MOSCOW (Realist English). President Vladimir Putin visited an auxiliary command post of the Joint Grouping of Forces, where he held a meeting with the leadership of the General Staff and commanders of troop groupings.
The main focus was on the current situation in the zone of the special military operation, the results of combat work and tasks for the summer period.
Liberation of the LPR and New Territories
Opening the meeting, Putin noted that the liberation of the Lugansk People’s Republic had been fully completed in recent times, and the destruction of Ukrainian Armed Forces formations continues on the territory of the Donetsk People’s Republic, Zaporozhye and Kherson regions.
The creation of a security buffer zone is proceeding according to plan in the border areas of the Kharkov, Sumy and Dnepropetrovsk regions of Ukraine.
“Since the beginning of this year, Russian troops have liberated 133 settlements and taken control of more than three thousand square kilometres of our land in Donbas and Novorossiya,” the Supreme Commander-in-Chief stated.
Chief of General Staff’s Report: Key Achievements in June
Chief of the General Staff Valery Gerasimov reported that in June, 29 settlements and 636 square kilometres of territory were liberated. He noted that the Kiev regime, lacking results on the ground, is trying to convince its Western sponsors of imaginary successes by conducting an “information campaign” and concealing territories liberated by Russian troops under the neutral formulation “passed into the grey zone.”
The highest rates of advance were achieved in the areas of responsibility of the “North” and “East” groupings.
“North” Grouping continues to expand the security buffer zone in the Sumy and Kharkov regions. An offensive is underway in the direction of Sumy, in the area of Bely Kolodez. In June, eight settlements were taken under control.
“West” Grouping is developing an offensive on a broad front in the Kharkov region and the northern part of the DPR. In the Kupyansk direction, the enemy has redeployed 11 battalions in an attempt to regain lost positions, but is suffering significant losses. Since May 10, about 2,500 Ukrainian servicemen and 772 units of equipment have been destroyed in this direction. Four settlements came under control, street fighting is ongoing in Podliman, and the liberation of Krasny Liman is being completed.
“South” Grouping liberated Konstantinovka — one of the main enemy defence nodes in the Slaviansk-Kramatorsk-Konstantinovka fortified area. In addition, four more settlements were taken under control in June.
“Centre” Grouping is developing an offensive north of Krasnoarmeysk; the front line has been pushed back from the city’s outskirts by 8.5 km. In June, Kutuzovka, Vasilyevka and Novy Donbass were liberated. Forward units entered Dobropolye and Annovka.
“East” Grouping is advancing in the Zaporozhye and Dnepropetrovsk regions. In June, about 115 sq. km of territory came under control, and five settlements were liberated.
“Dnieper” Grouping is conducting an offensive in the Zaporozhye direction. Assault units are 9 km from the southern outskirts of Zaporozhye, with fire strikes being delivered against Ukrainian Armed Forces positions within the city limits. Fighting continues in Orekhov and Preobrazhenka.
Strikes on Ukraine’s Military-Industrial Complex
Gerasimov also reported on the delivery of massive and group strikes against objects of Ukraine’s military-industrial complex and energy infrastructure. In June, five strikes were carried out, hitting 55 targets, including 34 defence industry enterprises, ten airfields and five fuel and energy facilities.
On the night of July 1–2, a massive strike was carried out against defence industry targets in Kiev. Five key enterprises of Ukraine’s aviation and radio-electronic industry, a logistics centre, four fuel and energy facilities and the infrastructure of five military airfields were hit.
“As a result of the strikes, the capabilities of Ukrainian industry to produce long-range weapons have been significantly reduced, as a result of which the critical dependence of the Kiev regime on supplies of components, explosives and fuel from Western countries continues to grow,” Gerasimov noted.
Capture of Konstantinovka: Strategic Significance
Putin noted that the capture of Konstantinovka has important strategic significance. The city is a key transport and major industrial centre of Donbas. “The capture of Konstantinovka by troops of the southern grouping opens a direct road for further advance towards Kramatorsk and Slaviansk, and other fortified areas in Donbas, and is the key to the liberation of the entire territory of the Donetsk People’s Republic,” the president stated.
Commander of the southern grouping Sergei Medvedev reported that from Seversk, units of the 3rd Army had advanced 22 km, with 8 km remaining to Slaviansk. In the Kramatorsk-Druzhkovka direction, units completed the liberation of Konstantinovka. Currently, the 6th Motor Rifle Division is advancing in the direction of Druzhkovka, with forward assault groups fighting on the southern outskirts of Alexeyevo-Druzhkovka.
Commander of the 4th Separate Motor Rifle Brigade, Major General Anton Grunis, whose units distinguished themselves in the liberation of Konstantinovka, reported on the course of the fighting. Putin congratulated him and all the fighters on their success, noting: “You know, as they say among our people: fortune favours the bold. You and your fighters are doing just that — properly and with a high level of professionalism.”
Gerasimov promised to recommend distinguished officers for promotions and awards.
Creation of the Security Buffer Zone and Protection of Civilians
Commander of the “North” Grouping Yevgeny Nikiforov reported that the grouping is concentrating its main efforts on expanding the security buffer zone in the Sumy and Kharkov regions, as well as ensuring the security of border areas of Russia. In June, about 230 sq. km and eight settlements were liberated. Enemy losses amounted to more than 5,500 militants.
Putin noted: “The more strikes the enemy attempts to deliver against our civilian facilities, the larger a security zone we will have to create in the adjacent territory. Especially since this too is historically Russian land.”
The president also instructed that special attention be paid to the evacuation of civilians from the combat zone and to continue strikes against Ukraine’s defence industry infrastructure.
He also warned of possible enemy forays for propaganda purposes and called on commanders to act “rhythmically, rationally and consistently,” ensuring the preservation of their fighters’ lives and the fulfilment of tasks in strict accordance with the plan of the General Staff.