Russians do not return aircraft after joint military exercises in Belarus

The General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine said this in an operational update as of 18:00 on February 2, Ukrinform reports.

According to the General Staff, throughout the day, Russian troops launched two missile strikes on the civilian infrastructure of Kramatorsk city, Donetsk region. The Russian shelling damaged 13 two-story buildings, 3 four-story buildings, a children's clinic, a school, garages, and cars.  There were victims among the civilian population.

The invaders carried out 3 air strikes and more than 15 attacks using multiple launch rocket systems. In particular, they struck civilian objects in the village of Komyshany, Kherson region, injuring four civilians, including a five-year-old child, whose condition is moderate. In addition, the Russians damaged the civilian infrastructure of Ochakiv city, Mykolaiv region.

It is emphasized that the threat of enemy air strikes and missile attacks remains high throughout the territory of Ukraine.

"The enemy continues to conduct active reconnaissance and preparations for an offensive in certain directions, taking measures to strengthen its troops. Offensive operations are ongoing in the Lyman, Bakhmut, Avdiivka and Novopavlivka directions," the General Staff said.

It has been established that Russian troops are suffering heavy losses.

"At the same time, joint exercises of the aviation component of the regional grouping of the armed forces of the Russian Federation and the Republic of Belarus have ended. The return of enemy aircraft to base airfields has not been recorded," the General Staff noted.

During the past day, the Ukrainian Air Force launched four strikes on the areas of concentration of Russian troops. In addition, Ukrainian defenders destroyed a Russian Merlin drone. Units of the missile forces and artillery of Ukraine’s  Defense Forces, for their part, struck three areas of concentration of enemy manpower and a command post.

As reported by Ukrinform, as of February 2, 2023, the Armed Forces of Ukraine eliminated about 129,030 Russian invaders.