Enemy has not fulfilled any strategic task, trying to bring more forces to Kyiv - General Staff

According to Ukrinform, the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine announced this on Facebook.

As of 12:00 on March 18, the Russian troops continue their offensive operation against Ukraine.

"Strategic tasks related to the defeat of groups of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, access to the administrative borders of the Donetsk and Luhansk regions and the establishment of control over the left bank of Ukraine remain unfulfilled. The enemy partially managed to temporarily occupy populated localities and establish control over the routes in the Donetsk and Southern Bug operational areas," the statement said.

The General Staff said that since all missiles and some types of ammunition had already been used, the Russian military-political leadership decided to transfer the military-industrial complex involved in the production of Kalibr missiles and ammunition for Smerch MLRS to round-the-clock operation.

Ukrinform reported earlier that Russia lost 14,200 troops, 450 tanks and 93 aircraft between February 24 and March 18.