Russian armed forces have destroyed a Ukrainian M777 howitzer in the territory of the Lugansk People’s Republic, Russian Defense Ministry spokesman Lt-Gen Igor Konashenkov said.   “A US-made M777 artillery piece was destroyed at a fire position in the Ivanovka settlement area of the Lugansk People’s Republic,” Konashenkov said. The Ukrainian government launched the so-called anti-terrorist operation against Donbass in April 2014.  The peace talks that began soon thereafter failed to reach tangible results due to Kiev’s position to settle the conflict by force.   On February 24, 2022 Russian President Vladimir Putin announced a special military operation to protect Donbass residents from Ukrainian aggression. Prior to that, LPR and DPR Heads Leonid Pasechnik and Denis Pushilin asked the Russian leader to provide military assistance.   The Lugansk People’s Republic acceded to Russia on September 30, 2022 following the unification referendum.*i*ie