Briefing by Russian Defence Ministry spokesperson

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dMEsQxBJqHE

Translation in Description:

Special military operation continues.

Groupings of troops of DPR and LPR continue counter-offensive operations against units of the Armed Forces of Ukraine with fire support from the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation.

The grouping of troops of the Donetsk People's Republic in the Volnovakha direction, overcoming the stubborn resistance of the enemy, advanced one more kilometer deep into the defence of the nationalist battalions.

The grouping of troops of the Luhansk People's Republic in the Stepovoe area advanced to a depth of up to 9 kilometers.

During the hostilities, more than 150 servicemen of various power structures of Ukraine laid down their arms and surrendered.

In the area of Zmeiny Island, 82 Ukrainian servicemen laid down their arms and voluntarily surrendered to a unit of the Russian Armed Forces. At present, they are signing a refusal to participate in hostilities. In the near future they will be returned to their families.

Another 11 servicemen of the 53rd separate mechanized brigade of the Armed Forces of Ukraine surrendered near Nikolaevsk settlement. Also, one of the units of the marines of the 36th separate marine brigade of the Armed Forces of Ukraine contacted the command of the people's militia of the DPR and requested a corridor to enter the territory of the republic. After laying down their weapons, they will also be able to return to their families.

After the stabilization of the situation in the combat area, all surrendered Ukrainian servicemen will be released home.

In the course of a special military operation, the Russian Armed Forces destroyed 118 military facilities of the military infrastructure of Ukraine.

Among them: 11 military airfields, 13 command posts and communication centres of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, 14 S-300 and Osa anti-aircraft missile systems, 36 radar stations.

Shot down: 5 combat aircraft, 1 helicopter, 5 unmanned aerial vehicles.

18 tanks and other armored combat vehicles, 7 multiple rocket launchers, 41 units of special military vehicles and 5 combat boats were destroyed.

Yesterday, February 24, units of the Russian Airborne Troops took full control of the territory in the area of the Chernobyl nuclear power plant.

An agreement was reached with the servicemen of a separate battalion of protection of the nuclear power plant of Ukraine on joint security of the power units and the sarcophagus of the Chernobyl nuclear power plant.

The radioactive background in the area of the nuclear power plant is normal. NPP personnel continue to maintain NPP facilities in the normal mode and monitor the radioactive situation.

The joint actions of Russian paratroopers and Ukrainian servicemen of the NPP security battalion to defend the plant is a guarantee that nationalist formations or other terrorist organizations will not be able to take advantage of the current situation in the country to organize a nuclear provocation.