“Our troops will do their job, they will do everything possible to achieve the goals of the special military operation,” Putin assured journalist Pavel Zarubin, host of Vesti program.

The president informed in particular that Russian troops have under their control 96 percent of the city of Konstantinovka, an important stronghold and strategic line of defense for the Ukrainian Armed Forces.

In the direction of the cities of Sumi and Volchansk, the Russian military goal is to create a security zone along the country’s borders.

Russia has been conducting a special military operation in Ukraine since February 24, 2022, to protect the Donbas population from “the Kiev regime’s genocide,” according to Putin.

It also aims to counter national security risks posed by the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO)’s eastward expansion.

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