MOSCOW, January 2. /TASS/. Russian air defenses downed a Ukrainian Su-27 fighter jet in the past day, as well as six HIMARS rockets and 97 drones, the Russian Defense Ministry said in a statement.
"Air defenses shot down an Su-97 aircraft of the Ukrainian Air Force, six US-made HIMARS rockets and 97 fixed-wing unmanned aerial vehicles," the statement reads.
According to the ministry, a total of 651 aircraft, 283 helicopters, 39,144 unmanned aerial vehicles, 590 missile systems, 20,137 tanks and other armored combat vehicles, 1,504 multiple rocket launchers, and 20,134 field artillery mounts and mortars, as well as 29,701 special military motor vehicles, have been destroyed since the start of Russia’s special military operation.
Battlegroup West
"Units of Battlegroup West hit the troops and equipment of two Ukrainian mechanized brigades, three territorial defense brigades and a National Guard brigade near Dvurechnaya and Zelyony Gai in the Kharkov Region, Terny and Torskoye in the Donetsk People’s Republic. They also repelled six counterattacks by Ukrainian assault teams," the statement reads.
According to the Russian Defense Ministry, the enemy lost more than 460 troops, three armored combat vehicles, four pickup trucks, a D-30 122 mm howitzer, two Polish-made Krab self-propelled howitzer, a Bogdana howitzer, a Bukovel-AD electronic warfare system and an ammunition depot.
Battlegroup East
"Units of Battlegroup East moved to more advantageous positions, defeating the forces of two Ukrainian mechanized brigades and two territorial defense brigades near Konstantinopol, Velikaya Novosyokla, Vremevka and Volnoye Pole in the Donetsk People’s Republic. A counterattack by an enemy assault team was repelled," the statement read.
According to the ministry, the Ukrainian armed forces lost more than 160 troops, four motor vehicles, an HMMWV armored combat vehicle, a US-made Paladin 155 mm self-propelled howitzer, a D-20 152 mm howitzer and a D-30 122 mm howitzer.
Battlegroup North
"Units of Battlegroup North active in the Kharkov area defeated the forces of a Ukrainian motorized infantry brigade and two territorial defense brigades near Liptsy, Sosnovka, Pokalyanoye and Vilcha in the Kharkov Region. The enemy lost up to 40 troops, a motor vehicle and three D-30 122 mm howitzers," the statement reads.
Battlegroup South
"Units of Battlegroup South continued moving deeper into enemy defenses, defeating the forces of two Ukrainian mechanized brigades, a motorized infantry brigade and an air mobile brigade near Dalneye, Chasov Yar, Seversk and Kurakhovo in the Donetsk People’s Republic. They also repelled four counterattacks by enemy assault teams," the statement reads.
According to the ministry, the Ukrainian armed forces lost up to 210 troops, a Turkish-made Kirpi armored combat vehicle, a pickup truck, a D-30 122 mm howitzer, a US-made M119 105 mm howitzer and an electronic warfare system.
Battlegroup Dnepr
Units of Battlegroup Dnepr hit the troops and equipment of a Ukrainian mechanized brigade and two territorial defense brigades near Novokamenka in the Dnepropetrovsk Region, Stepnoye and Antonovka in the Kherson Region and the city of Kherson. The Ukrainian army lost up to 90 troops, three motor vehicles, three electronic warfare systems and an ammunition depot.
Battlegroup Center
"Units of Battlegroup Center improved their tactical positions, hitting the troops and equipment of two Ukrainian mechanized brigades and two National Guard brigades near Shcherbinovka, Dzerzhinsk, Zverevo, Andreyevka, Sribnoye, Tarasovka, Shevchenko and Vozdvizhenka in the Donetsk People’s Republic. They also repelled 13 counterattacks by Ukrainian forces," the statement reads.
According to the ministry, the enemy lost up to 240 troops, an infantry fighting vehicle, two armored personnel carriers, including a US-made M113 vehicle, two Turkish-made Kirpi armored combat vehicle, a Kozak armored combat vehicle, two D-20 152 mm howitzers and a D-30 122 mm howitzer.
Ukraine loses in Kursk area
"The Ukrainian armed forces lost over 580 troops in the past day. A tank, an armored personnel carrier, nine armored combat vehicles, two artillery pieces, a missile system and 36 motor vehicles were destroyed," the statement reads.
According to the ministry, the enemy has lost more than 47,040 troops, 263 tanks, 204 infantry fighting vehicles, 144 armored personnel carriers, 1,390 armored combat vehicles, 1,316 motor vehicles, 339 artillery pieces, and 42 multiple launch rocket systems, including eleven US-made HIMARS launchers and six MLRS launchers, as well as 14 missile launchers, since fighting began in the Kursk Region.