State of the Ukraine War: The Official Russian Account
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Speech of the Russian Defence Ministry Spokesman, Major General Igor Konashenkov ▫️On February 24, 2022, the Russian Armed Forces launched a special military operation in Ukraine. ▫️I want to emphasize that the special military operation is carried out strictly according to the approved plan. ▫️The absolute priority of the actions of the Russian Armed Forces during the operation is the exclusion of unnecessary civilian casualties. ▫️High-precision weapons selectively and accurately destroy Ukraine’s military infrastructure, equipment and weapons, ammunition stores and material assets of the troops. ▫️From the first days of the operation, when planning any action, special attention has been given to saving civilian infrastructure and civilians in Ukraine. ▫️Before we move on to the current results of the operation, I want to show you once again the originals of the secret cipher telegrams of the 4th brigade of the National Guard of Ukraine captured by Russian servicemen. ▫️This is the original of the secret order of the commander of the National Guard of Ukraine, Colonel General Balan, dated January 22, 2022. ▫️The document is addressed to the heads of the northern Kiev, southern Odessa and western territorial administrations of the National Guard of Ukraine. ▫️The order details a plan for the preparation of one of the strike groups for offensive actions in the zone of the so-called “joint forces operation” in the Donbass. ▫️I especially want to draw your attention. All measures of the nationalists’ combat coordination are ordered to be completed by February 28. In order to start performing combat missions as part of the Ukrainian “joint forces operation” in the Donbass in March 2022. ▫️Since February 2022, Ukrainian troops have multiplied artillery attacks on Donbass with prohibited large-caliber artillery weapons. ▫️Against the background of false statements about the desire for peace, Kiev has begun large-scale artillery preparations for the offensive of a shock group of troops drawn to the east of Ukraine with the support of aviation and missile systems. ▫️The special military operation launched by the Russian Armed Forces on February 24 thwarted a large-scale offensive by shock groups of Ukrainian troops on the Lugansk and Donetsk People’s Republic, which are not controlled by Kiev. This made it possible to save tens, if not hundreds of thousands, of Donbass civilians, whom the Kiev regime has been methodically shooting with large-caliber and rocket artillery for the past 8 years, driving the elderly, women and children into basements. ▫️I would like to emphasize that the Russian servicemen taking part in the operation are courageously and selflessly fulfilling their military duty. ▫️By now, more than 3.5 thousand servicemen of the Armed Forces have been awarded high state awards for their heroism in performing combat tasks during a special military operation. ▫️The Armed Forces of the Russian Federation will continue to carry out the special military operation until all the tasks are completed. ▫️At the end of today’s briefing, I note that the Ministry of Defence of the Russian Federation will continue to regularly and through all available channels to bring truthful information to the public about the progress and results of the ongoing special military operation in Ukraine. ▫️We can see that despite the lowered “iron curtain” of information boycott by Western countries towards the Russian Federation, the truth about what is happening in Ukraine successfully overcomes these artificial obstacles. Because truth is power. (Documents can be downloaded at this link: https://t.me/mod_russia_en/403) There were further statements that are not as yet available formally. IntelSlava reports: ????????????????⚡️Russian Defense Ministry: at the suggestion of the Ukrainian leadership, the country has become a haven for 6,595 foreign mercenaries and terrorists from 62 states, they are not subject to the rules of war, they will be ruthlessly destroyed. ????????????????⚡️Ukraine has no organized reserves left – Russian General Staff ????????????????⚡️Ukrainian air force and air defense system have been almost completely destroyed, the country’s Navy has ceased to exist — Russian Defense Ministry ????????????????❗️The main tasks of the first stage of the Russian operation in Ukraine have been completed, the combat potential of the Ukrainian troops has been significantly reduced – RF Ministry of Defense ????????????????⚡️ LPR liberated 93% of the territory of the republic, DPR – 54%, battles in Mariupol continue – Russian Defense Ministry ???????????????? The number of foreign mercenaries in Ukraine is declining, not a single one has arrived in a week – General Staff of the Russian Federation ????????????????⚡️All captured weapons and military equipment are being transferred to the LPR and DPR, 113 tanks and 138 Javelin anti-tank systems have already been transferred, the Russian Defense Ministry reports ????????????????❗️As of March 25, 2022, 1,351 [Russian] servicemen were killed, 3,825 were injured” – Ministry of Defense In accordance with the decision of the Supreme Commander-in-Chief since February 24 this year. The Armed Forces of the Russian Federation are conducting a special military operation. Its main goal is to provide assistance to the people of the Lugansk and Donetsk people’s republics, who have been subjected to genocide by the Kiev regime for 8 years. It was impossible to achieve this goal by political means. Kiev has publicly refused to implement the Minsk agreements. The Ukrainian leadership twice in 2014 and 2015 tried to solve the so-called Donbass problem by military means, was defeated, but did not change its plans on resolving conflict by force in the East of the country. According to reliable data, the Armed Forces of Ukraine were completing the preparation of a military operation to take control of the territory of the people’s republics. In these conditions, it was possible to help the Donetsk and Lugansk republics only by providing them with military assistance. Which Russia has done. There were two possible courses of action. The first is to limit the territory to only the DPR and the LPR within the administrative borders of the Donetsk and Lugansk regions, which is enshrined in the constitutions of the republics. But then we would be faced with constant feeding by the Ukrainian authorities of the grouping involved in the so-called joint force operation. Therefore, the second option was chosen, which provides for actions throughout the territory of Ukraine with the implementation of measures for its demilitarization and denazification. The course of the operation confirmed the validity of this decision. It is conducted by the General Staff in strict accordance with the approved plan. The tasks are carried out taking into account minimizing losses among personnel and minimizing damage to civilians. With the beginning of a special military operation, air supremacy was won during the first two days. Offensive actions of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation are carried out in various directions. As a result, Russian troops blocked Kiev, Kharkov, Chernigov, Sumy and Nikolaev. Kherson and most of the Zaporozhye region are under full control. The public and individual experts are wondering what we are doing in the area of blocked Ukrainian cities. These actions are carried out with the aim of causing such damage to military infrastructure, equipment, personnel of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, the results of which allow not only to shackle their forces and do not give them the opportunity to strengthen their grouping in the Donbass, but also will not allow them to do so until the Russian army completely liberates the territories of the DPR and LPR. Initially, we did not plan to storm them in order to prevent destruction and minimize losses among personnel and civilians. And although we do not rule out such a possibility, however, as individual groups complete their tasks, and they are being solved successfully, our forces and means will concentrate on the main thing – the complete liberation of Donbass. Significant territories of the Lugansk and Donetsk people’s republics have also been liberated. The people’s militia has taken control of 276 settlements that were previously under the control of the Ukrainian army and the national battalions. Demilitarization of Ukraine is achieved both by high-precision strikes on military infrastructure facilities, locations of formations and military units, airfields, control points, arsenals and warehouses of weapons and military equipment, and by the actions of troops to defeat opposing enemy grouppings. Currently, the Ukrainian air forces and the air defence system have been almost completely destroyed. The naval forces of the country ceased to exist. 16 main military airfields were defeated, from which combat sorties of the AFU aviation were carried out. 39 storage bases and arsenals were destroyed, which contained up to 70% of all stocks of military equipment, materiel and fuel, as well as more than 1 million 54 thousand tons of ammunition. All 24 formations of the Land Forces that existed before the start of the operation suffered significant losses. Ukraine has no organized reserves left. Losses are replenished at the expense of mobilized persons and personnel of the territorial defence forces who do not have the necessary training, which increases the risk of large losses. At the time of the start of the special military operation, the Armed Forces of Ukraine, together with the National Guard, numbered 260 thousand 200 servicemen. During the month of hostilities, their losses amounted to about 30 thousand people, including more than 14 thousand – irretrievable and about 16 thousand – sanitary. Of the 2,416 tanks and other armored fighting vehicles that were in combat on February 24, 1,587 units were destroyed; 636 units out of 1,509 field artillery guns and mortars; 163 out of 535 MLRS; 112 out of 152 aircraft, 75 out of 149 helicopters; 36 Bayraktar TB2 UAVs – 35; 180 out of 148 S-300 and Buk M1 air defence systems; 300 out of 117 radars for various purposes. The AFU continue to use high-powered weapons indiscriminately against towns in Donbass. An example of this is the strikes by the Tochka-U missile system on the civilian population of Donetsk and Makeyevka. In this regard, they are the primary targets. As of today, 7 Tochka-U launchers have been destroyed, and 85% of missiles are in arsenals and in the air. This significantly limited Ukraine’s capabilities for their combat use. Since the beginning of hostilities, the Western countries have supplied the Kiev regime with 109 field artillery guns, 3,800 anti-tank weapons, including Javelin, Milan, Konkurs, NLAW ATGM, M-72, Panzerfaust-3, 897 Stinger and Igla MANPADS. We consider it a vast mistake for Western countries to supply weapons to Kiev. This delays the conflict, increases the number of victims and will not be able to influence the outcome of the operation. The real purpose of such supplies is not to support Ukraine, but to drag it into a long-term military conflict “to the last Ukrainian.” We are closely monitoring the statements of the military and political leadership of individual countries about their intention to supply aircraft and air defence systems to Ukraine. In case of implementation– we will not leave it without attention. We also hear assurances from NATO leaders about non-interference in the conflict. At the same time, some member states of the North Atlantic Alliance propose to close the airspace over Ukraine. I would like to draw your attention to the fact that the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation will immediately respond accordingly to such attempts. In order to prevent the restoration of weapons and military equipment of the AFU that have received combat damage, the Russian Armed Forces are disabling repair enterprises, arsenals, storage bases, logistics warehouses with high-precision weapons. At the moment, 30 key enterprises of the military-industrial complex have been hit by cruise missiles X-101, Kalibr, Iskander, and the Kinzhal aviation complex, which carried out repairs of 68% of weapons and equipment disabled during combat operations. Russian modern weaponry has proven to be highly accurate, reliable and capable of operational use. I would like to emphasize that the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation do not strike at civilian infrastructure facilities, including the destruction of bridges across rivers. 127 bridges were destroyed in the area of military operations. All of them were blown up by Ukrainian nationalists in order to deter the advance of our troops. Another example of recklessness is the mining of approaches to the ports of Odessa, Ochakov, Chernomorsk and Yuzhny, where over 400 anchor mines of obsolete types are installed. At least 10 mines have broken anchor and are drifting in the western part of the Black Sea, which poses a real threat to warships and civilian vessels. The rampant crime, looting and marauding and civilian deaths have been caused by the Ukrainian regime’s massive uncontrolled distribution of tens of thousands of small arms to the civilian population, including to criminals released from prisons. The situation will only get worse in the future. The course of hostilities, the testimonies of civilians who left the blockaded settlements and captured Ukrainian servicemen show that today the AFU’s ability to resist is based on fear of reprisals by neo-Nazis. Their representatives are embedded in all military units. The mainstay of the Kiev regime are nationalist formations such as Azov, Aidar, Right Sector and others recognized in Russia as terrorist organizations. In Mariupol alone, they include more than 7 thousand militants who are fighting under the guise of civilians, using them as a “human shield”. The militants of the Azov battalion drive women and children out of the basements, threatening them with weapons, and send them towards the advancing units of the DPR in order to hinder the advance of the people’s militia. This has become a common practice for them. The Armed Forces of the Russian Federation, on the contrary, seek to avoid unnecessary losses. Before the start of the offensive, the AFU units are invited to leave the combat area and move along with equipment and weapons to the point of permanent deployment. Not to resist when the offensive begins and those who lay down their arms are guaranteed safety. Civilians caught in a war zone are always advised to stay in their homes. Humanitarian corridors are being organized in all cities to get the population out of the area of hostilities, and their security is also maintained. Humanitarian corridors are being created in all towns to allow people to leave the area where the fighting is taking place, and their security is being maintained. In addition, at the initiative of the Ukrainian leadership, the country has become a home to 6,595 foreign mercenaries and terrorists from 62 states. They are not subject to the rules of war and will be ruthlessly destroyed. Today, the number of foreign mercenaries is declining. This was facilitated by high-precision strikes on their bases and training camps. On March 13, more than 200 militants were killed and more than 400 wounded in Starichi and at the Yavorovskii training ground alone. I note that not a single foreign mercenary has arrived in Ukraine in the last seven days. On the contrary, there has been an outflow. Within a week, 285 fighters escaped into Poland, Hungary and Romania, I hope without Stingers and Javelins. Previous experience has shown that man-portable air defence systems (MANPADS) and ATGMs are spreading out fairly quickly, along with the mercenaries who return home. In general, the main objectives of the first phase of the operation have been achieved. The combat capabilities of Ukraine’s Armed Forces have been significantly reduced, which allows us, once again, to concentrate our main efforts on achieving the main goal – the liberation of Donbass. In eight years, in the area of the so-called “joint forces operation”, a defence belt has been prepared that is deeply echeloned and well-fortified in engineering terms, consisting of a system of monolithic, long-term concrete structures. In this regard, in order to minimise casualties among the troops of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation, Lugansk and Donetsk people’s republics, the conduct of offensive operations is preceded by a heavy fire attack on the enemy’s strongholds and their reserves. At the beginning of the special military operation, the LPR and DPR people’s militias were confronted by a group of 59,300 people comprising the most combat-ready units of the Ukrainian Armed Forces, the National Guard and nationalist formations. As a result, Ukraine’s security forces in the OOS zone lost about 16,000 people, or 26% of their total strength as of 24 February this year. More than 7,000 of them were irrecoverable losses. Replacing losses is prevented by isolating the Ukrainian grouping of troops in Donbass, taking control of railway stations and key road routes with firepower. The supply of missiles and ammunition, fuel and food to Ukrainian forces has been almost completely halted. The field depots of missile and artillery weapons and ammunition, as well as fuel located directly in the area of the Joint Forces Operation are being hit. To date, 32 facilities have been destroyed, or 61% of the total. All weapons and military equipment, including foreign-made, seized by the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation during the special military operation are handed over to the People’s Republics. Already 113 tanks and other armoured combat vehicles, 138 Javelin and 67 NLAW grenade launchers and other trophy weapons have been handed over. Units of the People’s Militia of the Lugansk People’s Republic have liberated 93% of the republic’s territory. Fighting is currently taking place on the outskirts of Severodonetsk and Lysychansk. The People’s Militia of the Donetsk People’s Rupublic controls 54% of the territory. The liberation of Mariupol continues. Units of the Russian Armed Forces together with the People’s Militia of the Donetsk People’s Republic are conducting an offensive to liberate settlements to the west of Donetsk. Unfortunately, there are casualties among our comrades-in-arms during the special military operation. As of today, 1,351 servicemen have been killed and 3,825 wounded. All family support solutions will be taken over by the state, raising children up to higher education, full repayment of loans, housing solutions. We receive a large number of appeals from Russian citizens wishing to take part in the special military operation to liberate Ukraine from Nazism. In addition, more than 23,000 foreigners from 37 countries have expressed their willingness to fight on the side of the people’s republics. We offered the leadership of the LPR and DPR to accept this assistance, but they said they would defend their land themselves. They have enough power and resources. The Armed Forces of the Russian Federation will continue to conduct a planned special military operation until the tasks set by the Supreme Commander-in-Chief have been completed. The special military operation in Ukraine with its corresponding objectives and tasks was preceded by an eight-year period of a highly grave humanitarian disaster in Donbass that made more than 6.5 million persons victims of violations of human rights and caused deaths of more than 14.5 thousand persons. The almost daily shelling carried out by the Armed Forces of Ukraine and nationalist battalions caused 4,115 infrastructure buildings destroyed and 55,310 damaged, including residential buildings, educational establishments, hospitals and many other social facilities. Over these eight years, 19.5 percent of the infrastructure of the Donetsk and Lugansk people’s republics has been completely destroyed and up to 37 percent damaged by the use of heavy weaponry from Ukraine. From April 2014 to February 2022, 1,451,304 refugees had been displaced just to the Russian Federation. The rest of the population – 3,600,940 people, including civilians, mostly elderly, children, women and some vulnerable groups – continued to be shelled every day, in basements without any basic conditions for life – no water, heat, electricity, food or medicines. The Sun is a UK newspaper— Select Comments (original thread) “Note that the Russians have lost 1351 men with 3825 injured (many with catastrophic damage). I prefer this operation take a month or two or three if it means fewer soldiers and pilots are lost and the minimum collateral losses are caused.” Those numbers (if true) are actually very low, when considering what the Russians did and what they achieved. A Blitzkrieg against an enemy equipped with modern weapons normally would in heavy casualties, and indeed the Russians seem to have lost the most men in the first week or two. So yeah, while every casualty is a tragedy, this operation has actually been extremely efficient. More efficient than anything I’ve seen the west do in the last 50 years. On the other hand, the above numbers are for Russian military casualties only. Much of the fighting on the ground seems to have been carried out by militia, so real casualties on the “good side” might be much higher. Also, before anyone comments “all parties in war exaggerate enemy losses while understating their own”: When one side of the conflict has been outright fabricating evidence, and the other side appears to have been “mostly honest” (i still expect a lot of lies by omission), then i’d rather take numbers from the later as a guideline.
That’s a good point although I would wager that Russia is still doing the brunt of the more difficult fighting to the extent that: 1. Kiev/Kharkov/Kherson meat grinders were areas of heavy armor utilization where Russia made large gains of territory by actually spearheading combined arms mobile groups through enemy forces etc. 2. In Donbass, a large part of the fighting is merely artillery duels from across trenches of both sides. In Donbass relatively speaking very little territory has been gained in the old frontlines. 90% of gained territory really has been from the north Mariuopl/Zaporizhzhia Oblast territory and that territory was mostly gained by RF Crimean detachment. 3. In Mariupol proper one can argue DPR is doing much of the work, but Chechen forces appear to be 50/50 with DPR in cleansing Mariupol, with (from what I pieced together so far) a smaller Russian marine detachment. It may not yet be time for Russia to put away its military toys, or recall its polite armed men, but … Repeating myself, I think Russia should immediately start publishing and broadcasting in the Ukraine, another point of view which is not fabricated by the Ministry of Truth at Foggy Bottom. After 8 years of total immersion, the Ukraine needs an antidote to the torrent of lies from zone A.
It is fairly obvious that they are prepared for NATO to intervene, which will lead to stage III – defanging NATO. If it comes to that, Russia will fight that war in a very different and far more aggressive manner. They are showing great care in Ukraine to protect civilians whom they view as brothers, because virtually everyone in Russia has relatives in Ukraine. They will not act this way toward NATO if NATO is stupid enough to jump in. I wonder if NATO is self-deceived about the Russian “losses” in Ukraine. Unlike Ukraine, which has been digging in at Donbass for eight years, the rest of Europe has no such deeply entrenched defensive forces to defeat. I still expect that Stage III of Putin and Xi’s plan involved defanging NATO’s navy is some way. Stage IV is a replacement of the Bretton Woods Monetary System. Stage IV is already underway, largely due to the stupidity of the USA and EU in their total war sanctions on Russia’s economy.
Sputnik’s telegram post also quoted this: “There were 2 directions for the operation: to limit itself to the Donetsk and Lugansk regions or to act on the entire territory of Ukraine, including demilitarization and denazification. The development of the operation confirmed that the decision to carry it out ???????? ???????????? ???????????????????????? ???????????????????????????????????? ???????? ???????????????????????????? was right” However, I can’t find this particular quote on their website. Can anyone confirm this? Anyway, if this statement is true, then Russia just confirmed that the operation will not limit itself to the east, and they will not allow some kind of Idlib 2.0 to be established in western Ukraine.
Not necessarily: Operating on the whole territory can simply mean striking targets across the whole territory with planes, helicopters and missiles. It doesn’t have to mean securing the whole territory with ground forces. If you have been paying attention, you will notice that’s exactly what happened thus far. However, if the west keeps importing trouble, securing the whole territory may be the only option. IIRC the Russian foreign minister hinted at something like this yesterday when he said that “Ukraine has forfeited its chance to remain a sovereign nation”. I heard on the radio this morning here in Montreal that the famous Canadian sniper (Wally) was not killed, as mentioned by someone. They even played a short clip of him speaking a bit about his combat experience and the death of one of his colleague next to him. Lucky him, if it's true. It could be just propaganda, using an old clip of him and stuff. It literally doesn’t matter either way, it looks like by now all the mercs understand that Russia means business and “defending” Banderastan is a suicide mission. “Canadian”, maybe his passport is that but he´s not. Quite obvious that he´s from the Middle East somewhere from his looks and syntax when talking. He is alive so far though, hope the Russians treat that war-tourist as well as he deserves. Let's hope we don’t see a third month of this because the longer this drags the happier the US and UK leadership are. I am not sure about that. Biden already admitted that there will be food shortages and yesterday almost every newspaper in Britain mentioned “the lowest standards of living since the 50s in the UK due to high gas and food prices”. Another important info to hang on to that flew under the radar: “Russians MoD: Since the beginning of the operation, the Ukrainian group in Donbass has lost 16,000 out of 59,000 people, or 26% – more than 7,000 of them – are irretrievable losses.” So according to MoD there is 59,000 total elite veteran Ukie forces in Donbass and 7,000 of them have been irreparably taken out (killed or injured beyond ability to fight again, i.e. permanent incapacitation). The remaining 9,000 that means are likely “wounded” and can return to combat. So this leaves us with about a high of 52,000 to a low of somewhere in the 47,000+ range (depending how many of the wounded can make it back) in the Donbass cauldron according to these statistics. Numbers of missing in action (MIA) not mentioned so total KIA, WIA, MIA might be around 5,500 which is 2,8% loss rate if estimating forces have been 200,000. Interestingly Kiev is not giving its own losses likely because they have no idea how high they might be. (circa 20,000 likely??? ) I think Russia should start broadcasting in Ukraine as part of the denazification process. Weapons alone can’t denazify. It is already done. In liberated areas, people have access to Russian tv. Most likely 75-80% of wounded are not severe cases. 75% share was common in Red Army during 1944-45. So 2,700 of wounded can return to service during this spring or summer, some perhaps not to combat units. https://www.rt.com/russia/551830-injured-russian-troops-recovery/ “All of them have expressed willingness to rejoin their units after a full recovery to further fulfill their duties as part of the ‘special military operation,’” Red Star reported. Any thoughts on Shoigu rumors of being sacked? Shoigu just doesn’t answer calls from US anymore. It is yet another MSM fairy tale about him being sacked. The Russian Armed Forces are becoming the new RAF.
Ministry of Defence, Russian Federation
Briefing by the Russian Ministry of Defence on the current results of the special military operation in Ukraine
Two more briefings: Colonel General Sergei Rudskoy and Colonel General Mikhail Mizintsev
Speech of the Head of the Main Operational Directorate of the General Staff of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation Colonel General Sergei Rudskoy
Speech of Head of the National Centre for Defence Control of the Russian Federation Colonel-General Mikhail Mizintsev
March 25, 2022
:))))
They are losing the economic war so far and bleeding out.
Nightvision
Bloaty March 25, 2022 at 1:55 pm EST
Not really. They are just the Russian Federation armed forces, heirs to the Red Army.
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International LicenseALL CAPTIONS AND PULL QUOTES BY THE EDITORS NOT THE AUTHORS
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