MOSCOW, April 3. /TASS/. Russian air defense forces intercepted ten rockets of the HIMARS and Smerch multiple launch rocket systems and destroyed seven 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 intercepted ten rockets of the HIMARS and Smerch multiple launch rocket systems. In addition, they destroyed seven Ukrainian unmanned aerial vehicles in areas near the settlements of Aleksandrovka in the Donetsk People’s Republic, Naugolnoye and Staraya Krasnyanka in the Lugansk People’s Republic," the spokesman said.

Russian forces destroy 75 Ukrainian troops in Kupyansk area

Russian forces struck Ukrainian army units in the Kupyansk area, eliminating roughly 75 enemy troops over the past day, Konashenkov reported.

"In the Kupyansk direction, aircraft and artillery of the western battlegroup struck the Ukrainian army units near the settlements of Sinkovka in the Kharkov Region and Artyomovka in the Lugansk People’s Republic," the spokesman said.

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

"The enemy lost as many as 75 Ukrainian personnel, two armored combat vehicles, two motor vehicles and a D-30 howitzer," Konashenkov reported.

Russian forces eliminate 50 Ukrainian troops in Krasny Liman area

Russian forces eliminated roughly 50 Ukrainian troops in the Krasny Liman area over the past day, he said.

"In the Krasny Liman direction, assault aircraft, artillery and units of the battlegroup Center inflicted damage on the Ukrainian army’s manpower and equipment near the settlement of Chervonaya Dibrova in the Lugansk People’s Republic in their active operations," the spokesman said.

Russian forces eliminated as many as 50 Ukrainian personnel, two armored combat vehicles, a pickup truck and a D-30 howitzer, the general specified.

Russian forces eliminate 285 Ukrainian troops in Donetsk advance

Russian forces eliminated about 285 Ukrainian troops and mercenaries in their advance in the Donetsk area over the past day, Konashenkov reported.

"In the Donetsk direction, as many as 285 Ukrainian personnel and mercenaries, a tank, three infantry fighting vehicles, two armored personnel carriers, an armored combat vehicle, eight motor vehicles, two pickup trucks, a Grad multiple rocket launcher, four D-30 howitzers and also two ammunition depots were destroyed in the past 24 hours as a result of active operations by units of the southern battlegroup and artillery fire," the spokesman said.

Russian forces destroy 45 Ukrainian troops in southern Donetsk, Zaporozhye areas

Russian forces destroyed roughly 45 Ukrainian troops and a Polish-made Krab artillery gun in the southern Donetsk and Zaporozhye areas over the past day, Konashenkov reported.

In the southern Donetsk and Zaporozhye directions, aircraft and artillery of the battlegroup East inflicted damage on the Ukrainian army units near the settlements of Novomikhailovka and Ugledar in the Donetsk People’s Republic, the spokesman specified.

"The enemy’s total losses in those areas in the past 24 hours amounted to 45 Ukrainian personnel, two pickup trucks, a D-30 howitzer, and also a Polish-made Krab self-propelled artillery gun," the general said.

Russian forces destroy ten Ukrainian troops, howitzer in Kherson area

Russian forces destroyed about 10 Ukrainian troops and an Akatsiya howitzer in the Kherson area over the past day, Konashenkov reported.

"In the Kherson direction, as many as ten Ukrainian personnel, two motor vehicles and also an Akatsiya self-propelled howitzer were destroyed as a result of damage inflicted on the enemy by firepower in the past 24 hours," the spokesman said.

Russian forces strike 79 Ukrainian artillery units in past day

Russian forces struck 79 Ukrainian artillery units at firing positions over the past day, Konashenkov reported.

"During the last 24-hour period, operational/tactical aircraft, missile troops and artillery of the Russian group of forces struck 79 Ukrainian artillery units at firing positions, manpower and equipment in 98 areas," the spokesman said.

Russian forces destroy 405 Ukrainian combat aircraft in special military op

In all, the Russian Armed Forces have destroyed 405 Ukrainian warplanes, 228 helicopters, 3,648 unmanned aerial vehicles, 415 surface-to-air missile systems, 8,521 tanks and other armored combat vehicles, 1,078 multiple rocket launchers, 4,494 field artillery guns and mortars and 9,287 special military motor vehicles since the beginning of the special military operation in Ukraine, Konashenkov reported.