Russian troops have destroyed 821 objects of Ukrainian military infrastructure. This was revealed by a spokesman for the Russian Ministry of Defense, Major General Igor Konashenkov.
“Among them are 14 military airfields, 19 command posts and communication centers, 24 S-300 and Osa anti-aircraft missile systems, 48 radar stations. 7 fighter planes, 7 helicopters and 9 unmanned aerial vehicles were shot down. Another 87 tanks and combat aircraft were destroyed, as well as armored vehicles, 28 multiple launch rocket systems, and 118 special military vehicles," Konashenkov said.
"Russian Navy forces destroyed 8 military vessels of the Ukrainian Navy," he added as quoted by Sputnik, Saturday (26/2/2022).
Konashenkov said that the Russian Armed Forces had launched attacks at night with sea and land-based cruise missiles on military facilities in Ukraine.
"At night, the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation launched an attack with long-range precision weapons, using air and sea-based cruise missiles against the military infrastructure of Ukraine," the Russian general said.
Konashenkov also said that the Russian armed forces had established complete control over the Ukrainian city of Melitopol in the south of the country.
On Thursday, Russia launched special operations for the demilitarization and denazification of Ukraine, responding to requests from the Donetsk and Lugansk people's republics for assistance in countering the aggression of Ukrainian forces.
The Russian Defense Ministry said the special operation targeted only Ukraine's military infrastructure and the civilian population was not in danger. Moscow has also repeatedly stated it has no plans to occupy Ukraine.
The operation was authorized days after Russian President Vladimir Putin signed a decree recognizing the independence of the self-proclaimed people's republics of Donetsk (DPR) and Lugansk (LPR). Under the new agreement, Moscow pledged to ensure the security of the two Russian-speaking republics.
Russia's decision to recognize the DPR and LPR came after a significant deterioration in the situation along the lines of contact, when Ukrainian troops intensified shelling of Donbass.
