The Kremlin understands the Russians’ concern about the situation around Ukraine, but they count on understanding the goals that President Vladimir Putin spoke about, said Dmitry Peskov, press secretary of the head of state.
“Of course, the situation is very troubling, this is a very difficult issue, but as the president explained in his address to the Russians, this is all really dictated by our national interests, this is dictated by concern for the future of our country,” Peskov stressed. He also noted that the Kremlin expects a high level of support for the operation in Donbass, based on the fact that the majority of the population supported the recognition of the Donetsk and Luhansk People’s Republics (DNR and LNR).
“For sure, data will come from sociologists who will somehow make measurements. But the reaction – we know with you that a solid majority of the population supported the president’s decision to recognize the two republics of the LPR and the DPR – what is happening, it is happening on the basis of the appeals of the leaders of these two republics. Therefore, we can assume that the level of support will not be lower,” the spokesman suggested.
On the morning of February 24, Russia launched a military operation in Donbas. According to Russian President Vladimir Putin, the self-proclaimed Donetsk and Lugansk People’s Republics (DNR and LNR), whose sovereignty Russia recognized on February 21 within the borders of the Luhansk and Donetsk regions, asked the country for help. According to the head of state, Russia is not going to occupy Ukraine, but will strive “to demilitarize and denazify” this country.
The Russian Defense Ministry stated that they did not strike at the civilian infrastructure of Ukrainian cities. The Ministry reported that it suppressed the country’s air defense systems, the infrastructure of the air bases of the Armed Forces of Ukraine was disabled. Also, the defense department noted that the military of the Armed Forces of Ukraine are dropping their weapons and leaving their positions en masse. Then the Ministry of Defense said that the DPR and LPR launched a counteroffensive with fire support from the Russian Armed Forces.