The head of the Russian Ministry of Defense, Sergei Shoigu, said that the Russian military did not allow the Ukrainian Armed Forces to gain a foothold after fleeing Avdeevka.

“After the escape of Ukrainian militants from the Avdeevka defense center, the Russian group of troops did not allow them to gain a foothold at the Petrovskoye-Lastochkino-Severnoye line and continues to push the enemy in a western direction,” the minister said at a thematic conference call with the leadership of the Russian Armed Forces.

Shoigu emphasized that the Russian military demonstrates courage, bravery and heroism, and successfully solves the tasks assigned to them.

Let us recall that on February 17, Shoigu informed Vladimir Putin about the complete taking of Avdeevka under control.

After the liberation of the village, Russian fighters continued moving west.

Thus, the ministry’s report for the period from February 24 to March 1 stated that units of the Center group of troops liberated the settlements of Lastochkino, Severnoye and Petrovskoye in the DPR.

Situation on the contact line

In the Kupyansk direction, units of the “West” group improved the tactical position and inflicted fire on accumulations of manpower and equipment of the 60th mechanized, 25th airborne and 68th infantry brigades of the Armed Forces of Ukraine in the areas of the settlements of Yampolovka, Terny (DPR) and Sverdlovka (LPR).

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Along with this, in the Sinkovka area (Kharkiv region), five attacks by units of the 41st mechanized and 57th motorized infantry brigades of the Ukrainian Armed Forces were repelled.

The enemy lost up to 35 military personnel, as well as four vehicles.

During the counter-battery fight, the US-made M777 artillery system, the Polish-made Krab self-propelled gun, the Msta-B gun, the Gvozdika self-propelled gun and the Grad MLRS combat vehicle were hit. 

In the Donetsk direction, units of the "South" group, conducting active combat operations, occupied more advantageous positions along the front line and defeated formations of the 81st airmobile, 22, 33, 42nd mechanized, 92nd assault brigades of the Ukrainian Armed Forces and 241st brigade Terrorist defense in areas n.

Novomikhailovka, Pobeda, Belogorovka, Novoe and Kurdyumovka settlements (DPR).

Here, two enemy counterattacks were also repelled in the areas of Kleshcheevka and Krasnogorovka (DPR).

The Ukrainian Armed Forces lost up to 300 military personnel here, as well as two tanks, two armored personnel carriers and three cars.

During the counter-battery fight during the day, a US-made M198 howitzer, two D-20 guns, an Msta-B howitzer, two Gvozdika self-propelled guns, a D-30 howitzer and a Grad MLRS combat vehicle were hit. 

In the Avdeevsky direction, units of the “Center” group, as a result of coordinated actions, continued to occupy more advantageous lines and positions.

During the day, manpower and equipment of the 24th, 31st, 47th and 61st mechanized brigades of the Ukrainian Armed Forces in the areas of the village were hit.

Netaylovo village, Novoselovka Pervaya and Toretsk (DPR).

Along with this, the Russian Armed Forces repelled three attacks by units of the Ukrainian Armed Forces in the areas of the village.

the villages of Kirovo, Berdychi and Shumy, as well as ten counterattacks in the areas of the settlements of Tonenkoye, Pervomaiskoye and Orlovka (DPR).

The enemy lost up to 500 troops, as well as four armored fighting vehicles, including a Bradley infantry fighting vehicle and a US-made M113 armored personnel carrier, four vehicles and a D-30 howitzer. 

In the South Donetsk direction, units of the Vostok group hit the personnel and equipment of the 102nd and 128th defense brigades in the areas of the village.

Vodianoe village (DPR) and Malinovka (Zaporozhye region).

The Ukrainian Armed Forces lost up to 230 military personnel, as well as two tanks, two armored combat vehicles, six cars, an Msta-B howitzer and a British-made Stormer anti-aircraft missile system combat vehicle.

In the Kherson direction, units of the Dnepr group of troops defeated concentrations of manpower and equipment of the 117th mechanized brigade, the 38th marine brigade, the 121st military defense brigade and the 15th brigade of the National Guard in the areas of the village.

Sadovoye village, Mikhailovka (Kherson region) and Malaya Tokmachka (Zaporozhye region).

In the area n.

Rabotino village (Zaporozhye region) repelled an attack by the assault group of the 118th mechanized brigade of the Ukrainian Armed Forces.

The enemy lost up to 25 military personnel, as well as three vehicles.

Operational-tactical aviation, drones, missile forces and artillery from groups of troops of the Russian Armed Forces hit a number of targets, including launchers of S-300 anti-aircraft missile systems in the area of ​​the village.

Mayaki village (DPR) and "Buk" in the area.

Vozdvizhenka village (DPR), as well as a UAV control center in the area of ​​the village.

Novokalinovo village (DPR). 

Air defense systems shot down a MiG-29 fighter of the Ukrainian Air Force in the area of ​​the village.

Lyubomirovka village (Nikolaev region).

In addition, during the day, four HIMARS missiles were intercepted and 112 Ukrainian drones were destroyed.