MOSCOW, March 21. /TASS/. Russia’s Aerospace Forces delivered a strike by long-range precision weapons against Ukrainian military command sites and deployment areas of special operations forces over the past day in the special military operation in Ukraine, Russia’s Defense Ministry reported on Thursday.

"Last night, the Russian Aerospace Forces delivered a strike by air-launched long-range precision weapons, including Kinzhal aero-ballistic hypersonic missiles, against Ukrainian military command centers, logistic supply bases and temporary deployment sites of special operations forces and foreign mercenaries. The goal of the strike was achieved. All the designated targets were destroyed," the ministry said in a statement.

Russian forces eliminate 40 Ukrainian troops in Kupyansk area over past day

Russian forces eliminated roughly 40 Ukrainian troops and 3 enemy tanks in the Kupyansk area over the past day, the ministry reported.

"In the Kupyansk direction, units of the Western Battlegroup inflicted damage in their well-coordinated operations on the personnel and equipment of the Ukrainian army’s 63rd mechanized, 57th motorized infantry and 95th air assault brigades near the settlements of Sinkovka in the Kharkov Region, Terny in the Donetsk People’s Republic and Chervonaya Dibrova in the Lugansk People’s Republic. The Ukrainian army’s losses amounted to 40 personnel, 3 tanks and 4 motor vehicles," the ministry said.

In counter-battery fire, Russian forces destroyed two Czech-made Vampire multiple rocket launchers, a Polish-manufactured Krab self-propelled artillery gun and a D-30 howitzer in the Kupyansk direction over the past 24 hours, it specified.

Russian forces wipe out mercenaries’ site in Ukraine’s border area near Belgorod Region

Russian forces struck amassment sites of foreign mercenaries and Ukrainian territorial defense formations in the border area near the Belgorod Region over the past day, the ministry reported.

"In the Belgorod direction, Russian units continue measures to prevent the penetration of Ukrainian subversive/reconnaissance groups and destroy them in Ukraine’s border areas. Russian forces inflicted damage by firepower on amassment sites of foreign mercenaries and the 105th territorial defense brigade near the settlements of Velikaya Pisarevka, Yamnoye, Lukashevka and Aleksandrovka in the Sumy Region," the ministry said.

The enemy lost as many as 30 militants, 3 pickup trucks and a Czech-made Vampire multiple rocket launcher, it specified.

Russian forces seize railway station in Donetsk area over past day

Russian forces seized a railway station in the Donetsk area, eliminating roughly 250 Ukrainian troops over the past day, the ministry reported.

"In the Donetsk direction, units of the Southern Battlegroup took more advantageous positions in active operations and seized the Alebastrovaya railway station in the Donetsk People’s Republic. They inflicted casualties on formations of the Ukrainian army’s 79th air assault, 46th and 81st airmobile brigades near the settlements of Belogorovka, Razdolovka, Krasnoye, Novomikhailovka and Georgiyevka in the Donetsk People’s Republic," the ministry said.

The Ukrainian army lost as many as 250 personnel, 2 tanks, 3 armored combat vehicles and 7 motor vehicles in the Donetsk direction over the past 24 hours. In counter-battery fire, Russian forces destroyed two Polish-manufactured Krab self-propelled artillery systems, an Akatsiya self-propelled artillery gun, a Gvozdika motorized artillery system and a D-20 howitzer, the ministry reported.

Russian forces liberate Tonenkoye community in DPR

Russian forces liberated the community of Tonenkoye in the Donetsk People’s Republic (DPR) over the past day, the ministry reported.

"In the Avdeyevka direction, units of the Battlegroup Center liberated the community of Tonenkoye in the Donetsk People’s Republic in their well-coordinated operations," the ministry said.

Russian forces destroy over 320 Ukrainian troops in Avdeyevka area over past day

Russian forces destroyed more than 320 Ukrainian troops in the Avdeyevka area over the past day, the ministry reported.

"Russian forces inflicted casualties on the Ukrainian army’s 47th and 59th motorized infantry and 3rd assault brigades near the settlements of Pervomaiskoye and Berdychi in the Donetsk People’s Republic. Near the settlement of Novgorodskoye in the Donetsk People’s Republic, Russian forces repelled a counterattack by an assault group of the Ukrainian army’s 24th mechanized brigade. The enemy lost over 320 personnel, a tank, 4 armored combat vehicles and 7 motor vehicles," the ministry said.

In counter-battery fire, Russian forces destroyed a US-made M777 artillery system, a D-20 howitzer, a D-30 howitzer and a US-made M102 artillery gun, it specified.

Russian forces destroy 120 Ukrainian troops, US-made radar in south Donetsk area

Russian forces struck Ukrainian army units in the south Donetsk direction, destroying roughly 120 enemy troops and a US-made radar station over the past day, the ministry reported.

"In the south Donetsk direction, units of the Battlegroup East improved their tactical position and inflicted damage by firepower on Ukrainian armed formations near the settlements of Pavlovka, Urozhainoye and Staromayorskoye in the Donetsk People’s Republic. The enemy’s losses amounted to 120 personnel, a tank, 3 armored combat vehicles, 3 motor vehicles and a US-made AN/TPQ-36 counter-battery radar station," the ministry said.

Near the settlement of Vodyanoye, Russian forces repulsed a counterattack by an assault group of the Ukrainian army’s 72nd mechanized brigade, it specified.

Russian forces destroy 50 Ukrainian troops in Kherson area over past day

Russian forces struck Ukrainian army units in the Kherson area, destroying roughly 50 enemy troops and a US-made howitzer over the past day, the ministry reported.

"In the Kherson direction, units of the Dnepr Battlegroup inflicted damage by firepower on amassed personnel and equipment of the Ukrainian army’s 65th mechanized, 128th mountain assault and 35th marine infantry brigades near the settlements of Rabotino and Stepovoye in the Zaporozhye Region and Ivanovka in the Kherson Region. The Ukrainian army’s losses amounted to 50 personnel, 5 motor vehicles, a US-made M777 artillery system and a D-30 howitzer," the ministry said.

Russian forces wipe out Ukrainian UAV storage, production and repair sites over past day

Russian forces destroyed a Ukrainian UAV (unmanned aerial vehicle) storage facility, a drone production/repair workshop and struck enemy manpower and military hardware in 132 areas over the past day, the ministry reported.

"Operational-tactical aircraft, unmanned aerial vehicles, missile troops and artillery of the Russian groupings of forces destroyed an UAV storage facility ad a drone production and repair workshop and struck the Ukrainian army’s manpower and military equipment in 132 areas," the ministry said.

Russian air defenses destroy 163 Ukrainian UAVs over past day

Russian air defense forces shot down 20 rockets of the US-made HIMARS and Czech-made Vampire multiple launch rocket systems and destroyed 163 Ukrainian unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) over the past day, the ministry reported.

"Air defense capabilities shot down 163 Ukrainian unmanned aerial vehicles and 20 rockets of the US-made HIMARS and Czech-made Vampire multiple rocket launchers," the ministry said.

Overall, the Russian Armed Forces have destroyed 577 Ukrainian warplanes, 270 helicopters, 16,443 unmanned aerial vehicles, 487 surface-to-air missile systems, 15,562 tanks and other armored combat vehicles, 1,251 multiple rocket launchers, 8,480 field artillery guns and mortars and 20,027 special military motor vehicles since the start of the special military operation, the ministry reported.