MOSCOW, March 13. /TASS/. Russian air defense forces shot down 12 rockets of the US-made HIMARS multiple launch rocket system, a HARM anti-radiation missile and destroyed 16 Ukrainian unmanned aerial vehicles over 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, air defense capabilities shot down 12 rockets of the HIMARS multiple launch rocket system and a HARM anti-radiation missile. In addition, they destroyed 16 Ukrainian unmanned aerial vehicles in areas near the settlements of Novovodyanoye, Svatovo, Novoaleksandrovka and Novokrasnyanka in the Lugansk People’s Republic, Vladimirovka and Yegorovka in the Donetsk People’s Republic, Vasilyevka in the Zaporozhye Region, Novaya Zburyevka, and also Konstantinovka in the Kherson Region," the spokesman said.
Battles in Kupyansk direction
Russian forces inflicted damage on Ukrainian army units in the Kupyansk area, destroying over 60 enemy troops in the past day, Konashenkov reported.
"In the Kupyansk direction, units and artillery of the western battlegroup inflicted damage on the Ukrainian army units in areas near the settlements of Masyutovka and Khakhmalnoye in the Kharkov Region, Stelmakhovka and Rozovka in the Lugansk People’s Republic as a result of their active operations," the spokesman said.
Russian forces eliminated enemy manpower and equipment during the battles, the general said.
"Over 60 Ukrainian personnel and two motor vehicles were destroyed," Konashenkov reported.
Battles in Krasny Liman direction
Russian forces struck Ukrainian manpower and equipment in the Krasny Liman area, eliminating roughly 110 enemy troops and a Gvozdika self-propelled artillery gun over the past day, he said.
"In the Krasny Liman direction, artillery of the battlegroup Center inflicted damage on the enemy’s manpower and equipment in areas near the settlements of Nevskoye and Chervonaya Dibrova in the Lugansk People’s Republic, Terny and Grigorovka in the Donetsk People’s Republic," the spokesman said.
As many as 110 Ukrainian troops, two armored combat vehicles, two pickup trucks and a Gvozdika self-propelled artillery gun were destroyed in that area in the past 24 hours, the general specified.
Battles in Donetsk direction
Russian forces eliminated about 190 Ukrainian troops in the Donetsk area over the past day, Konashenkov reported.
"In the Donetsk direction, as many as 190 Ukrainian personnel, three tanks, two armored combat vehicles, 14 motor vehicles and a Msta-B howitzer were destroyed in the past 24 hours as a result of active operations by units of the southern battlegroup, air strikes and artillery fire," the spokesman said.
Battles in southern Donetsk, Zaporozhye directions
Russian forces eliminated roughly 60 Ukrainian troops, D-20 and D-30 howitzers in the southern Donetsk and Zaporozhye areas over the past day, Konashenkov reported.
In the southern Donetsk and Zaporozhye directions, operational/tactical aircraft and artillery of the battlegroup East employed combined firepower, inflicting damage on the Ukrainian army units near the communities of Ugledar in the Donetsk People’s Republic, Poltavka, Gulyaipole and Shcherbaki in the Zaporozhye Region, the spokesman said.
"As many as 60 Ukrainian personnel, two pickup trucks, and also D-20 and D-30 howitzers were destroyed in those areas in the past 24 hours," the general specified.
Battles in Kherson direction
Russian forces eliminated over 20 Ukrainian troops, two Akatsiya self-propelled howitzers and a Msta-B howitzer in the Kherson area over the past day, Konashenkov reported.
"In the Kherson direction, over 20 Ukrainian troops, five motor vehicles, two Akatsiya self-propelled howitzers, and also a Msta-B howitzer were destroyed as a result of damage inflicted on the enemy by firepower," the spokesman said.
Russian forces strike over 70 Ukrainian artillery units in past day
Russian combat aircraft, missile troops and artillery struck over 70 Ukrainian artillery units at firing positions in the past day, Konashenkov reported.
"In the past 24 hours, operational/tactical and army aviation, missile troops and artillery of the Russian group of forces struck 76 Ukrainian artillery units at firing positions, manpower and equipment in 148 areas. In the area of the community of Pervomaiskoye in the Donetsk People’s Republic, a Ukrainian Osa-AKM air defense system was struck," the spokesman said.
In all, the Russian Armed Forces have destroyed 400 Ukrainian warplanes, 220 helicopters, 3,401 unmanned aerial vehicles, 412 surface-to-air missile systems, 8,280 tanks and other armored combat vehicles, 1,055 multiple rocket launchers, 4,333 field artillery guns and mortars and 8,904 special military motor vehicles since the beginning of the special military operation in Ukraine, Konashenkov reported.