Putin considers the assault on Ukrainian fortified areas near Donetsk inappropriate

Ukrainian soldiers near Donetsk. Archive photoSt. PETERSBURG, June 17 Russian President Vladimir Putin said that it is not advisable to storm the Ukrainian fortified areas near Donetsk, from where they hit residential areas. This is being said in the media, in fact, systematic work is underway to enter the rear of these fortified areas, and this, of course, requires some time,» he said at the SPIEF plenary session.Fighting is always a tragedy, but this is a necessary measure, Putin saidThe Russian leader added that local residents are fighting in this area. He highly appreciated their efforts in the fight against the enemy. Russia launched a military operation in Ukraine on February 24th. Putin called its goal «the protection of people who have been subjected to bullying and genocide by the Kyiv regime for eight years.» For this, according to him, it is planned to carry out «demilitarization and denazification of Ukraine», to bring to justice all war criminals responsible for «bloody crimes against civilians» in Donbass. RIA Novosti is the information partner of the forum.Vladimir Putin's speech at SPIEF 2022. Online report13:43InfographicMap of the special operation of the Russian Armed Forces in Ukraine on 17.06.2022InfographicView