Donetsk, Apr 4 – DAN. DPR People's Militia assisted by the Russian army has liquidated 52 members of Ukrainian armed formations over the last day, DPR Defence's deputy chief of staff Eduard Basurin said.

"Over the last day, DPR service members liquidated 52 Ukrainian occupants, destroyed a tank, two IFVs, an armoured vehicle, two trucks and a field artillery depot," he said.

One Gvozdika 2C1 howitzer, and two IFVs have been captured.

Twelve service members of the 25th, 54th and 56th Ukrainian brigades have laid down arms and surrendered to the DPR.

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