MOSCOW, February 17. /TASS/. The Russian military has liberated a territory of 31.75 square kilometers from Ukrainian nationalists, with the enemy's losses estimated at 1,500 troops in the past 24 hours of fighting for Avdeyevka, the Russian Defense Ministry has said.

"As a result, an area of 31.75 square kilometers has been liberated from Ukrainian nationalists. The enemy's losses in the fighting for Avdeyevka over the past 24 hours amounted to more than 1,500 men," it said.