Photo: Maximilian Clarke / Global Look Press
The main tasks of the first stage of the special operation have been generally completed, the combat potential of the Armed Forces of Ukraine (AFU) has been significantly reduced, said Colonel-General Serhiy Rudskoy, head of the Main Operational Directorate of the General Staff of the Russian Armed Forces.
“In general, the main tasks of the first stage of the operation have been completed. The combat potential of the Armed Forces of Ukraine has been significantly reduced, which allows, I emphasize once again, to focus the main efforts on achieving the main goal – the liberation of Donbass,” Rudskoy said, pointing out that the special operation is taking place “in strict accordance with the approved plan.”
According to Rudsky, the Ukrainian Navy “ceased to exist” and the air force and air defense system “are almost completely destroyed.”
Rudskoy stressed that the Russian military is striking at military infrastructure facilities, locations of formations and military units, airfields, command posts and weapons depots.
According to Rudskoy, from the beginning of the special operation, the Russian military blocked Kyiv, Kharkov, Chernihiv, Sumy and Nikolaev. Under full control are Kherson and most of the Zaporozhye region, he added.