MOSCOW, March 12. /TASS/. The forces of the Donetsk People’s Republic (DPR) advanced nine kilometers forward over the past 24 hours, Russian Defense Ministry Spokesman Major-General Igor Konashenkov said on Saturday.

"The group of forces of the Donetsk People’s Republic continued offensive operations with the fire support of the Russian troops," the spokesman said. "The units of the armed forces of the Donetsk People’s Republic advanced nine kilometers forward, gained control of the communities of Valeryanovka and Zelyony Gai and blocked the residential area of Novoandreyevka from south to the east."

Russian President Vladimir Putin announced on February 24 that in response to a request by the heads of the Donbass republics he had made a decision to carry out a special military operation in Ukraine in order to protect people "who have been suffering from abuse and genocide by the Kiev regime for eight years." The Russian leader stressed that Moscow had no plans of occupying Ukrainian territories and the operation was aimed at demilitarizing and denazifying Ukraine.

When clarifying the developments unfolding, the Russian Defense Ministry reassured that Russian troops are not targeting Ukrainian cities, but are limited to surgically striking and incapacitating Ukrainian military infrastructure. There are no threats whatsoever to the civilian population.