Moscow, The Indonesia Post – Russia said Monday it was carrying out strikes throughout the night against the Ukrainian military and targets linked to the country’s military.
Russia deployed its air force, guided missiles, artillery and air defense systems to hit hundreds of targets in various locations in its neighboring country.
The Russian defense ministry said in a statement that the missiles fired successfully destroyed 16 Ukrainian military facilities overnight.
Among the targets hit by the strikes were five command posts, a fuel depot, three ammunition depots, a number of armored weapons, as well as Ukrainian troops.
Russia’s defense ministry said its attacks took place in Kharkiv, Zaporizhzhia, Donetsk, the Dnipropetrovsk region, as well as the port of Mykolayiv.
Russia’s air force previously also bombarded 108 areas, which it said were the main powerhouses of Ukrainian troops and weapons.
The defense ministry accused Ukraine of plotting a “terrible provocation”, targeting civilians as targets, designed to tarnish the image of Russian troops.
In particular, according to the Russian Ministry of Defense, Ukraine is plotting to open fire on Orthodox churches and cathedrals in various parts of Ukraine on the night of April 23.
April 23 is the night of Orthodox Easter celebrated by most Ukrainians and Russians.
Russia’s defense ministry said it had evidence to substantiate its claims, but did not reveal any.
There was no immediate response from Ukraine on Russia’s accusations.
Russia’s defense ministry also said it destroyed 12 Ukrainian planes and tanks in several parts of the country.
Russia, the defense ministry said, also destroyed four weapons and equipment depots in Luhansk, Vinnytsia and Donetsk.
Russia, which deployed troops to Ukraine on February 24, has expressed a determination to continue the movement, which it calls a “special military operation”, until the goal is achieved.
The country’s stated goal is to weaken Ukraine’s military and get rid of those whom Russia considers dangerous nationalists.
Russia is now focusing its efforts on taking full control of the Ukrainian port city of Mariupol, which has been under siege for weeks.
The defense ministry said Russian artillery over the night also hit 315 Ukrainian military targets and that air defense systems were used to down two MiG-29 fighter jets and one SU-25 aircraft. (ojn/bbs)
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