MOSCOW, October 19. /TASS/. Russia will continue launching strikes against Ukrainian defense enterprises and logistics centers, Russian President Vladimir Putin said while visiting an auxiliary command post of the Joint Force.
He stressed that the establishment of a buffer zone will not be open to discussion with Kiev and thanked Russian troops fighting to liberate Dobropolye and Alexeyevo-Drushkovka in the Donetsk People’s Republic (DPR).
TASS has compiled the president’s key statements.
Russia’s objectives
After Ukraine’s incursion into Russia’s Kursk Region, Russian forces were tasked not only with driving the enemy out of Russian territory but also with establishing a security zone, and this task is being successfully implemented: "Our task is to ensure absolute security of Russia’s border territories in the future and we are not going to make this a subject of any potential peace talks with Ukraine."
Commanders of battlegroups must continue "carrying out tasks in strict compliance with the objectives of the special military operation." "Naturally, it is necessary to continue massive and coordinated strikes against enemy defense facilities and logistics centers."
Strikes against the Kiev regime’s facilities have been effective: "I assess the results positively."
"As for the situation on the ground, naturally, one of the key objectives is the liberation of the Donetsk People’s Republic."
Successes
Russian forces are advancing along the entire frontline in the zone of the special military operation, and "the pace of their advance has increased significantly."
Russia’s armed forces continue to carry out the objectives of the special military operation: "As has already been mentioned here, in September alone, more than 1,300 square kilometers of territory in Donbas and Novorossiya was liberated."
"Around 6,500 square kilometers of territory and 310 settlements have been liberated since the beginning of this year."
The liberation of Dobropolye in the DPR is an evident success: "Please convey my words of gratitude to all personnel directly involved in the liberation of Dobropolye. I will say more about this when addressing the commanders of the task forces, but I want to emphasize and point out right here: the capture of Dobropolye is undoubtedly a significant milestone in the liberation of Donbas as a whole and a clear success for the Russian Armed Forces. Congratulations to you all."
"The enemy had turned the city into a fortified stronghold in this area, but the coordinated and highly professional actions of Russian assault units made it possible first to encircle enemy forces in the city and then to take complete control of it."
The liberation of Dobropolye "opens a direct route toward the DPR’s borders."
The liberation of Alexeyevo-Druzhkovka and the start of the assault on Ukrainian fortified areas in Druzhkovka and Kramatorsk in the DPR create conditions for "the swiftest possible completion of the liberation of Donbas from the Kiev regime’s combat units."
"Please convey my most sincere words of gratitude to all the personnel who were directly involved in the liberation of Alexeyevo-Druzhkovka for the courage and resilience they demonstrated during this combat operation."
Russian forces successfully encircled a Ukrainian grouping 2,000 troops in the Kharkov Region: "Entrapping a grouping of about 2,000 troops, in an area of more than 400 square kilometers, 460 square kilometers, is certainly no ordinary feat. Taking into account the subsequent elimination of the enemy in that area, this is indeed a success."
"The offensive in the Zaporozhye Region continues at a high pace, with Battlegroups Dnepr and East’s troops advancing successfully."
"A decisive role [in ensuring rapid progress] undoubtedly belongs to our soldiers and officers, who, while carrying out combat missions, act professionally and demonstrate the finest qualities of the Russian military, such as selfless devotion to the Motherland."
Protection of facilities
Air defense combat crews are operating professionally: "But, of course, there is room for improvement in this regard. We need to enhance the effectiveness of our defense of civilian, first and foremost civilian, and, of course, military facilities."