Donetsk, Mar 9 – DAN. DPR People's Militia has captured Ukrainian tanks, armoured vehicles and NLAW anti-tank missile systems in 24 hours, the DPR Defence's deputy chief of staff Eduard Basurin said.

"Over the past day, Republican forces captured two tanks, four IFVs and two NLAW systems," he said.

One of the earlier reports said that 12 Ukrainian service members had defected to the Republic recently.

Russia started a special military operation to denazify and demilitarize Ukraine on February 24. Russian President Vladimir Putin said that the decision was made after the DPR and LPR Heads addressed him asking for help.

The Russian leader said that Moscow is not planning to occupy Ukrainian territory, the only goal is to protect people who have been continuously shelled and subjected to other forms of genocide by Ukraine for eight years. *ot