On the eve of the forthcoming talks with Kiev, Russian President Vladimir Putin ordered to stop the advance of the Russian armed forces in Ukraine. Dmitry Peskov, the Press Secretary of the Russian President stated. TASS News Agency informed.
Russian President Vladimir Putin on Friday afternoon, in connection with the expected negotiations with Kiev, ordered to stop the advance of troops in Ukraine, but due to the refusal of the other side to dialogue, the movement was resumed this afternoon. Dmitry Peskov, the Press Secretary of the Russian President stated.
“Yesterday afternoon, in connection with the expected negotiations with the Ukrainian leadership, the Supreme Commander and President of Russia ordered the suspension of the advance of the main forces of the Russian troops,” the Kremlin spokesman said.
He explained that since “in fact, the Ukrainian side refused to negotiate, this afternoon the main Russian forces resumed their advance in accordance with the plan of the operation.”
Peskov clarified that during the suspension of the advance of the main forces, hostilities continued in a number of places. “There were clashes with mobile groups of nationalists and Bandera, who used light cars and trucks, where they installed strike weapons – according to the principle of “jihad mobiles”, only there they are now called “bandera mobiles,” he said.
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It should be reminded that in the early morning of 24 February, Russian President Vladimir Putin delivered a message announcing the decision to launch a special military operation in Donbas.
“Circumstances require us to take decisive and immediate action. The Donbas People’s Republics have appealed to Russia. I have decided to launch a special military operation in this regard,” Putin said in a televised address to Russian citizens.
The General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine reported that from 05:00 (07:00 Yerevan time) on Thursday, the Russian Armed Forces carried out intensive attacks on Ukrainian military facilities and airports.
The Verkhovna Rada has declared martial law in Ukraine. The Ministry of Internal Affairs of Ukraine announced the preliminary number of victims and wounded.
