LUGANSK, November 18. /TASS/. The crew of a D-30 howitzer that’s part of the Russian Central Military District has struck several Ukrainian dugouts, destroying up to a platoon of enemy soldiers near Krasny Liman, an officer at the military district told TASS.

The Russian artillery unit "destroyed several dugouts at a strongpoint and the personnel that was inside them," the officer said. "We estimate, up to a platoon of personnel was destroyed," he said.

He added that the howitzer recently destroyed an enemy infantry fighting vehicle in a wooded area, which was had been discovered by a recon team.

Russian artillery has been increasingly pestered by enemy drones over the past week, the officer said. Their numbers jumped by about five times. According to the officer, that’s probably because Russian artillery units carries out its missions effectively, prompting the enemy to pinpoint the positions of cannons so they can attempt to destroy them in counterbattery operations.

Russian forces responded by posting special sentries for every cannon, setting them the task of driving away drones with small arms fire. There are many pine forests in the area, so the drones have to come down low to detect Russian camouflaged artillery positions. That makes the unmanned aerial vehicles an easier target, especially if several soldiers open fire at once. Radio electronic warfare systems are also engaged in the work.

In general, the enemy is not conducting many operations in the Krasny Liman area, with its activity confined to shelling, the officer said.