Shoigu Discusses the Course of Operations in Ukraine

Russia has opened overland traffic to Crimea and created conditions for restoring rail communication with Donbass and Ukrainian territories through six sections. This was announced by Russian Defense Minister Sergey Shoigu during a conference held at the ministry on Tuesday.

According to the minister, Russian troops have completely liberated the residential neighborhoods of Severodonetsk and significant parts of the Donetsk and Luhansk People's Republics. "An automobile communication route has been opened from the Russian territory across the mainland to Crimea," the minister stated. Previously, the main part of Russia could only reach the peninsula through the Crimean bridge over the Kerch Strait.

Additionally, conditions have been created for complete railway transport restoration between Russia, Donbass, and Ukrainian territories across six sections. "We have begun supplying goods to Mariupol, Berdyansk, and Kherson," Shoigu said, adding that a total of 1200 km of railway has been restored.

He also noted that Russian troops have completed the demining of the Mariupol port. "It is operating normally and has received the first cargo ships. Furthermore, the Berdyansk seaport, located in the liberated areas of the Zaporizhia region, has also begun operations. 'On behalf of the Supreme Commander, we are ready to load grain at these ports,' Shoigu added.

Last Friday, Putin proposed organizing the export of Ukrainian grain through ports controlled by the Russian side, namely Berdyansk and Mariupol, without any conditions. According to him, Russia is prepared to ensure the entrance and movement of foreign vessels along the Sea of Azov and Black Seas in any direction and guarantees the safety of ships approaching the ports.

It should also be noted that Russian forces have liberated a significant portion of the Donetsk and Luhansk People's Republics on the left bank of the Seversky Donets, including the cities of Krasny Liman and Svyatogorsk.

“The residential neighborhoods of the city of Severodonetsk have been completely liberated; control over its industrial zone and surrounding settlements continues,” the minister added.

Addressing the casualties, the minister indicated that the total number of Ukrainian soldiers who have surrendered, according to the Russian Defense Ministry, has reached 6,489, with 126 individuals surrendering in just the last five days, Shoigu said. At the same time, he did not provide data on the killed and wounded servicemen of the Ukrainian armed forces and law enforcement agencies.

Speaking about the destruction of military equipment supplied to Kyiv from abroad, the minister noted that over the last ten days, 21 155mm howitzers, 16 drones, 12 armored vehicles, and two multiple rocket launchers have been destroyed.