MOSCOW, March 20. /TASS/. Russian forces inflicted damage on the Ukrainian army’s manpower and military hardware in 121 areas and destroyed an enemy fuel depot over the past day in the special military operation in Ukraine, Russia’s Defense Ministry reported on Wednesday.

"Operational-tactical aircraft, unmanned aerial vehicles, missile troops and artillery of the Russian groupings of forces destroyed a depot storing fuel for Ukrainian military equipment, a combat vehicle and a transporter-loader of a Grad multiple launch rocket system and inflicted damage on the Ukrainian army’s manpower and materiel in 121 areas," the ministry said in a statement.

Russian forces repel two Ukrainian counterattacks in Kupyansk area over past day

Russian forces improved their frontline positions and repelled two Ukrainian army attacks in the Kupyansk area over the past day, the ministry reported.

"In the Kupyansk direction, units of the Western Battlegroup improved their forward edge positions in active operations and inflicted damage on the enemy near the settlements of Sinkovka, Kislovka, Yagodnoye and Timkovka in the Kharkov Region. Near the settlement of Terny in the Donetsk People’s Republic, they repelled two counterattacks by assault groups of the Ukrainian 18th National Guard brigade," the ministry said.

The Ukrainian army’s losses in the Kupyansk direction over the past 24 hours amounted to 85 personnel, 3 motor vehicles and a US-made M777 artillery system, it specified.

Russian forces fully clear borderline Kozinka community of Ukrainian militants

Russian forces have fully cleared the community of Kozinka of the remnants of Ukrainian militants in the borderline Belgorod Region, the ministry reported.

"In the Belgorod direction, Russian units have fully cleared the settlement of Kozinka of the remnants of Ukrainian militants and continue measures to prevent Ukrainian subversive/reconnaissance groups from penetrating the border area," the ministry said.

Ukraine’s army loses 650 troops, 2 rocket launchers in Belgorod area

The Ukrainian military lost roughly 650 militants and 2 Czech-made rocket launchers in the Belgorod direction, the ministry reported.

"The enemy lost as many as 650 militants, two armored combat vehicles and two Czech-made Vampire multiple launch rocket systems as a result of air strikes and artillery fire," the ministry said.

Russian forces take better positions in Donetsk area over past day

Russian forces took advantageous positions in the Donetsk area, eliminating roughly 420 enemy troops over the past day, the ministry reported.

"In the Donetsk direction, units of the Southern Battlegroup took more advantageous sites and positions as a result of their successful operations and inflicted damage on formations of the Ukrainian army’s 79th air assault and 46th airmobile brigades near the settlements of Krasnoye, Andreyevka, Kleshcheyevka, Novomikhailovka and Georgiyevka in the Donetsk People’s Republic. Near the settlement of Belogorovka in the Lugansk People’s Republic, they repulsed a counterattack by formations of the Ukrainian army’s 81st airmobile brigade," the ministry said.

The Ukrainian army’s losses in the Donetsk direction over the past 24 hours amounted to 420 personnel, a tank, 2 armored combat vehicles and 8 motor vehicles, it specified.

In counter-battery fire, Russian forces destroyed a D-20 howitzer, a US-made M119 howitzer and a British L119 howitzer, a Grad multiple rocket launcher, an aerial target illumination and guidance radar of an S-300 surface-to-air missile system, a US-manufactured AN/TPQ-50 counter-battery radar station, two Anklav-N electronic warfare stations, a Strela-10 air defense system and four field ammunition depots, it said.

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

Russian forces repulsed seven Ukrainian army counterattacks and improved frontline positions in the Avdeyevka area over the past day, the ministry reported.

"In the Avdeyevka direction, units of the Battlegroup Center inflicted damage on the enemy by firepower and improved forward edge positions. They repulsed seven counterattacks by assault groups of the Ukrainian army’s 47th and 53rd mechanized, 59th motorized infantry and 3rd assault brigades near the settlements of Novgorodskoye, Pervomaiskoye, Tonenkoye, Vodyanoye and Berdychi in the Donetsk People’s Republic," the ministry said.

The Ukrainian army lost as many as 395 personnel, 4 armored combat vehicles, 16 motor vehicles, an Akatsiya self-propelled artillery gun and an MT-12 Rapira anti-tank gun in the Avdeyevka direction over the past day, it specified.

Russian forces eliminate 110 Ukrainian troops in south Donetsk area over past day

Russian forces struck Ukrainian army units in the south Donetsk area, eliminating roughly 110 enemy troops over the past day, the ministry reported.

"The enemy’s losses amounted to 110 personnel, 2 armored combat vehicles, 3 pickup trucks, 2 Polish-made Krab self-propelled artillery guns and a Gvozdika motorized artillery system," the ministry said.

In the south Donetsk direction, units of Russia’s Battlegroup East improved their tactical position and inflicted casualties on Ukrainian armed formations near the settlements of Vodyanoye, Pavlovka, Urozhainoye and Staromayorskoye in the Donetsk People’s Republic, it specified.

Russian forces destroy 65 Ukrainian troops in Kherson area over past day

Russian forces destroyed roughly 65 Ukrainian troops and a US-made artillery gun in the Kherson area over the past day, the ministry reported.

"The Ukrainian army’s losses amounted to 65 personnel, 7 motor vehicles, a US-manufactured Paladin self-propelled artillery system and a D-20 howitzer," the ministry said.

Units of Russia’s Battlegroup Dnepr struck amassed personnel and military hardware of the Ukrainian army’s 28th mechanized, 128th mountain assault and 126th territorial defense brigades near the settlements of Kopani and Mirnoye in the Zaporozhye Region and Ivanovka in the Kherson Region, it specified.

Russian air defenses down 145 Ukrainian military drones over past day

Russian air defense forces shot down 145 Ukrainian unmanned aerial vehicles and 22 rockets over the past day, the ministry reported.

"Air defense capabilities shot down 145 Ukrainian unmanned aerial vehicles, 22 rockets of the US-made HIMARS and Czech-manufactured Vampire multiple launch rocket systems, a Tochka-U tactical missile, an S-200 surface-to-air missile converted for striking ground targets and a missile of the US-made Patriot anti-aircraft missile system," the ministry said.

"In all, the Russian Armed Forces have destroyed 577 Ukrainian warplanes, 270 helicopters, 16,280 unmanned aerial vehicles, 487 surface-to-air missile systems, 15,545 tanks and other armored combat vehicles, 1,248 multiple rocket launchers, 8,467 field artillery guns and mortars and 19,998 special military motor vehicles since the start of the special military operation, the ministry reported.