Gerasimov announced fierce battles since the beginning of the special operation

The fighting on the territory of Ukraine has been fierce since the beginning of the special operation. This statement was made by the Chief of the General Staff of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation Valery Gerasimov.

“It should be noted that the hostilities unfolded over a vast territory and were fierce from the very beginning,” he said (quote according to TASS).

Gerasimov recalled that at the beginning of the special operation, the Russian military attacked Ukrainian aviation at airfields, air defense systems, command posts, warehouses and arsenals with ammunition using high-precision weapons. After that, the Armed Forces (AF) of the Russian Federation went on the offensive.

According to him, such tactics made it possible to take control of the LPR, as well as to liberate Mariupol “with minimal losses”. He also mentioned the establishment of Russian control over the Azov coast and the territories of the Kherson and Zaporozhye regions.

Gerasimov added that at present the main efforts of the Russian troops are focused on the complete liberation of the DPR. He added that the Russian Armed Forces continue to strike at critical objects of the transport and energy infrastructure of Ukraine, as well as at warehouses with ammunition and military equipment.

The Chief of the General Staff stressed that at the moment the situation on the front line is stabilized, the length of the contact line is 815 km.

Russia’s special operation in Ukraine began on February 24. Russian President Vladimir Putin called the protection of the inhabitants of Donbass, as well as the demilitarization and denazification of Ukraine, its goals. During the special operation, Russian troops took full control of the LPR, as well as most of the DPR, Kherson and Zaporozhye regions. Subsequently, these territories became part of Russia, and on October 19 martial law was introduced in the regions.

At the same time, on November 9, Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu ordered the withdrawal of Russian troops from Kherson to the left bank of the Dnieper. This decision was made after the report of the commander of the Joint Group of Russian Forces Sergei Surovikin on the situation in the special operation zone. November 11 Ministry of Defense reported about the completion of the withdrawal of troops from the city, he came under the control of Ukraine.