MOSCOW, March 19. /TASS/. Russian troops liberated the community of Orlovka in the Donetsk People’s Republic (DPR) over the past day in the special military operation in Ukraine, Russia’s Defense Ministry reported on Tuesday.

"In the Avdeyevka direction, units of the Battlegroup Center liberated the settlement of Orlovka in the Donetsk People’s Republic and improved their forward edge positions," the ministry said in a statement.

Russian forces improve frontline positions in Kupyansk area over past day

Russian forces improved their frontline positions and destroyed roughly 30 Ukrainian troops in the Kupyansk area over the past day, the ministry reported.

"In the Kupyansk direction, units of the Western Battlegroup inflicted damage on the enemy by firepower in active operations and improved their forward edge positions. The Ukrainian army’s losses amounted to 30 personnel, an infantry fighting vehicle, four motor vehicles, two US-made M777 artillery systems and a Czech-made Vampire multiple rocket launcher," the ministry said.

Russian forces destroy 40 Ukrainian militants in border area near Belgorod Region

Russian forces destroyed roughly 40 Ukrainian militants and 2 infantry fighting vehicles, preventing Kiev’s new provocations near the border with the Belgorod Region, the ministry reported.

"In the Belgorod direction, Russian forces continued measures to prevent Ukrainian subversive/reconnaissance groups from penetrating the border area. Air strikes and artillery fire against amassed Ukrainian manpower and equipment in Ukraine’s border districts close to the settlement of Kozinka in the Belgorod Region destroyed as many as 40 personnel, 2 infantry fighting vehicles and 3 motor vehicles," the ministry said.

Russian forces destroy over 215 Ukrainian troops in Donetsk area in past day

Russian forces struck Ukrainian army units in the Donetsk area, destroying over 215 enemy troops and 5 combat vehicles over the past day, the ministry reported.

"In the Donetsk direction, units of the Southern Battlegroup took more advantageous sites and positions and inflicted damage on formations of the Ukrainian army’s 79th air assault, 46th airmobile and 118th territorial defense brigades near the settlements of Novomikhailovka, Razdolovka and Georgiyevka in the Donetsk People’s Republic. The Ukrainian army lost over 215 personnel, 3 tanks, 2 infantry fighting vehicles and 4 motor vehicles," the ministry said.

In counter-battery fire, Russian forces destroyed a Polish-manufactured Krab self-propelled artillery system, two Gvozdika motorized artillery systems, a D-30 howitzer and an S-60 anti-aircraft gun, it specified.

Russian forces repulse six Ukrainian counterattacks in Avdeyevka area over past day

Russian forces repulsed six Ukrainian army counterattacks in the Avdeyevka area, eliminating roughly 125 enemy troops over the past day, the ministry reported.

"Russian forces repulsed six counterattacks by assault groups of the Ukrainian army’s 47th, 53rd and 59th mechanized brigades near the settlements of Pervomaiskoye, Tonenkoye and Berdychi in the Donetsk People’s Republic. The enemy lost as many as 125 personnel, 2 armored combat vehicles and 5 motor vehicles," the ministry said.

In counter-battery fire, Russian forces destroyed a US-made M109 Paladin self-propelled artillery system, an Msta-B howitzer, two D-20 howitzers, a D-30 howitzer and an MT-12 Rapira anti-tank gun, it specified.

Ukraine’s army loses 130 troops in south Donetsk area over past day

The Ukrainian military lost roughly 130 troops and three combat vehicles in battles with Russian forces in the south Donetsk area over the past day, the ministry reported.

"In the south Donetsk direction, units of the Battlegroup East inflicted damage by firepower and repulsed two counterattacks by assault groups of the Ukrainian army’s 72nd mechanized brigade near the settlement of Staromayorskoye in the Donetsk People’s Republic. The enemy’s losses amounted to 130 personnel, a tank, two infantry fighting vehicles, five motor vehicles and a Gvozdika motorized artillery system," the ministry said.

Russian forces improve frontline positions in Kherson area over past day

Russian forces improved their frontline positions and destroyed roughly 30 Ukrainian troops and a US-made artillery system in the Kherson area over the past day, the ministry reported.

"In the Kherson direction, units of the Dnepr Battlegroup improved their forward edge positions in well-coordinated operations and inflicted damage on amassed manpower and equipment of the Ukrainian army’s 65th mechanized brigade and 121st territorial defense brigade near the settlements of Rabotino and Pyatikhatki in the Zaporozhye Region. The Ukrainian army’s losses amounted to 30 personnel, 2 motor vehicles, a US-made M777 artillery system and a D-30 howitzer," the ministry said.

Russian forces hammer Ukrainian troops, military hardware in 114 areas over past day

Russian forces struck Ukrainian manpower and military equipment in 114 areas over the past day, the ministry reported.

"Operational-tactical aircraft, unmanned aerial vehicles, missile troops and artillery of the Russian groups of forces struck the Ukrainian army’s manpower and military hardware in 114 areas," the ministry said.

Russian air defenses down 143 Ukrainian military drones over past day

Russian air defense forces shot down 143 Ukrainian unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) and 38 rockets over the past day, the ministry reported.

"Air defense capabilities destroyed 143 Ukrainian unmanned aerial vehicles and shot down 38 rockets of the HIMARS, Olkha, Grad and Vampire multiple launch rocket systems," the ministry said.

Russian forces destroy 270 military helicopters in Ukraine operation

Russian forces have destroyed 270 Ukrainian military helicopters and 577 enemy warplanes since the start of the special military operation in Ukraine, the ministry reported.

"In all, the following targets have been destroyed since the start of the special military operation: 577 warplanes, 270 helicopters, 16,135 unmanned aerial vehicles, 486 surface-to-air missile systems, 15,534 tanks and other armored combat vehicles, 1,244 multiple rocket launchers, 8,456 field artillery guns and mortars and 19,933 special military motor vehicles," the ministry said.