MOSCOW, June 5. /TASS/. The Ukrainian military tried to launch two counter-offensive attacks in the vicinity of Ugledar over the past two days, but they were repelled, sustaining heavy losses, acting DPR (Donetsk People’s Republic) Head Denis Pushilin said on Monday.

"Over the past two days, the enemy attacked twice from the direction of Vremevka [near Ugledar] and sustained heavy losses both in terms of manpower and military hardware," Pushilin said, adding that "fighting continues, while the enemy has been pushed back."

The Russian Defense Ministry reported earlier in the day that the Ukrainian military had failed in its attempt to achieve success as part of a large-scale offensive on five frontline sections in the southern Donetsk area on June 4.

Defense Ministry Spokesman Igor Konashenkov reported that the enemy had brought into action the 23rd and 31st mechanized brigades from the Ukrainian army’s strategic reserve, supported by other military units and subunits.

The Ukrainian side lost over 250 personnel, 16 tanks, three infantry fighting vehicles and over 20 armored vehicles in its failed offensive, the spokesman specified.

Ugledar is located to the southwest of Donetsk. The DPR authorities earlier stated that the city was an important logistics hub. Another logistics hub in the north, Artyomovsk, was previously seized by Russian troops as well.

Russia’s Defense Ministry reported on May 21 that the assault teams of the Wagner private military company supported by artillery and aircraft of the southern battlegroup completed the liberation of Artyomovsk as a result of their successful offensive operations.

Russian President Vladimir Putin congratulated the Wagner fighters and the troops on the city’s liberation. As the Kremlin press office reported, all the soldiers who had distinguished themselves in the battles for Artyomovsk would be recommended for state awards.

Artyomovsk is located in the north of the Donetsk People’s Republic and was a major transportation hub for the Ukrainian army’s supplies in Donbass and a powerful stronghold. The battles for the city began on August 1, 2022 and became some of the most large-scale combats in the liberation of Donbass since 2014. The city was home to some 72,000 people before the battles began.