July 18, 2022

Ruissian Ministry of Defense: Russia claims to have ‘eliminated’ 250 foreign ‘mercenaries’ fighting for Ukraine in Donetsk

Russian Defense Ministry

Russian Defence Minister General of the Army Sergei Shoigu has inspected Russian Vostok grouping carrying out combat tasks of the special military operation in Ukraine.

▫️Lieutenant General Rustam Muradov, commander of Vostok grouping, reported to the Russian Defence Minister on the current situation and progress in the implementation of the combat tasks to defeat the enemy forces in the area of responsibility.

▫️General of the Army Sergei Shoigu, noting the strengthening of the grouping’s striking capabilities, instructed the commander to give priority to the enemy’s long-range missile and artillery weapons, which are used to shell residential areas of Donbass populated ares and deliberately set fire to wheat fields and grain storages.

▫️Earlier, Russian Defence Minister General of the Army Sergei Shoigu has inspected the Russian groupings South and Centre led by General of the Army Sergei Surovikin and Colonel General Aleksandr Lapin.

⚡Russian Defence Ministry report on the progress of the special military operation in Ukraine

💥High-precision air-based missiles in Kostantinovka, Donetsk People’s Republic, have neutralized temporary deployment point of mercenaries of so-called Ukrainian “Foreign Legion”. The attacks have resulted in the elimination of more than 250 military personnel and 12 special vehicles.

💥As a result of high-precision long-range air-based weaponry strike on temporary deployment point of battalion of 118th Territorial Defence Brigade of AFU in Vitovo, Cherkasskaya Region, up to 60 nationalists, 2 multiple rocket launchers and 4 artillery mounts have been destroyed.

▫️More than 10 Ukrainian Grad multiple rocket launchers and 8 armoured vehicles have been destroyed near Udachnoye railway station in Donetsk People’s Republic.

▫️Also, 2 Ukrainian Mi-8 helicopters have been destroyed and 2 more helicopters suffered significant damage as a result of rocket artillery strike on AFU field airfield near Novyi Donbass, Donetsk People’s Republic.

💥As part of counter-battery warfare, 2 batteries of Uragan multiple-launch rocket systems near Predtechino, 3 platoons of Grad MLRS, 14 artillery platoons of Hyacinth-B howitzers and D-30 guns near Seversk, Verkhnekamenskoye, Serebryanka, Dronovka and Zvanovka, Donetsk People’s Republic have been neutralized.

💥Operational-tactical and army aviation, missile troops and artillery have hit 14 command posts, including 28th Mechanized Brigade near Nikolaev, 60th Infantry Brigade near Novoaleksandrovka in Zaporozhye Region and 15th Battalion of 58th AFU Motorized Infantry Brigade in Pokrovskoye in Donetsk People’s Republic, as well as 286 areas of AFU manpower and military equipment concentration.

▫️1 Buk-M1 self-propelled launcher near Kramatorsk in Donetsk People’s Republic, 3 depots with missile and artillery weapons and 1 fuel depot near Novoaleksandrovka in Zaporozhye Region have been destroyed.

💥Russian air defence means have shot down 6 Ukrainian unmanned aerial vehicles near Peschanoye, Chervonyi Oskol, Liptsy in Kharkov Region, Korsun’ in Donetsk People’s Republic and Novokamenka in Kherson Region.

▫️2 shells of Uragan multiple rocket launcher have been also intercepted near Stakhanov in Lugansk People’s Republic.

📊In total, 257 Ukrainian airplanes and 142 helicopters, 1,564 unmanned aerial vehicles, 356 anti-aircraft missile systems, 4,099 tanks and other armored combat vehicles, 759 multiple launch rocket systems, 3,157 field artillery and mortars, as well as 4,392 units of special military vehicles were destroyed during the operation.

Share the Post:

Wilson Center

Forced displacement represents one of the most pressing humanitarian issues of our time. Individuals and families, torn from the fabric of their communities, find themselves navigating a world of uncertainty, often without basic necessities or a clear path to safety. There are currently some 110 million forced displaced, and this number is growing by 10 million each year!

At the heart of this crisis are the political triggers. Armed conflicts, ethnic or religious persecutions, and systemic human rights abuses force millions to flee their homes in terror. Many are displaced within their own national boundaries, while others seek asylum abroad. If these factors change as a result of political shifts at home or the pressures from abroad, they can return to their homes. Forced displacement is thus different from environmentally driven displacement, as victims of climate change may never be able to return to their homes.

The ramifications of any sort of displacement are profound, not just for those directly affected, but also for host communities and countries. Overburdened infrastructures, socio-economic strains, and cultural tensions can arise, necessitating comprehensive strategies to foster harmony and integration. Yet the root causes of forced displacement can be remedied with a concerted focus by local players and international diplomacy.

Organizations like Refugees International play a crucial role in this arena, advocating for the rights and needs of the displaced, conducting on-the-ground assessments, and influencing policymakers to take informed actions. Their relentless work underscores the gravity of the situation and the urgency ofinternational cooperation. But they, too, are overwhelmed by the rapid expansion of the crisis.

International Humanitarian Law (IHL), with its core principles centered on the protection of civilians during conflicts, plays a pivotal role in this discourse. Yet, despite clear legal frameworks, compliance remains
inconsistent. This initiative emphasizes the importance of upholding and reinforcing these international standards.

It’s not just about recognizing the problem; it’s about active engagement. We urge governments, organizations, and individuals to prioritize the rights and needs of the forced displaced. Through collective efforts, informed policies, and sustained advocacy, we can shift the narrative from passive acknowledgment to proactive intervention.