The Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation denied the statements of the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine Valery Zaluzhny regarding the alleged losses of Russian aircraft and armored vehicles.
The department pointed out that these statements – "complete lies". The ministry's message also states that Ukrainian units, judging by intelligence data, are massively leaving their positions, abandoning their weapons. At the same time, they are not subject to strikes, underlined in the RF Ministry of Defense.
Earlier, Ukrainian security forces said that air defense shot down a Russian plane in eastern Ukraine . The Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation did not confirm this information, adding that the Army of the Border Service of Ukraine does not resist Russian units.
Recall, on Thursday morning Russian leader Vladimir Putin announced the start of a special military operation in the Donbass, where the situation has worsened even more. The President explained that Russia's actions are purely in self-defense, the occupation of Ukrainian territory is not included in the plans.
The Ministry of Defense also stressed that Russian troops do not strike Ukrainian cities.