Russia says mass strikes on Ukraine's military infrastructure continue

By Elena Teslova

MOSCOW (AA) - Russian Defense Minister Sergey Shoygu on Tuesday said mass strikes on Ukraine's military infrastructure continue.

Speaking at a meeting with military chiefs in Moscow, Shoygu said the Russian armed forces use high-precision, long-range weapons to hit the military command system, enterprises of the military-industrial complex and related facilities, aiming "to crush the military potential of Ukraine."

The Russian army protects critical facilities "in the liberated territories," Shoygu said, noting that the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant is one of them.

"In the last two weeks alone, 33 large-caliber shells have been fired at the station from the AFU (armed forces of Ukraine). Russian air defense forces intercept most of the Ukrainian weapons of destruction. We classify these attacks by Ukrainian troops as nuclear terrorism," he said.

In a separate statement, the Defense Ministry said another round of war prisoners exchange took place on Tuesday, and 60 Russian soldiers returned from Ukraine's captivity.

All of them will be transported to Moscow for medical and psychological assistance and rehabilitation, it added.