Russian Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said Sunday that President Vladimir Putin will discuss in his upcoming speech before the Federal Assembly the Russian operation in Ukraine, giving the issue a lot of attention.

"Our entire lives currently revolve around the special military operation, and this operation is one way or another affecting our lives and life on the continent, and therefore, of course, we must expect that President gives it plenty of attention," Peskov said.

According to Peskov, Putin's upcoming speech will be "one of the most important presidential activities over the past year."

It is highly expected for Putin to address the Federal Assembly on February 21, three days before the first anniversary of the Russian operation in Ukraine.

Russian missiles destroy UAV production line

The Russian Ministry of Defense announced that long-range, high-precision guided missiles from the sea hit the deployment point of the 383rd Regiment of the Ukrainian Armed Forces' drones near the city of Khmelnitsky, and the two artillery ammunition depots near the Grechani railway station in the Khmelnitsky district.

Moscow said Ukraine's losses amounted to around 70 dead and wounded, in addition to a tank, an armored personnel carrier, two armored vehicles, two D-30 cannons, and a D-20 howitzer.

Moreover, two ammunition and fuel depots of the 72nd Motorized Brigade of the Armed Forces of Ukraine were destroyed near the village of Vodiane.

Furthermore, Russian Defense Ministry Spokesman Lieutenant General Igor Konashenkov told reporters on Sunday that Russian forces hit 92 artillery units of the Armed Forces of Ukraine at firing positions in 118 districts during the last 24 hours.

"Army aviation, missile forces and artillery of groups of troops of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation destroyed 92 artillery units of the Armed Forces of Ukraine at firing positions, as well as forces and equipment in 118 districts over the past day," he said.

Russian troops also destroyed Akatsiya, Gvozdika, and Msta-B howitzers, as well as four warehouses of the Armed Forces of Ukraine with ammunition in the Kherson direction, Konashenkov revealed.

Meanwhile, he said, Russia's Southern Group of Forces killed some 250 Ukrainian servicemen and destroyed at least 12 pieces of equipment in the Donetsk direction.

Konashenkov said on Saturday that attack and army aircraft of Russia's Western group of forces defeated enemy units along the Kupyansk frontline in the past day.

"Attack and army aircraft, as well as artillery forces, defeated enemy units near the Novosyolovskoye settlement in the Lugansk People's Republic and the Zapadnoye, Masyutovka, and Krakhmalnoye settlements in the Kharkov Region," he said.

According to Konashenkov, "the Ukrainian Armed Forces lost up to 80 troops, three armored combat vehicles, four cars, a Msta-B howitzer, and a Gvozdika self-propelled howitzer."

Kunashenkov also reported that his country's Western group of forces completely controlled the Gryanikovka settlement in the Kharkov Region.

"The Gryanikovka settlement in the Kharkov Region has been completely liberated as a result of an offensive operation by the Western group of forces along the Kupyansk frontline," he said.

Russia's advances come after Ukrainian Deputy Prime Minister Irna Vereshchuk urged on Friday all residents of Bakhmut to evacuate from the city immediately. "I appeal to the civilians who are still in Bakhmut. If you are adequate, law-abiding, and patriotic citizens, you must evacuate immediately," she wrote on Telegram. 

The official declared that up to 6,000 people were still present in the city that was taken over by Russian forces, adding that staying could "expose them to danger...second, you are creating additional problems and risks for all those people who are trying to help you (the military, the national police, volunteers). Third, you prevent our defense and security forces from working normally in the city. Because they have to be concerned about your safety all the time. Therefore, I once again urge you to evacuate immediately."

A few days ago, White House National Security Council spokesperson John Kirby warned that the city of Bakhmut may fall to Wagner forces, but it would not have a strategic bearing on the war as a whole.

Kirby acknowledged the recent advances made by Wagner in Bakhmut but noted that it's still uncertain whether the city will fall. 

Bakhmut, which is situated north of Donetsk, holds strategic significance for the course of the war. The city has long been the transportation route of food and supplies for the Ukrainian troops stationed in the Donbass. 

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