MOSCOW, May 3. /TASS/. Russia’s Aerospace Forces have performed strikes on 69 Ukrainian military targets overnight, Russian Defense Ministry Spokesman Igor Konashenkov told journalists on Tuesday.
"The strategic and army aviation of Russia’s Aerospace Forces has delivered strikes on 69 strongholds, areas of concentration of manpower and military equipment of Ukraine’s armed forces," the general said.
He added that about 700 unmanned aerial vehicles used by the Ukrainian side have been eliminated by Russian servicemen since the beginning of a special military operation in Ukraine. "In all, since the beginning of the special military operation, have been destroyed: 146 planes, 112 helicopters, 696 unmanned aerial vehicles, 286 artillery rocket systems, 2,783 tanks and other armored combat vehicles, 316 multiple-launch rocket systems," he said.
According to the Russian Defense Ministry, also 1,255 field artillery weapons and mortars and 2,590 units of special military automotive equipment have been eliminated.
Konashenkov added that the artillery of Russia’s Armed Forces has delivered strikes on more than 50 Ukrainian firing positions and almost 200 areas of concentration of manpower and equipment. "The artillery units have delivered strikes on 54 firing positions of the artillery of the Ukrainian army, 38 strongholds as well as 195 areas of concentration of manpower and Ukrainian military equipment. Up to 230 nationalists and 52 units of armaments and military equipment have been eliminated," he said.
Also the planes of Russia’s Aerospace Forces have delivered strikes on six Ukrainian military targets overnight using high-precision air-based missiles. "Using high-precision air-based missiles, the Russian Aerospace Forces have delivered strikes on six Ukrainian military targets overnight. They include a defended command post, a munitions depot near the community of Slatino, as well as four areas of concentration of manpower and military equipment," he said.
According to Konashenkov, the Rocket Troops of the Ground Forces eliminated a launch pad of an S-300 missile air defense system in Ukraine’s Nikolaev Region. "Also, in the Kulbakino district of the Nikolaev Region, a launch pad of an S-300 missile air defense system was destroyed," the general said.
Also Russia’s air defense systems have destroyed six Ukrainian unmanned aerial vehicles overnight. "Russia’s air defense systems have destroyed six Ukrainian unmanned aerial vehicles overnight near the communities of Berezovka in the Odessa Region, Borshchevaya and Cherneshchina in the Kharkov Region, Barvinok in the Kherson Region and Mikhaylovka in the Donetsk People's Republic," he said.
The spokesman added that in the vicinity of the Dmitrovka village a Tochka-U tactical missile was shot down and near the town of Izyum two Smerch rocket artillery missiles were taken down.
He added that Russia’s Rocket Troops of the Ground Forces eliminated the command post of the 81st airborne brigade and the 77th brigade of Ukraine’s territorial defense in the Kharkov Region. "Missile troops delivered strikes on the command posts of the 81st airborne brigade near the community of Dolina and the 77th brigade of territorial defense in the vicinity of Podolovka of the Kharkov Region," the general said.