LUGANSK, September 26. /TASS/. Russia is inflicting serious damage to the Ukrainian army in Slavyansk and Kramatorsk, while carrying out preparatory measures for combat operations to gain control over these cities, military expert Andrey Marochko told TASS.

"I’d like to note right away that preparatory measures in Slavyansk and Kramatorsk have been going on for more than one day. Overall, we can say that we are currently inflicting serious damage to the enemy precisely in these cities. That is, Ukrainian militants no longer feel safe here," he said.

According to him, after the line of combat contact has been stabilized and Nikolayevka, located east of Slavyansk, has been cleared, Russian troops will be able to begin assaulting the eastern borders of the Slavyansk-Kramatorsk agglomeration.