Ukrainian servicemen guard a checkpoint near the contact line in Zolote. Archival photoLUGANSK, April 20Ukrainian troops evacuated by helicopter the general, as well as the administration of the city of Zolote, involved in the criminal schemes of militants, the people's militia of the Luhansk People's Republic reports. the settlement of Zolote, the general of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, as well as the administration of the city, which was involved in the criminal schemes of the militants of Ukraine, was taken out by helicopter,» Ivan Filiponenko, an official representative of the People's Militia of the LPR, said in a statement published on the department's Telegram channel. Russia launched a military operation in Ukraine 24 February. President Vladimir Putin called its goal «the protection of people who have been subjected to genocide by the Kiev regime for eight years.» For this, according to him, it is planned to carry out «demilitarization and denazification of Ukraine.» According to the Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation, as of March 25, the main tasks of the first stage were completed — they significantly reduced the combat potential of Ukraine. The main goal in the Russian military department was called the liberation of Donbass. On April 19, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov announced the start of the next phase of the special operation.
