MOSCOW, March 2. /TASS/. The Russian armed forces have destroyed more than 1,500 military targets in Ukraine since the start of the military operation, including shooting down 13 planes and 47 drones, Defense Ministry Spokesman Igor Konashenkov told reporters on Wednesday.
"The armed forces of the Russian Federation continue to strike at the military infrastructure of Ukraine," he said. "In total, 1,533 targets were hit during the operation, including 54 command posts and communication centers of the armed forces of Ukraine, 39 S-300, Buk M-1 and Osa missile systems and 52 radar stations."
Konashenkov said other destroyed targets included 47 planes that were hit on the ground, while another 13 planes and 47 drones were shot down in midair. Also destroyed were 484 tanks and other armored combat vehicles, 63 multiple rocket launchers, 217 field artillery units and mortars and 336 units of special equipment.
On February 24 Putin announced a special military operation in response to a request for help by the heads of the Donbass republics. He stressed that Moscow had no plans of occupying Ukrainian territories, but aims to demilitarize and denazify the country. The Russian Defense Ministry said that Russian troops are not targeting Ukrainian cities, but are incapacitating Ukrainian military infrastructure, therefore there are no threats to the civilian population.