs.” Putin noted that the Russian language is being expelled from all spheres, acts are being bred to combat dissent. In Ukraine, they invented sanctions against their own citizens, TV channels, they are preparing a massacre against the Russian Orthodox Church of the Moscow Patriarchate. In March 2021, Ukraine adopted a strategy for organizing a terrorist underground in Crimea and Donbass. “We know that there have already been statements that Ukraine intends to create its own nuclear weapons. This is not mere bravado. Ukraine has a Soviet technological backlog. The situation in the world with the appearance of WMD in Ukraine will change dramatically.” “Western weapons have been pouring into Ukraine in recent months. The command and control system of the troops is integrated with the NATO ones, they can be controlled from the NATO headquarters. The exercises are clearly anti-Russian. Ukraine's accession to NATO is a direct threat to Russia's security." “In 2000, during a visit to Moscow by Bill Clinton, I asked how America would react to the fact that Russia would join NATO. He replied that he was very reserved. Well, you don't want to see us as a friend, but why make us an enemy? They just don't need a big and strong country. The situation continues to deteriorate, including in the technical sphere. The US missile defense system is expanding, and the deployment of this system in Ukraine is a foregone conclusion. The threat of a surprise strike against our country will increase.” “We do not want to believe that Ukraine would be the bridgehead. Many airfields are close to our borders, the Pentagon is developing ground-based strike weapons. If deployed in Ukraine, they will be able to hit the entire European part of Russia, as well as territories beyond the Urals. It's a knife to the throat." “In response to our proposals, there were only attempts to divert the discussion to the side. We said that all issues should be considered as a package: refusal to expand NATO, refusal to deploy strike infrastructure near the borders, return of military infrastructure to the situation of 1997. But they are again trying to blackmail us, they threaten us with sanctions, which will be introduced anyway. And a pretext for them can be fabricated in order to hold back the development of Russia.” “In the current situation, we have the right to take retaliatory measures to ensure our own security. That is how we will do it." The Pentagon is developing ground-based strike weapons. If deployed in Ukraine, they will be able to hit the entire European part of Russia, as well as territories beyond the Urals. It's a knife to the throat." “In response to our proposals, there were only attempts to divert the discussion to the side. We said that all issues should be considered as a package: refusal to expand NATO, refusal to deploy strike infrastructure near the borders, return of military infrastructure to the situation of 1997. But they are again trying to blackmail us, they threaten us with sanctions, which will be introduced anyway. And a pretext for them can be fabricated in order to hold back the development of Russia.” “In the current situation, we have the right to take retaliatory measures to ensure our own security. That is how we will do it." The Pentagon is developing ground-based strike weapons. If deployed in Ukraine, they will be able to hit the entire European part of Russia, as well as territories beyond the Urals. It's a knife to the throat." “In response to our proposals, there were only attempts to divert the discussion to the side. We said that all issues should be considered as a package: refusal to expand NATO, refusal to deploy strike infrastructure near the borders, return of military infrastructure to the situation of 1997. But they are again trying to blackmail us, they threaten us with sanctions, which will be introduced anyway. And a pretext for them can be fabricated in order to hold back the development of Russia.” “In the current situation, we have the right to take retaliatory measures to ensure our own security. That is how we will do it." as well as territories beyond the Urals. It's a knife to the throat." “In response to our proposals, there were only attempts to divert the discussion to the side. We said that all issues should be considered as a package: refusal to expand NATO, refusal to deploy strike infrastructure near the borders, return of military infrastructure to the situation of 1997. But they are again trying to blackmail us, they threaten us with sanctions, which will be introduced anyway. And a pretext for them can be fabricated in order to hold back the development of Russia.” “In the current situation, we have the right to take retaliatory measures to ensure our own security. That is how we will do it." as well as territories beyond the Urals. It's a knife to the throat." “In response to our proposals, there were only attempts to divert the discussion to the side. We said that all issues should be considered as a package: refusal to expand NATO, refusal to deploy strike infrastructure near the borders, return of military infrastructure to the situation of 1997. But they are again trying to blackmail us, they threaten us with sanctions, which will be introduced anyway. And a pretext for them can be fabricated in order to hold back the development of Russia.” “In the current situation, we have the right to take retaliatory measures to ensure our own security. That is how we will do it." refusal to place shock infrastructure near the borders, the return of military infrastructure to the situation of 1997. But they are again trying to blackmail us, they threaten us with sanctions, which will be introduced anyway. And a pretext for them can be fabricated in order to hold back the development of Russia.” “In the current situation, we have the right to take retaliatory measures to ensure our own security. That is how we will do it." refusal to place shock infrastructure near the borders, the return of military infrastructure to the situation of 1997. But they are again trying to blackmail us, they threaten us with sanctions, which will be introduced anyway. And a pretext for them can be fabricated in order to hold back the development of Russia.” “In the current situation, we have the right to take retaliatory measures to ensure our own security. That is how we will do it."

New escalation around Ukraine

On the afternoon of February 18, the DPR authorities announced attempts by Ukrainian special forces to organize sabotage at enterprises. Among them is a chemical plant in Gorlovka. In Donetsk, they said that the Ukrainian army plans to deliver the main blow on the Svetlodarskaya Bulge in order to cut the lines of communication between Donetsk and Lugansk.

The DPR and LPR announced the evacuation of the population to the territory of Russia in connection with the aggravation. Later, mobilization was announced. Those in the reserve must arrive at the military registration and enlistment offices.

The Foreign Ministries of the DPR and LPR refused Kyiv's proposals to hold an extraordinary meeting of the contact group on the settlement in Donbass.

Minister of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine Dmitry Kuleba on his Twitter page said that Kyiv does not plan any attack on the republics of Donbass. According to him, Ukraine is counting on a diplomatic settlement of the conflict. He called statements from Donetsk and Luhansk part of “Russian propaganda”.

How Russia hosted Ukrainian refugees in 2014 Politics

The Russian authorities called on Ukraine to negotiate. “All Kyiv needs to do is sit down at the negotiating table with representatives of Donbass and agree on political, military, economic and humanitarian measures to end this conflict. The sooner this happens, the better,” said Russian President Vladimir Putin.

On February 19, US President Joe Biden said that an attack by Russian troops on Ukraine could happen "in the coming weeks" and even "in the coming days."

Владимир Зеленский во время Мюнхенской конференции потребовал созыва саммита стран — участниц Будапештского меморандума, предусматривавшего отказ Украины от ядерного оружия. При этом Зеленский заявил, что возврат Донбасса и Крыма в состав Украины возможен только мирным путем.

Совместные польско-американские учения начались на юго-востоке страны, сообщил министр обороны Польши Мариуш Блащак. В рамках договоренностей с НАТО и двусторонних соглашений с США в Польше сейчас расквартированы около 5 тыс. американских солдат. Еще 4,7 тыс. военных прибыли в страну в качестве дополнительных сил «в связи с угрозой безопасности».

Днем 21 февраля пресс-служба Южного военного округа сообщили, что на территорию Ростовской области прорвалась диверсионная группа с Украины. Для их эвакуации с территории Украины прибыли две бронемашины. Они были уничтожены, пять диверсантов убиты. По официальным данным, среди российских пограничников потерь нет.

В ФСБ позже сообщили, что нарушившие границу БМП были обнаружены пограничниками. «Группа остановлена и при оказании вооруженного сопротивления уничтожена», — заявили в ведомстве. Министр иностранных дел Украины Дмитрий Кулеба опроверг бой в Ростовской области.

Утром 21 февраля Пушилин сообщил, что в районе села Коминтерново (32 км от российской границы) 36-я бригада украинской армии атаковала позиции Народной милиции ДНР. «Идет бой у границы с Российской Федерацией», — заявил он.

Later, the Ministry of State Security of the DPR reported that it was about a sabotage group of the Ukrainian army, which in the Novoazovsky district (south of the DPR) tried to break through to the Russian border, blew up a missile and artillery depot, but was met with fire.

The FSB of Russia reported that a projectile fired from the territory of Ukraine destroyed a building in the Rostov region, which the department called "a place of service for border patrols."

The Ministry of Internal Affairs of Ukraine called the message about the shelling of the border post a provocation.

What happened before the statements from Donetsk and Luhansk about the impending offensive

Reports that Russia was building up its military presence on the border with Ukraine began to appear in the Western media in October 2021. The Kremlin said that the movement of Russian troops across the country's territory is exclusively Russia's business.

On February 17, the Russian Foreign Ministry published a reaction to the US responses on security guarantees. Moscow stated that there was no constructive response from Washington to the Russian proposals. “In the absence of the readiness of the American side to agree on firm, legally binding guarantees to ensure our security from the United States and its allies, Russia will be forced to respond, including through the implementation of measures of a military-technical nature,” the Foreign Ministry said in a statement.

Russia's response to the United States on security assurances

Госсекретарь США Энтони Блинкен предложил российскому коллеге Сергею Лаврову провести встречу в Европе на следующей неделе. По его словам, он отправил Лаврову соответствующее письмо. Как считает Блинкен, эти переговоры могут открыть путь для встречи руководства двух стран.

Несмотря на сообщения об отводе российских войск с учений в места постоянной дислокации, на Западе продолжили говорить о возможном вторжении на Украину. Президент США Джо Байден в четверг заявил, что Россия с «очень высокой» вероятностью может вторгнуться на Украину «в ближайшие несколько дней». По словам Байдена, он располагает информацией о том, что Москва собирается провести военную операцию «под чужим флагом». В Кремле на это ответили, что речь идет о нагнетании ситуации.

The Washington Post со ссылкой на неназванных чиновников в Вашингтоне сообщила о том, что заявления Минобороны России там рассматривают как «уловку» с целью ввести западные страны в заблуждение.

Президент Украины Владимир Зеленский заявил, что не видит смысла в прямых переговорах с ДНР и ЛНР. «Это бессмысленно. Просто они ничего не решают. Зачем на это тратить время?» — заявил он.

Секретарь СНБО Украины Алексей Данилов заявил, что в Киеве не видят признаков подготовки полномасштабной операции со стороны России. По его мнению, целью провокацию было заставить Украину начать «военным путем мощно отвечать», а затем обвинить украинские власти в организации провокации.