MOSCOW, December 24. /TASS/. The Ukrainian army has lost up to 70 military personnel and a Gvozdika motorized artillery system in the Zaporozhye area over the past 24 hours, the Russian Defense Ministry said.

"In the Zaporozhye area, units of the Russian group of forces, supported by artillery and heavy flamethrower systems, struck the manpower and hardware of the 33rd, 117th, 118th mechanized, 128th mountain assault and 71st Jaeger Brigade of the Ukrainian army near Rabotino, Verbovoye, Zherebyanka and Mirnoye settlements of the Zaporozhye Region," the ministry said.

It added that enemy losses there amounted to 70 servicemen. In addition, the Ukrainian troops lost an armored combat vehicle, three vehicles, as well as a Gvozdila artillery system, the ministry said.