Russia says Ukraine’s combat potential is ‘significantly reduced’
Russia announced that its armed forces had completed the first phase of operations in Ukraine and that Kiev’s combat potential had decreased significantly.
“In general, the main tasks of the operation of the first stage have been completed,” General Sergei Rudskoy, head of the Operations Department of the Russian General Staff, said at a press conference on March 25. “The combat potential of the Ukrainian armed forces has been significantly reduced, allowing us to focus our efforts on achieving the ultimate goal of liberating the Donbass.”
The official noted that Ukrainian forces have been preparing a “fortified defense zone” in the breakaway region for about eight years. The Russian military isolated a major train station to cut off military supplies such as fuel and ammunition, and stepped up aid, which has been cut off almost completely.
“The public and experts wonder what we are doing in the besieged cities of Ukraine. This action was taken to cause damage to our infrastructure, equipment, military personnel. Ukrainian armed forces, thus enabling us to defeat their forces and prevent them send troops to the Donbass,” added Rudskoy.
Pro-Russian separatist armored vehicles move near Dokuchaievsk in Donetsk province on March 25. Photo: Reuters.
Russia has been carrying out a military operation in Ukraine since February 24 and the fighting shows no signs of abating. Russia’s military advances were most profitable on Ukraine’s southern coast, when it captured the large city of Kherson and a number of smaller targets such as Melitopol.
However, in the remaining important targets such as the cities of Kharkov, Mariupol and the capital Kiev, the Russian troops appeared to be surprised by the resistance of the Ukrainian army. Kiev and Western officials said on March 23 that Russian units had been pushed back in Kiev and should switch to a defensive position.
The Russian Defense Ministry said 1,351 soldiers were killed and 3,825 injured during the operation in Ukraine.
Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba said on March 25 that dialogue with Russia was difficult because of disagreements on key issues, especially the issue that Ukrainian will be the only national language in Ukraine. He also stressed that the “Ukrainian delegation expressed a strong stance” and stressed that Kiev would not surrender, demanding a “truce, ensuring Ukraine’s security and territorial integrity”.
The United Nations recorded 1,081 civilians killed and 1,707 injured, warning the real number could be much higher, a month after Russia launched the operation. More than 3.7 million Ukrainians have fled abroad, half of them to Poland, out of a total of more than 10 million people displaced by the fighting.
The appearance of the Ukrainian battlefield after a month of fighting. Click on the photo to see details.
Huyen Le (Based on RT, CNN)
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