Russia claims advances in eastern Ukraine
Moscow, Mar 22 (EFE).- The Russian military and its militia allies in the Donbas made advances in eastern Ukraine overnight, Russia’s defense ministry spokesman Igor Konashenkov said Tuesday.
Russian troops advanced six kilometers to seize a town in the Donetsk region, where pro-Moscow militias from the self-proclaimed Donetsk People’s Republic (DPR) have fought Ukraine’s army since a 2014 uprising, Konashenkov said.
DPR separatist made gains elsewhere in the region, pushing four kilometers into the defenses of a Ukrainian army airborne brigade, resulting in a battle for three towns while fighting to the west of Donetsk city saw separatist troops take five towns including Marinka.
Military police units from the self-proclaimed Luhansk People’s Republic took control of four towns overnight, Russia’s defense ministry claimed.
Konasehnkov added that Russia’s air force struck 137 Ukrainian military installations, including six command centers, two multiple rocket launcher systems, an anti-aircraft missile system, eight arms depots and 101 military equipment targets.
Russia claims to have destroyed 230 Ukrainian drones, 181 anti-aircraft missile systems, over 1,500 tanks and other armored vehicles since the invasion, which Russia calls a “special military operation” began in late February.
British intelligence said in a daily report Tuesday that Russian troops had secured “limited progress” in their advances into Ukraine with “most forces largely stalled in place.”EFE
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