MOSCOW, January 23. /TASS/. Russian combat aircraft, missile troops and artillery struck over 60 Ukrainian artillery units at firing positions in the past day during the special military operation in Ukraine, Defense Ministry Spokesman Lieutenant-General Igor Konashenkov reported on Monday.

"In the past 24 hours, operational-tactical aircraft, missile troops and artillery of the Russian group of forces struck 63 artillery units at firing positions, manpower and military equipment in 97 areas," the spokesman said.

Russian artillery struck amassed manpower of two Ukrainian army brigades in the Kupyansk area, eliminating over 40 militants in the past day, Konashenkov reported.

"In the Kupyansk area, artillery of the Western Military District inflicted damage on amassed manpower of the Ukrainian army’s 14th and 92nd mechanized brigades in areas near the settlements of Dvurechnaya and Berestovoye in the Kharkov Region and Novosyolovskoye in the Lugansk People’s Republic," the spokesman said.

The strikes "destroyed over 40 Ukrainian troops and one motor vehicle," the general said.

The Ukrainian military lost about 70 troops and two radars in the Krasny Liman area as a result of damage inflicted by Russian artillery and paratroopers over the past day, Konashenkov reported.

"In the Krasny Liman area, the fire delivered by artillery of the Central Military District and the Airborne Force inflicted damage on units of the Ukrainian army’s 80th and 95th air assault brigades in the area of the Serebryansky forestry. The enemy’s losses amounted to 70 personnel, four armored fighting vehicles and two US-made AN/TPQ-37 and AN/TPQ-50 counter-battery radars," the spokesman said.

Russian assault units supported by combat aircraft and missile troops liberated the community of Krasnopolye in the Donetsk People’s Republic, Konashenkov reported.

"In the Donetsk area, volunteers of assault teams supported by operational-tactical and army aviation aircraft, missile troops and artillery of the Southern Military District liberated the community of Krasnopolye in the Donetsk People’s Republic," the spokesman said.

Russian forces eliminated over 60 Ukrainian troops, two armored vehicles and two howitzers in the Donetsk area over the past day, Konashenkov reported.

"In the past 24 hours, over 60 servicemen, two armored combat vehicles, three motor vehicles, two howitzers (Msta-B and D-30) and also a US-made AN/TPQ-50 counter battery radar were destroyed in that [Donetsk] area," the spokesman said.

Russian forces eliminated about 30 Ukrainian troops and a Grad rocket system in the Zaporozhye area over the past day, Konashenkov reported.

"In the Zaporozhye area, up to 30 Ukrainian servicemen, three motor vehicles and also a Grad multiple rocket launcher were destroyed as a result of damage inflicted by troops of the Eastern Military District on the Ukrainian army units by combined firepower over the past 24 hours," the spokesman said.

Russian forces struck the deployment site of the Ukrainian army’s 107th artillery brigade in the Dnieper area over the past day, Konashenkov reported.

"In the Dnieper area, a ground-based high-precision weapon hit the temporary deployment site of the 107th rocket artillery brigade in the area of the settlement of Marganets in the Dnepropetrovsk Region," the spokesman said.

Russian forces destroyed a US-made HIMARS multiple launch rocket system together with its crew in the Dnieper area over the past day, Konashenkov reported.

"An American HIMARS multiple launch rocket system was destroyed together with its crew as a result of the strike against an uncovered firing position," the spokesman said.

Russian air defense systems intercepted 14 HIMARS rockets over the past day, Konashenkov reported.

"In the past 24 hours, air defense capabilities shot down three Ukrainian unmanned aerial vehicles in areas near the settlements of Kremennaya in the Lugansk People’s Republic and Zhovtnevoye in the Kharkov Region. They also intercepted 14 rockets of the HIMARS multiple launch rocket system in the areas of the city of Donetsk, the communities of Avdeyevka and Pilipchatino in the Donetsk People’s Republic, and also Chervonopopovka in the Lugansk People’s Republic," the spokesman said.

In all, the Russian Armed Forces have destroyed 376 Ukrainian warplanes, 203 helicopters, 2,934 unmanned aerial vehicles, 401 surface-to-air missile systems, 7,607 tanks and other armored combat vehicles, 987 multiple rocket launchers, 3,893 field artillery guns and mortars and 8,153 special military motor vehicles since the beginning of the special military operation, Konashenkov reported.