Business Standard

Russia announces completion of 1st stage of military operation in Ukraine

The main tasks of the first stage of Russia's special military operation in Ukraine have been completed in general, the Russian military has said.

Policemen stand guard at the site where a bombing damaged residential buildings in Kyiv, Ukraine, on March 18, 2022. Russian forces pressed their assault on Ukrainian cities Friday. (AP Photo/Rodrigo Abd)

Policemen stand guard at the site where a bombing damaged residential buildings in Kyiv, Ukraine, on March 18, 2022. Russian forces pressed their assault on Ukrainian cities. (AP Photo/Rodrigo Abd)

IANS Moscow

The main tasks of the first stage of Russia's special military operation in Ukraine have been completed in general, the Russian military has said.

"The combat potential of the Ukrainian Armed Forces has been significantly reduced," said Sergei Rudskoy, first Deputy Chief of the General Staff of the Russian Armed Forces, on Friday.

"Our forces and means will concentrate on the main thing -- the complete liberation of Donbas," he added.

Rudskoy said the Ukrainian cities of Kiev, Kharkiv, Chernihiv, Sumy and Nikolaev are blocked by Russian troops, while Kherson and most of the Zaporozhye region are under Russia's full control, Xinhua news agency reported.

 

Since the start of the military operation a month ago, more than 14,000 Ukrainian troops have been killed and about 16,000 others wounded, he added.

"The Ukrainian air forces and air defense systems have been almost completely destroyed. The country's naval forces have ceased to exist," Rudskoy told reporters.

As for the Russian side, 1,351 servicemen have been killed and 3,825 others injured, he said.

"I want to emphasise that the special military operation is being carried out strictly according to the approved plan," said Russian Defense Ministry Spokesman Igor Konashenkov.

--IANS

int/khz/

(Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)

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First Published: Mar 26 2022 | 7:27 AM IST

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