MoD: Russian Forces Destroy Ammo Depot in Zhitomir Hosting Javelins & NLAWs in High-Precision Strike

The Defence Ministry's briefing comes as Russia has declared a ceasefire in Ukraine starting from 07:00 GMT in order to open humanitarian corridors for civilians from Mariupol and Volnovakha.

The Russian armed forces have destroyed a large warehouse hosting Javelin and NLAW anti-tank missile systems in Zhitomir with precision-guided weapons, spokesman for the Defence Ministry Major General Igor Konashenkov announced on Saturday.

"Over the past 24 hours, an ammunition depot was destroyed using long-range high-precision weapons on the territory of a military unit in Zhitomir, where Javelin and NLAW anti-tank missile systems were being stored", he said.

Konashenkov added that over 2,000 military facilities have been destroyed by the Russian forces in Ukraine since the beginning of Moscow's special military operation last week. These facilities include 71 command and communication centres, 98 S-300 anti-missile systems, Buk M-1 and Osa anti-aircraft missile systems, as well as 61 radars.

"Sixty-six aircraft have been destroyed on the ground and sixteen in the air; 708 tanks and other armoured vehicles, 74 launch rocket systems, 261 mortars, 505 military vehicles, and 56 UAVs", the major general said.

He also commented on the continuing fight between the Donetsk People's Republic (DPR) forces and the Ukrainian neo-Nazi battalions "Azov" and "Aidar" around the town of Mariupol. According to Konashenkov, Ukrainian militants were firing at DPR troops from combat positions previously set up at schools, kindergartens, and hospitals.

In the past 24 hours, Russian forces took control of 10 more villages and towns, with troops of the Lugansk People's Republic (LPR) having advanced further across the frontline, while the DPR forces advanced 27 km and liberated Novogrigorovka, Novonikolayevka, Vishnevatoye, Volnoye, Listvyanka, and Antonovka.

On 24 February, Russian President Vladimir Putin announced the beginning of a special military operation in Ukraine aimed at protecting the population in Ukraine's breakaway republics of Donetsk and Lugansk - that were recognised by Russia as sovereign nations on 21 February - and also in order to "demilitarise and de-Nazify" Ukraine. Moscow has repeatedly stressed that Russian forces do not carry out strikes on Ukrainian cities and only target the country's military infrastructure with high-precision strikes.

The Russian operation has provoked a backlash from NATO, the US, and its allies across the globe, with many countries imposing strict economic sanctions against Russia. Although NATO has repeatedly said that it is not a party to the conflict in Ukraine, its member countries have long been providing financial and technical support to Kiev, including weapons and military aircraft.