18th Day Of Invasion, Russia Claims To Destroy 3,736 Ukrainian Military Facilities And Infrastructure

Mayor General Igor Konashenkov. (Wikimedia/Commons Mil.ru/Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation)

JAKARTA - The Russian military has again announced an increase in the number of Ukrainian military facilities and infrastructure, which were destroyed by the 18th day of the invasion on Sunday.

Targeting military infrastructure facilities, the Russian invasion left hundreds dead, with 2.5 million fleeing across the Ukrainian border and hundreds of thousands trapped in besieged cities.

The Russian Armed Forces have disabled 3,736 Ukrainian military infrastructure facilities, Defense Ministry Spokesman Major General Igor Konashenkov said on Sunday.

"In total, 3,736 Ukrainian military infrastructure facilities have been decommissioned during the operation," Major General Konashenkov said, as reported by TASS March 14.

He further explained that the Ukrainian military facilities and infrastructure that were destroyed include about 100 aircraft and 139 UAVs destroyed, 1,234 tanks and other armored vehicles, 122 multi-launch rocket systems, 452 field artillery guns, and mortars, and 1,013 hardware of special military units.

One Ukrainian Su-24 fighter jet and 11 drones, including two Bayraktars, were brought down by Russian warplanes and air defense systems during special operations in Ukraine on Sunday.

"On March 13, Russian air and aviation defense systems shot down a Su-24 plane of the Ukrainian air force near the settlement of Novy Bykov and 11 unmanned aerial vehicles, including two Bayraktars," Major General Konashenkov said.

According to Major General Konashenkov, Russian warplanes hit 46 Ukrainian army facilities.

"This includes three control centers, one dual missile launcher system, two ammunition depots, and 33 military hardware deployments," he said.

For information, Russian President Vladimir Putin authorized special military operations in Ukraine from February 24 last, not planning to occupy the territory, but to denazify and demilitarize the country.

While clarifying the ongoing developments, the Defense Ministry assured Russian troops not to target Ukrainian cities, but to be limited to offensive operations and crippling Ukrainian military infrastructure. There is no threat whatsoever to the civilian population.