Ukraine's air defense destroyed – Russia

A lightning offensive has crippled the Ukrainian military, Moscow claims

Russia has taken out Ukraine’s air defenses and airforce with a series of precision attacks, the country’s Defense Ministry has said in a statement, after airports and runways across the country were rocked by explosions.

Officials also claimed on Thursday morning that Ukrainian border guards are not resisting advancing Russian troops, who have moved in after President Vladimir Putin signed an order to begin a "special operation" in the Donbass. At the same time, officials denied claims made by Kiev's defense chiefs that Russia had lost at least one military plane over the country during the offensive.

In an earlier statement, Moscow reported that it was carrying out strikes at elements of Ukraine’s military infrastructure.

Russia launched the offensive against Ukraine on Thursday morning on the orders of President Vladimir Putin, who said the goal of the operation was to demilitarize and “de-Nazify” Ukraine.

The Russian leader claimed military action was necessary to stop Ukrainian attacks on the two breakaway regions of Donetsk and Lugansk, which Moscow recognized as sovereign states on Monday. He claimed Russia could come under attack by Ukrainian radicals, unless their influence in the country is diminished, and accused Western nations of arming Kiev against Russia.

https://www.rt.com/russia/550426-ukrainian-air-defense-systems-suppressed/

>>15707720

another sauce:

Russian MoD: Ukrainian Air Defences Are Neutralised

Moscow launched the special operation in Ukraine earlier today, amid escalating attacks by Kiev's forces in Donbass. Russian President Vladimir Putin stressed that the goal of the operation is the demilitarisation and denazification of Ukraine.

The Russian Defence Ministry has announced that Ukrainian air defences have been neutralised.

"The military infrastructure of Ukrainian military air bases has been put out of action", the statement read. "The air defences of the armed forces of Ukraine have been neutralised".

The Russian MoD also noted that the border services of Ukraine "do not show any resistance" to Russian troops.

Previously, the MoD stated that precision weapons had been used to neutralise Ukrainian military infrastructure and air forces, stressing there were no threats to the civilian population.

The tensions around Ukraine have been escalating over the past few days, as attacks in Donbass by the Ukrainian military resulted in thousands of people being evacuated to Russia.

Following an appeal from the Donetsk and Lugansk People's Republics, Moscow recognised their independence and ratified friendship and cooperation treaties with them, promising to protect the people of Donbass against any threats.

On Thursday, Russia launched a military operation in Donbass. President Putin said that the goal is to protect the people of the region "who have been subjected to abuse, genocide by the Kiev regime for eight years", and noted that Moscow's aim is for the demilitarisation and denazification of Ukraine.

https://sputniknews.com/20220224/russian-mod-ukrainian-air-defences-are-neutralised-1093323521.html

>>15707756

"Previously, the MoD stated that precision weapons had been used to neutralise Ukrainian military infrastructure and air forces, stressing there were no threats to the civilian population."

https://sputniknews.com/20220224/russian-mod-precision-weapons-used-to-neutralise-military-infrastructure-and-air-forces-of-ukraine-1093321077.html

>>15707765

landing in Bulgaria?

Lugansk People's Republic: Two Ukrainian Su-24 Jets Flying Over Republic's Territory Shot Down

Earlier, the leadership of the republic announced that it had begun a military operation to free Kiev-controlled areas of the Lugansk region and that only military facilities would be targeted. Russian President Vladimir Putin said Moscow would support both the Lugansk and Donetsk People's Republics in order to defend the people of Donbass.

The people's militia of the Lugansk People's Republic has said that they shot down two Ukrainian Su-24 fighter jets in the area of the settlements of Smeloe and Stepovoe. Earlier, the Lugansk People's Republic (LPR) said that its forces had downed two Bayraktar drones in the Kiev-controlled portion of the Lugansk region.

The neighbouring Donetsk People's Republic (DPR) said its territory had been shelled by the Ukrainian Armed Forces. A representative officer from the Joint Centre for Control and Coordination of the ceasefire regime said that Kiev fired 10 shells prohibited by the Minsk agreements.

Being Updated: https://sputniknews.com/20220224/lugansk-peoples-republic-two-ukrainian-su-24-jets-flying-over-republics-territory-shot-down-1093325033.html

>>15707863

coming from Ramstein and landing in Burgas/Bulgaria

switch to ship?