Donetsk, Mar 1 - DAN. A number of Ukrainian army officers, including senior staff have been eliminated on Tuesday in the course of the special military operation in Ukraine, Donetsk People’s Republic People’s Militia deputy commander Eduard Basurin said.

“The headquarters of the Operations and Tactical Group “North” has been destroyed on Tuesday as a result of successful joint actions by the Russian armed forces and DPR and LPR militias,” Basurin said. “A majority of HQ officers have been killed. According to our intelligence, the fatalities include commander of the Operations and Tactical Group “North” Gen (Dmitry) Krasilnikov.”

During the liberation of Volnovakka, Russian coalition forces destroyed the headquarters of 53rd Separate Mechanized Brigade and its commander Dmitry Titenko. Operations and Tactical Group “East” commander Yury Sodol was evacuated from Mariupol in serious condition, he added.

“The General was seriously wounded due to uncoordinated actions of Ukrainian servicemen and the Azov separate unit of 12th National Guard Brigade. Sodol’s car came under friendly fire as it attempted to pass a checkpoint, Basurin said adding that nationalistic units were left without commanders in areas which are being liberated.

On February 24, Russian President Vladimir Putin announced a special military operation aimed at demilitarization and denazification of Ukraine. The DPR and LPR forces launched a liberation movement supported by Russian armed forces. *jk