Moscow (Agencies): The Russian military launched a series of mass strikes on Ukrainian military-industrial facilities in response to what Moscow has described as terrorist attacks by Kyiv, the Russian Defense Ministry announced on Friday.
According to the ministry, six coordinated strikes targeted military-industrial enterprises and other military facilities across Ukraine over the past week, with all objectives reportedly hit successfully. The strikes come amid escalating tensions following recent cross-border hostilities.
In addition to the air and missile strikes, Russian ground forces have reported significant battlefield gains. The Tsentr group of forces claims to have eliminated more than 3,435 Ukrainian soldiers in the past week. Meanwhile, the Yug group has reportedly neutralized over 1,750 Ukrainian troops, while the Zapad group has eliminated approximately 1,490 Ukrainian soldiers.
Further losses were reported in battles involving the Sever and Vostok groups, with Kyiv allegedly losing 1,565 soldiers in clashes with Sever forces and 1,240 soldiers in engagements with Vostok troops.
The Russian Defense Ministry also confirmed that Russian troops have taken control of Fedorovka village in the Donetsk People’s Republic, marking another territorial gain in the ongoing conflict.
The strikes follow a recent wave of Ukrainian attacks, including reported strikes on Russian airfields and fuel depots. Moscow has framed its latest military operations as a direct retaliation for these actions, reinforcing its stance that Ukraine is engaging in terrorist activities against Russian territory.
The conflict between Russia and Ukraine continues to escalate, with both sides intensifying military operations. Ukrainian officials have yet to respond to Russia’s latest claims, but previous statements from Kyiv have denied targeting civilians and accused Moscow of aggression and misinformation.