MOSCOW, February 18. /TASS/. Russian forces liberated Avdeyevka in the Donetsk People's Republic (DPR) on February 17 and advanced for 8.6 kilometers, the Russian Defense Ministry said in a statement.
"On February 17, in the course of offensive operations, units of the battlegroup Center fully liberated the town of Avdeyevka in the Donetsk People's Republic and advanced for 8.6 km. The total area of the liberated territory totals 31.75 square kilometers. The enemy lost more than 1,500 servicemen," the ministry said.
Donetsk area
Ukraine lost more than 190 servicemen in the South Donetsk area over the past day, the statement said.
"The enemy's losses totaled more than 190 servicemen, two tanks, two armored fighting vehicles and three motor vehicles. Counterbattery fighting hit the following targets: a Polish-made self-propelled artillery unit Krab, two UK-made FH-70, two Msta-B howitzers, and a Rapira anti-tank artillery gun," the Defense Ministry said.
According to the statement, units of the battlegroup East also inflicted firepower damage on units of the 58th Infantry Brigade of the Ukrainian armed forces and the 127th brigade of the Territorial Defense in the areas of the settlements of Urozhaynoye in the Donetsk People's Republic and Priyutnoye in the Zaporozhye Region.
Russian military forces improved positions on the forefront in the Donetsk area, with Ukrainian forces having lost up to 400 troops and 19 equipment units, the ministry said.
"In the Donetsk area the units of the South battlegroup improved positions on the forefront and hit manpower and equipment of the 42nd, 93rd mechanized and 81st air mobile brigades of the Ukrainian army near the settlements of Belogorovka of the Lugansk People’s Republic, Krasnoye and Kleshcheyevka of the Donetsk People’s Republic. The enemy lost up to 400 troops, two tanks, three infantry fighting vehicles, four armored combat vehicles, six cars, three howitzers, including Msta-B, D-20 and D-30, and a Strela-10 anti-aircraft missile launcher," the statement reads.
Krasny Liman area
Ukraine lost up to 100 servicemen in the Krasny Liman area over the past day, the Russian Defense Ministry said.
"The enemy's losses totaled up to 100 servicemen, a tank, three armored fighting vehicles and four motor vehicles," the statement said.
Russian troops also struck the personnel and equipment of the Ukrainian 63rd Mechanized Brigade and 25th Airborne Brigade in the areas of the settlements of Yampolovka in the DPR and Chervonaya Dibrova in the LPR.
Kherson area
Russian forces have taken more favorable positions in the Kherson area, the Russian Defense Ministry said.
"In the Kherson area, units of the battlegroup Dnepr, acting decisively, seized more favorable positions and struck the enemy's personnel and equipment in the areas of Rabotino and Verbovoye in the Zaporozhye Region; and Lvovo and Tyaginka in the Kherson Region," the ministry said.
According to the statement, Ukraine lost up to 70 servicemen, an infantry fighting vehicle and three motor vehicles. The Russian forces also destroyed a US-made M777 artillery system, a Gvozdika self-propelled howitzer and a US-made AN/TPQ-48 counterbattery radar.
Kupyansk area
Ukrainian forces lost up to 40 troops in the Kupyansk area in the past 24 hours, the ministry said.
"In the Kupyansk area the units of the West battlegroup destroyed manpower and equipment of the 14th and 66th mechanized brigades of the Ukrainian army near the settlements of Sinkovka, Petropavlovka and Ivanovka of the Kharkov Region. The Ukrainian army lost up to 40 troops, a tank, three armored fighting vehicles and three pickups. Moreover, a Polish-made Krab self-propelled artillery system, two D-20 howitzers, two Gvozdika self-propelled artillery systems and a D-30 howitzer were eliminated," according to the statement.
Air Force and air defenses
Russia’s air defenses destroyed 105 Ukrainian drones and intercepted four HIMARS multiple launch rocket systems in the past 24 hours, the ministry said.
"Air defense systems intercepted four HIMARS multiple launch rocket systems in the past 24 hours. Moreover, 105 Ukrainian drones were eliminated near the settlements of Ivanovka of the Kharkov Region, Kremennaya, Kalinovka of the Lugansk People’s Republic, Styla, Semigorye and Verkhnetoretskoye of the Donetsk People’s Republic, Lyubimovka, Chervonogorka and Mirnoye of the Zaporozhye Region," the ministry noted.
Tally of destroyed equipment
In all, the Russian forces have destroyed 571 Ukrainian warplanes, 266 helicopters, 12,723 unmanned aerial vehicles, 470 anti-aircraft missile systems, 15,098 tanks and other armored combat vehicles, 1,222 multiple rocket launchers, 8,091 field artillery guns and mortars and 18,801 special military motor vehicles since the beginning of the special military operation in Ukraine, the ministry said.