Russia orders troops to step up operations in eastern Ukraine

Russia’s Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu has ordered military units to step up operations to prevent strikes on Russian-controlled areas in eastern Ukraine.

In a statement on its website on Saturday, the defense ministry said Shoigu gave the order as he made a surprise visit to Russian troops involved in the ongoing military operation in Ukraine, and met with senior commanding officers to discuss ways to stop Ukrainian attacks on civilians in the eastern region of Donbas.  

“The head of the Russian defense ministry gave the necessary instructions to ramp up the actions of groups in all operational areas in order to exclude the possibility of the Kiev regime to launch massive rocket and artillery strikes on civilian infrastructure and residents of settlements across Donbas and other regions,” the ministry said.

The ministry said Shoigu awarded ‘Gold Star’ medals to Colonel General Alexander Lapin and Major General Esedulla Abachev for “courage and heroism” throughout the conflict.

Since the start of the military conflict, Russian forces have taken over large swathes of Ukraine, including the complete seizure of the eastern region of Luhansk. Russian troops are now pushing ahead to complete their takeover of the entire Donbas, made up of the Luhansk and Donetsk provinces.

SS