The Russian Defense Ministry has reported on Saturday the advances achieved by its troops after defeating Ukrainian forces in the region of Donetsk, in the east of the country, which would have allowed them to take advantageous positions. Kiev, on the other hand, has assured that its troops have prevented the Russian advance and have avoided the breakdown of its defensive line in the region.
The Russian Defense Ministry spokesman, Igor Konashenkov, reported the «destruction» of Ukrainian sabotage and reconnaissance units, as well as the disabling of a camp of «foreign mercenaries».
He also assured that the objectives of Friday’s shelling to prevent the movement of Ukrainian weapons and ammunition were achieved, as well as the stoppage of production at arms factories and the destruction of Ukrainian air defense systems. «All the attacked targets have been destroyed,» Konashenkov said.
Friday’s wave of Russian strikes was one of the most intense since shelling of Ukrainian power grid facilities began in October. Kiev has corroborated 70 attacks and claimed that most of the shells were intercepted by anti-aircraft defenses, although it has reported damage to key infrastructure such as electricity and water services. Millions of people have been left without electricity.
Earlier on Saturday, the mayor of Kiev, Vitali Klitschko, reported that the water supply has been restored to all districts of the capital. In addition half of the citizens are able to heat themselves. «We are working to restore heating to all residents of the city,» Klitschko noted on Telegram.
Two-thirds of the city has electricity, but restrictions will continue to alleviate the electricity deficit, so he has called on his neighbors to save energy. Klitschko also reported the resumption of metro service.
The United Kingdom has denounced a tightening of the long-range bombing campaign against the Uranian infrastructure with the use of cruise missiles launched from the air or from the sea, but which also includes «almost certainly» Iranian drones launched from the Krasnodar region.
Ukraine denounces a Russian «terror» campaign that seeks to plunge the country into darkness and cold during the winter with the aim of forcing people to flee the country and causing a wave of migration. Temperatures in Kiev were around 4ºC.
Also on Saturday Moscow has reported that Russian President Vladimir Putin spent Friday with the command of the «special military operation», informing himself of the upcoming attack plans.
Source: (EUROPA PRESS)
