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Military operation in Ukraine

Over 22,500 refugees from Donbass cross into Russia via checkpoints in Rostov region

The situation at the line of engagement in Donbass escalated on February 17

ROSTOV-ON-DON, July 16. /TASS/. More than 22,500 refugees from Donbass crossed Russia’s border in the Rostov region over the past day, the press service of the Russian Federal Security Service’s Rostov region border department said on Saturday.

"During the day, more than 22,500 people crossed the Russian border via checkpoints in the Rostov region," it said.

The situation at the line of engagement in Donbass escalated on February 17. The Donetsk and Lugansk People’s Republics (DPR and LPR) reported the most massive bombardments by the Ukrainian military in recent months, which damaged civilian infrastructure and caused civilian casualties.

On February 21, Russian President Vladimir Putin announced recognizing the sovereignty of the Donetsk and Lugansk People’s Republics. Russia signed agreements on friendship, cooperation and mutual assistance with their leaders. Russia recognized the Donbass republics 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 republics for assistance he had made a decision 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.

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Military operation in Ukraine

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