Russian Defense Ministry says 1,612 objects of Ukraine's military infrastructure destroyed

By Elena Teslova

MOSCOW (AA) - The Russian Defense Ministry said on Thursday that 1,612 objects of Ukraine's military infrastructure were disabled during a special military operation.

Speaking at a daily briefing in Moscow, the ministry spokesman Igor Konashenkov said 62 control communication centers, 39 S-300, Buk M-1, and Osa air defense systems, 52 radar stations were disabled.

Also, the armed forces destroyed 49 aircraft on the ground and 13 aircraft in the air, 606 tanks and other armored combat vehicles, 67 multiple rocket launchers, 227 field artillery and mortars, 405 units of special military vehicles, as well as 53 unmanned aerial vehicles, he said.

Six more settlements were taken under control, Konashenkov continued.

A reserve radio and TV center in Kyiv was hit with the high-precision weapon, he added.

He said the circle around the city of Mariupol, where "Nazi forces" hold civilians hostage, is narrowing, and the city of Balakleya was "freed from nationalists."

A human corridor for the exit of civilians was opened in the town of Borodyanka in the direction of the Berestyanka settlement, the spokesman said.

"The Russian army is taking measures to ensure the safety of the civilian population of Ukraine. Russian servicemen do not provide any obstacles to the exit of civilians in this direction.

"The armed forces of the Russian Federation continue to strike at the objects of the military infrastructure of Ukraine," Konashenkov added.

Since Feb. 24 -- days after Russian recognition of two separatist-held enclaves in eastern Ukraine -- Russia's war on Ukraine has been met by an outcry from the international community, with the EU, UK, and US implementing a range of economic sanctions against Russia.

Russia has been further isolated after its planes have been barred from flying in European and Canadian airspace, and a number of its banks have been kicked out of the SWIFT international banking system.