MOSCOW, October 8. /TASS/. Russia’s Aerospace Forces delivered strikes against two temporary deployment sites of Ukrainian army brigades in the Donetsk People’s Republic (DPR), eliminating over 100 militants, Defense Ministry Spokesman Lieutenant-General Igor Konashenkov reported on Saturday.
"The strikes by Russia’s Aerospace Forces against the temporary deployment sites of the 17th tank brigade and 92nd mechanized brigade of the Ukrainian army in the area of the communities of Seversk, Novoye and Yampolovka in the Donetsk People’s Republic killed over 100 Ukrainian servicemen and destroyed 12 items of military hardware," the spokesman said.
Russia’s special military operation in Ukraine
The situation along the line of engagement in Donbass escalated on February 17. At that time, the Donetsk and Lugansk People’s Republics (DPR and LPR) reported the worst wave of bombardments by the Ukrainian military, which damaged civilian infrastructure and caused civilian casualties.
On February 21, President Vladimir Putin announced that Moscow would recognize the sovereignty of the Donetsk and Lugansk People’s Republics. Russia signed agreements on friendship, cooperation and mutual assistance with their leaders. Moscow recognized the Donbass republic in accordance with the DPR and LPR constitutions within the boundaries of the Donetsk and Lugansk regions as of the beginning of 2014.
Russian President Putin announced on February 24 that in response to a request by the heads of the Donbass republic for assistance he had decided to carry out a special military operation in Ukraine. The Russian leader stressed that Moscow had no plans of occupying Ukrainian territories, noting that the operation was aimed at the denazification and demilitarization of Ukraine.
The DPR and the LPR launched an operation to liberate their territories under Kiev’s control.