On the 16th, Russian President Putin said Russian forces will continue striking
Ukrainian military-industrial enterprises and related facilities in response to
Ukrainian attacks on Russian industrial and fuel-and-energy complexes. He said
the Russian offensive is accelerating along the front and that the "security
zone" along the border with Ukraine has expanded in recent months. A primary
ground objective remains the "liberation" of Donetsk; he said Russian control of
Dobropillia is a milestone in the special military operation and has opened a
corridor to Donetsk.
