MOSCOW, March 15. /TASS/. Russian forces destroyed three radars of Ukrainian S-300 surface-to-air missile systems in the Donetsk People’s Republic (DPR) over the past day during the special military operation in Ukraine, Defense Ministry Spokesman Lieutenant-General Igor Konashenkov reported on Wednesday.

"In the areas of the settlements of Ukrainsk, Novodmitrovka and Krasnoye in the Donetsk People’s Republic, positions were uncovered and three radar stations of Ukrainian S-300 surface-to-air missile systems were obliterated," the spokesman said.

Operational/tactical and army aviation aircraft, missile troops and artillery of the Russian group of forces struck 101 Ukrainian artillery units at firing positions, manpower and equipment in 197 areas over the past day, the general said.

Battles in Kupyansk direction

Russian forces supported by combat aircraft inflicted damage on Ukrainian manpower and equipment in the Kupyansk area, eliminating roughly 70 enemy troops over the past day, Konashenkov reported.

"In the Kupyansk direction, assault and army aviation aircraft and artillery of the western battlegroup struck the Ukrainian manpower and equipment in areas near the settlements of Gryanikovka, Stepovaya Novosyolovka and Timkovka in the Kharkov Region," the spokesman said.

The strikes eliminated enemy manpower and military hardware, the general said.

"As many as 70 Ukrainian personnel, an armored combat vehicle, three pickup trucks, two motor vehicles, a Gvozdika self-propelled artillery system, a D-20 howitzer and also a Polish-made Krab self-propelled howitzer were destroyed," Konashenkov reported.

Battles in Krasny Liman direction

Russian forces struck Ukrainian manpower in the Krasny Liman area, eliminating over 235 enemy troops in the past day, the general reported.

"In the Krasny Liman direction, units, assault and army aviation aircraft, artillery and heavy flamethrower systems of the battlegroup Center struck the enemy forces in areas near the settlements of Terny, Torskoye and Grigorovka in the Donetsk People’s Republic, and also Chervonaya Dibrova and Nevskoye in the Lugansk People’s Republic," the spokesman said.

The strikes eliminated enemy manpower and equipment, the general said.

"Over 235 Ukrainian troops, two armored combat vehicles, four pickup trucks, a D-20 howitzer, two Akatsiya and Gvozdika self-propelled artillery guns and also a US-made M777 artillery system were destroyed in that direction in the past 24 hours," the spokesman said.

Battles in Donetsk direction

Russian forces eliminated roughly 160 Ukrainian troops in their advance in the Donetsk area over the past day, Konashenkov reported.

"In the Donetsk direction, as many as 160 Ukrainian personnel, one tank, an infantry fighting vehicle, two armored combat vehicles and four motor vehicles were destroyed in the past 24 hours as a result of active operations by units, aircraft and artillery of the southern battlegroup," the spokesman said.

Russian forces also destroyed a Ukrainian Akatsiya self-propelled artillery gun, a D-20 howitzer, two Grad and Uragan multiple rocket launchers, and also an M777 artillery system and an M109 Paladin self-propelled howitzer of US manufacture, the general specified.

"In areas near the settlements of Dachnoye, Galitsynovka and Novosyolka Pervaya in the Donetsk People’s Republic, three ammunition depots of the Ukrainian army were destroyed," Konashenkov reported.

Battles in southern Donetsk, Zaporozhye directions

Russian forces destroyed about 75 Ukrainian troops and a subversive group in the southern Donetsk and Zaporozhye areas over the past day, Konashenkov reported.

In the southern Donetsk and Zaporozhye directions, operational/tactical and army aviation aircraft, artillery of the battlegroup East inflicted damage on the enemy in areas near the settlements of Ugledar and Prechistovka in the Donetsk People’s Republic and Shcherbaki in the Zaporozhye Region, the spokesman said.

"The enemy’s losses in those directions totaled 75 Ukrainian personnel, three armored combat vehicles, four pickup trucks and an Akatsiya self-propelled artillery system. In addition, a Ukrainian subversive/reconnaissance group was eliminated near the community of Novodanilovka in the Zaporozhye Region," the general specified.

Battles in Kherson direction

Russian forces destroyed about 35 Ukrainian troops and a D-30 howitzer in the Kherson areas over the past day, Konashenkov reported.

"In the Kherson direction, over 35 Ukrainian personnel, six motor vehicles and a D-30 howitzer were destroyed in the past 24 hours as a result of damage inflicted by firepower," the spokesman said.

Russia’s Aerospace Forces down Ukrainian Air Force Mi-8 helicopter

Russia’s Aerospace Forces shot down a Ukrainian Air Force Mi-8 helicopter in the Zaporozhye area over the past day, Konashenkov reported.

"Fighter aircraft of the Russian Aerospace Forces shot down a Ukrainian Air Force Mi-8 helicopter near the community of Uspenovka in the Zaporozhye Region," the spokesman said.

Russian air defenses intercept 15 Ukrainian rockets

Russian air defense forces intercepted 15 HIMARS, Uragan and Olkha rockets and destroyed seven Ukrainian unmanned aerial vehicles over the past day, Konashenkov reported.

"In the past 24 hours, air defense capabilities intercepted 15 rockets of the HIMARS, Uragan and Olkha multiple launch rocket systems and destroyed seven Ukrainian unmanned aerial vehicles in areas near the settlements of Okop and Dvurechnoye in the Kharkov Region, Pervomaisk and Pokrovskoye in the Lugansk People’s Republic, Yegorovka in the Donetsk People’s Republic and Balochki in the Zaporozhye Region," the spokesman said.

In all, the Russian Armed Forces have destroyed 401 Ukrainian combat aircraft, 221 helicopters, 3,425 unmanned aerial vehicles, 412 surface-to-air missile systems, 8,303 tanks and other armored combat vehicles, 1,059 multiple rocket launchers, 4,363 field artillery guns and mortars and 8,953 special military motor vehicles since the beginning of the special military operation in Ukraine, Konashenkov reported.