MOSCOW, December 8. /TASS/. Russian troops delivered 30 multiple-launch strikes on Ukrainian military airfield infrastructure and foreign mercenaries’ deployment sites over the past week in the special military operation in Ukraine, Russia’s Defense Ministry reported on Friday.

"Over the period of December 3-8 this year, the Russian Armed Forces delivered 30 multiple-launch strikes by precision weapons and unmanned aerial vehicles against the Ukrainian army’s military airfield infrastructure: arsenals, artillery ammunition and military hardware storage sites and fuel depots. In addition, the strikes hammered the deployment sites of Ukrainian army units, nationalist formations and foreign mercenaries. All the designated targets were destroyed," the ministry said in a statement.

Russian troops capture 12 Ukrainian soldiers over past week

Russian troops captured 12 Ukrainian soldiers over the past week, the ministry reported.

"During the week, 12 Ukrainian service members were captured," the ministry said.

Russian troops improve forward edge positions in Kupyansk area over week

Russian troops improved their forward edge positions in the Kupyansk area over the past week, the ministry reported.

"In the Kupyansk direction, units of the western battlegroup improved their forward edge positions in some frontline areas and repulsed 19 enemy attacks," the ministry said.

Russian forces destroy over 480 Ukrainian troops in Kupyansk area over week

Russian forces destroyed more than 480 Ukrainian troops in the Kupyansk area over the past week, the ministry reported.

"The enemy’s losses over the week amounted to over 480 personnel, three tanks, 13 armored combat vehicles, 12 motor vehicles and seven field artillery guns," the ministry said.

Russian combat aircraft, artillery and heavy flamethrower systems inflicted damage on the personnel and military hardware of the Ukrainian army’s 25th airborne, 57th motorized infantry, 41st, 43rd and 60th mechanized brigades in areas near the settlements of Sinkovka, Ivanovka, Berestovoye and Peschanoye in the Kharkov Region and Nevskoye in the Lugansk People’s Republic, the ministry specified.

Russian forces improve forward edge positions in Krasny Liman area over week

Russian forces improved their forward edge positions and repulsed ten Ukrainian attacks in the Krasny Liman area, eliminating more than 1,445 enemy troops and 33 pieces of military hardware over the past week, the ministry reported.

"In the Krasny Liman direction, units of the battlegroup Center improved their forward edge positions near the settlement of Yampolovka in the Donetsk People’s Republic and with the support of aircraft and artillery fire repulsed ten attacks by the Ukrainian army’s assault groups," the ministry said.

Near the settlements of Kirovsk, Torskoye, Serebryanka and Yampol, Russian forces inflicted damage on the Ukrainian army’s manpower and military equipment. In all, the Ukrainian army’s losses in the Krasny Liman direction over the past week amounted to "over 1,445 personnel, 11 armored combat vehicles, 17 motor vehicles and five field artillery guns," the ministry specified.

Russian forces eliminate over 1,560 Ukrainian troops in Donetsk area over week

Russian forces inflicted damage on Ukrainian army personnel and military hardware in the Donetsk area, eliminating more than 1,560 enemy troops over the past week, the ministry reported.

"In the Donetsk direction, the southern battlegroup inflicted damage by firepower on the enemy’s personnel and equipment near the settlements of Maryinka, Kurdyumovka, Bogdanovka, Andreyevka and Kleshcheyevka in the Donetsk People’s Republic. Over the past week, Russian units repulsed 18 enemy attacks in that direction. The Ukrainian army’s losses amounted to over 1,560 personnel, 12 armored combat vehicles, 17 motor vehicles and 22 field artillery guns," the ministry said.

Russian forces destroy over 845 Ukrainian troops in south Donetsk area over week

Russian forces destroyed more than 845 Ukrainian troops in the south Donetsk area over the past week, the ministry reported.

"In the south Donetsk direction, units of the battlegroup East, aircraft and artillery inflicted damage on the Ukrainian army’s 58th motorized infantry, 79th air assault, 23rd and 72nd mechanized and 102nd territorial defense brigades near the settlements of Novomikhailovka, Ugledar and Urozhainoye in the Donetsk People’s Republic and Levadnoye in the Zaporozhye Region," the ministry said.

The Ukrainian army’s losses in the south Donetsk area over the past week amounted to over 845 personnel, three tanks, 13 armored combat vehicles, 17 motor vehicles, 12 field artillery guns and a Grad multiple rocket launcher, the ministry specified.

Russian forces destroy 260 Ukrainian troops in Zaporozhye area over week

Russian forces repelled five Ukrainian army attacks in the Zaporozhye area, destroying roughly 260 enemy troops and six armored vehicles over the past week, the ministry reported.

In the Zaporozhye direction, Russian forces were engaged in active defense, repelling five attacks by assault groups of the Ukrainian army’s 82nd air assault, 117th and 118th mechanized brigades near the settlements of Verbovoye, Nesteryanka and Uspenovka in the Zaporozhye Region, the ministry specified.

"They also inflicted damage on the personnel and equipment of the Ukrainian army’s 46th airmobile, 33rd and 65th mechanized brigades in areas near the settlements of Dorozhnyanka, Malaya Tokmachka and Rabotino in the Zaporozhye Region. The enemy’s losses over the week amounted to 260 personnel, six armored combat vehicles, 15 motor vehicles and five field artillery guns," the ministry said.

Russian troops foil Ukrainian saboteurs’ attempts to cross Dnieper River

Russian troops foiled the Ukrainian army’s attempts to land subversive groups on the left bank of the Dnieper River, the ministry reported.

"In the Kherson direction, Russian troops inflicted damage on the enemy by combined firepower and pre-emptive operations, foiling the Ukrainian army’s attempts to land subversive groups on the left bank of the Dnieper River and on islands," the ministry said.

Kiev loses 350 troops in Kherson area over week

The Ukrainian military lost roughly 350 troops, 13 field artillery guns and 21 boats in battles near Kherson over the past week, the ministry reported.

"The enemy lost as many as 350 personnel, 13 field artillery guns, 17 motor vehicles and 21 boats as a result of combat operations," the ministry said.

Russian combat aircraft and artillery inflicted damage on the personnel and military hardware of the Ukrainian army’s 35th and 36th marine infantry brigades and 124th territorial defense brigade in areas near the settlements of Tyaginka, Tokarevka, Nikolskoye and Chernobayevka in the Kherson Region, the ministry specified.

Russian air defenses destroy five Ukrainian warplanes over week

Russian air defense forces shot down five Ukrainian combat aircraft and a helicopter over the past week, the ministry reported.

"Over the week, air defense capabilities shot down five Ukrainian warplanes, in particular, three MiG-29s [fighter jets] and two Su-25s [attack aircraft] and also a helicopter of the Ukrainian Air Force," the ministry said.

Russian air defenses destroy 224 Ukrainian UAVs over week

Russian air defense forces destroyed 224 Ukrainian unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) and intercepted 11 rockets of the HIMARS multiple launch rocket system, two HARM anti-radar missiles and a JDAM smart bomb over the past week, the ministry reported.

"[Air defense capabilities] intercepted 11 rockets of the HIMARS multiple launch rocket system, two HARM anti-radar missiles, two S-200 surface-to-air missiles converted for striking ground targets, a JDAM guided air bomb and 224 unmanned aerial vehicles," the ministry said.

In all, the Russian Armed Forces have destroyed 550 Ukrainian warplanes, 257 helicopters, 9,577 unmanned aerial vehicles, 442 surface-to-air missile systems, 13,894 tanks and other armored combat vehicles, 1,188 multiple rocket launchers, 7,279 field artillery guns and mortars and 16,056 special military motor vehicles since the start of the special military operation in Ukraine, the ministry reported.