MOSCOW, November 9. /TASS/. Russian air defense forces destroyed five Ukrainian unmanned aerial vehicles, intercepted 27 HIMARS and Olkha rockets and three HARM anti-radar missiles in the past day in the special military operation in Ukraine, Defense Ministry Spokesman Lieutenant-General Igor Konashenkov reported on Wednesday.
"In the past 24 hours, air defense capabilities destroyed five unmanned aerial vehicles in the areas of the settlements of Kalininskoye in the Kherson Region and Dobrolyubovka in the Kharkov Region. In addition, they intercepted 25 projectiles of the HIMARS multiple launch rocket system near the settlements of Zelenovka, Antonovka, Novokairy and Novaya Kakhovka in the Kherson Region, Krasnorechenskoye and Stakhanov in the Lugansk People’s Republic, two Olkha rockets in the area of the community of Korsunka, and also three HARM anti-radar missiles in the area of the settlement of Novaya Kakhovka in the Kherson Region," the spokesman said.
Russian combat aircraft, missile troops and artillery destroyed two command posts of the Ukrainian army and foreign mercenaries in the past day, Konashenkov reported.
"Operational-tactical and army aviation aircraft, missile and artillery troops destroyed two command posts of the Ukrainian army and foreign mercenaries in the areas of the settlements of Novovoskresenskoye in the Kherson Region and Zagryzovo in the Kharkov Region, and also 59 artillery units at firing positions, manpower and military hardware in 181 areas," the spokesman said.
Russian forces repelled an attempt by a Ukrainian reinforced motorized infantry battalion to advance towards the settlement of Kuzyomovka in the Lugansk People’s Republic, eliminating over 60 militants, Konashenkov reported.
"In the Kupyansk direction, active operations of Russian troops, artillery fire and air strikes repelled an attack by a reinforced motorized infantry battalion of the Ukrainian army in the area of the settlement of Kuzyomovka in the Lugansk People’s Republic," the spokesman said.
Russian forces eliminated enemy manpower and military hardware during the combat engagement, the general said.
"Over 60 Ukrainian troops, two infantry fighting vehicles and five motor vehicles were eliminated," Konashenkov reported.
Russian forces destroyed about 100 Ukrainian troops and foreign mercenaries in the Krasny Liman area in the past day, Konashenkov reported.
"In all, up to 100 Ukrainian servicemen and mercenaries, one tank, two combat armored vehicles, a Grad multiple rocket launcher and three pickup trucks were destroyed in the Krasny Liman direction in the past day," the spokesman said.
Russian forces thwarted the attempts by 12 Ukrainian subversive groups to infiltrate in the Nikolayev-Krivoi Rog area in the past day, Konashenkov reported.
"In the Nikolayev-Krivoi Rog direction, Russian troop units detected and foiled the attempts of 12 Ukrainian subversive/reconnaissance groups to infiltrate into the rear areas of defense in the past day," the spokesman said.
The Ukrainian military suffered heavy casualties and was dispersed in its unsuccessful attempts to attack in the Nikolayev-Krivoi Rog area in the past day, Konashenkov reported.
"In the Nikolayev-Krivoi Rog area, the enemy’s three company tactical groups made unsuccessful attempts to attack the positions of Russian troops in the area of the settlements of Kachkarovka, Pyatikhatki and Sadok in the Kherson Region," the spokesman said.
As the general specified, the Ukrainian units "suffered heavy losses and were dispersed" as a result of damage by firepower inflicted by Russian troops.
In all, Russian forces destroyed up to 110 Ukrainian personnel, 8 combat armored vehicles and 14 motor vehicles in that direction, Konashenkov reported.
Russian forces foiled an attempt by Ukrainian army units to simultaneously attack in several areas in the Lugansk People’s Republic, pushing the enemy back to initial positions, Konashenkov reported.
"In the Krasny Liman direction, the enemy’s four motorized infantry companies and one tank company, reinforced by foreign mercenaries, made attempts to simultaneously attack the positions of Russian troops in the areas of the communities of Makeyevka, Ploshchanka, Golikovo and Kremennaya in the Lugansk People’s Republic," the spokesman said.
The advancing enemy units were halted and pushed back to initial positions by the fire of Russian artillery units, heavy flamethrower systems and army aviation strikes, the general said.
Russian forces delivered preemptive fire to thwart the attempts by two Ukrainian company groups to advance towards two communities in the Lugansk People’s Republic, Konashenkov reported.
"Preemptive fire thwarted the attempts by two Ukrainian company tactical groups to advance towards the settlements of Chervonopopovka and Stelmakhovka in the Lugansk People’s Republic," the spokesman said.
Russian forces dispersed and pushed Ukrainian army units back to initial positions after the enemy’s attempts to counter-attack in the southern Donetsk area, Konashenkov reported.
"In the southern Donetsk direction, the enemy made attempts in the past day to counter-attack in order to slow down the Russian troops’ offensive operations. As a result of damage inflicted by firepower and active operations of assault groups in the areas of the communities of Novomikhailovka, Pavlovka and Vremevka in the Donetsk People’s Republic, the Ukrainian army units were dispersed and pushed back to initial positions," the spokesman said.
During the combat engagement, Russian troops eliminated over 80 Ukrainian servicemen, one tank, six combat armored vehicles and three motor vehicles, the general specified.
Fighter aircraft of the Russian Aerospace Forces shot down a Mi-8 helicopter of the Ukrainian Air Force in the Nikolayev Region in the past day, Konashenkov reported.
"Fighter aircraft of the Russian Aerospace Forces shot down a Mi-8 helicopter of the Ukrainian Air Force in the area of the community of Zaselye in the Nikolayev Region," the spokesman said.
Russian forces destroyed a Ukrainian army depot of HIMARS, Olkha rockets and artillery shells near the city of Dnieper, Konashenkov reported.
"In the area of the city of Dnieper, a Ukrainian army depot of HIMARS, Olkha rockets and artillery ammunition was wiped out," the spokesman said.
In all, the Russian Armed Forces have destroyed 332 Ukrainian combat aircraft, 172 helicopters, 2,470 unmanned aerial vehicles, 388 surface-to-air missile systems, 6,482 tanks and other combat armored vehicles, 885 multiple rocket launchers, 3,564 field artillery guns and mortars and 7,152 special military motor vehicles since the beginning of the special military operation in Ukraine, Konashenkov reported.