SNAKE ISLAND STORY FROM RUSSIAN SIDE
Briefing by Russian Defence Ministry spokesperson:
«Yesterday, after statements by the Kiev regime about readiness for negotiations, active hostilities in the main areas of the operation were suspended.
After the Ukrainian side refused to negotiate, today all units were ordered to develop an offensive in all directions in accordance with the plan of the operation.
Groups of DPR and LPR troops with the fire support of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation are developing the success of the offensive against the positions of the Armed Forces of Ukraine.
Units of the Armed Forces of the Luhansk People's Republic continue their offensive in the direction of the settlement of Rubezhnoye.
Nationalist battalions use so-called "bander cars", which have increased cross-country capability and are equipped with large-caliber small arms or mortars. I recall that this tactic is used by international terrorists in Syria.
Despite this, today the LPR troops have expanded the offensive line and advanced from the beginning of the operation to a depth of up to 46 kilometers, having captured the settlements of Shchastia and Muratovo.
The grouping of troops of the Donetsk People's Republic, advancing in the direction of Petrovskoe, advanced another 10 kilometers and captured the settlements of Starognatovka, Oktyabrskaya and Pavlopol.
On the evening of February 25, during the evacuation of 82 Ukrainian servicemen who voluntarily laid down their arms from Snake Island, 16 boats of the Ukrainian Navy, using "swarm tactics", tried to attack the ships of the Black Sea Fleet.
I would like to emphasize that some of the attacking Ukrainian boats operated under the cover of civilian vessels.
The purpose of this attack was primarily to retaliate against the Ukrainian servicemen who had laid down their arms and to accuse the Russian army of destroying prisoners of war.
As a result of the naval battle, 6 boats of the Ukrainian Navy were destroyed. None of the 82 Ukrainian servicemen from Snake Island were injured.
I want to pay special attention. During the attack of the Ukrainian boats, strategic unmanned aerial vehicles of the USA RQ-4 Global Hawk and MQ-9A Ripper were barraging over the area of provocation.
There is a high probability that it was American UAVs that guided Ukrainian boats to the ships of the Russian Black Sea Fleet.
The Kiev nationalist regime massively and uncontrollably distributes automatic small arms, grenade launchers and ammunition to residents of Ukrainian settlements.
The nationalists' involvement of the civilian population of Ukraine in hostilities will inevitably lead to accidents and casualties.
We call on the residents of Ukraine to show consciousness, not to succumb to these provocations of the Kiev regime and not to expose themselves and their loved ones to unnecessary suffering.
Our intelligence data continue to record the deployment of rocket and artillery units by Ukrainian nationalists in residential areas not only in Kiev, but also in other Ukrainian cities.
The leadership of Ukraine has repeatedly stated that it does not hide behind the civilian population and does not put heavy firepower in cities. Such an outright lie can lead to serious consequences.
Look at the numerous video frames from Kiev, Kharkiv and other cities that are now being distributed not only in the media, but also on the Internet.
Let's repeat - this is done intentionally, to provoke retaliatory strikes by the Russian Armed Forces on residents of settlements. The Ukrainian nationalist leadership uses the same methods as the terrorists.
We appeal to the residents of Ukraine - demand that the criminal authorities in Kiev immediately remove all heavy weapons from your homes and residential areas of the cities.
I would like to emphasize once again that the Russian Armed Forces do not strike residential areas of Ukrainian cities».