MOSCOW, March 27. /TASS/. Russian troops destroyed Ukrainian UAV (unmanned aerial vehicle) assembly and storage sites 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 UAV assembly and storage facilities and struck Ukrainian manpower and military hardware in 136 areas," the ministry said in a statement.

Russian forces wipe out two US-made howitzers, radar in Kupyansk area over past day

Russian forces destroyed roughly 20 Ukrainian troops, two US-made howitzers and an American radar station in the Kupyansk area over the past day, the ministry reported.

"In the Kupyansk direction, the Ukrainian army’s losses amounted to 20 personnel and three motor vehicles. In addition, Russian forces destroyed two US-made M777 and M198 howitzers, two D-20 artillery guns, a Giatsint-S self-propelled gun, a US-manufactured AN/TPQ-50 counter-battery radar station and two Anklav-N electronic warfare stations," the ministry said.

In addition, Russian forces inflicted damage by firepower on the personnel and military equipment of the Ukrainian army’s 32nd and 60th motorized infantry brigades near the settlements of Sinkovka in the Kharkov Region and Terny in the Donetsk People’s Republic, it specified.

Russian forces destroy 220 Ukrainian troops in Donetsk area over past day

Russian forces took better positions in the Donetsk area, destroying roughly 220 enemy troops over the past day, the ministry reported.

"In the Donetsk direction, Southern Battlegroup units took advantageous positions in active operations and inflicted casualties on manpower and equipment of the Ukrainian army’s 3rd assault, 56th motorized infantry, 28th and 30th mechanized, 46th and 81st airmobile brigades near the settlements of Zaliznyanskoye, Bogdanovka, Chasov Yar, Kleshcheyevka and Andreyevka in the Donetsk People’s Republic," the ministry said.

The Ukrainian army lost as many as 220 troops, two tanks, two infantry fighting vehicles and three motor vehicles in the Donetsk direction over the past 24 hours, it specified.

In counter-battery fire, Russian forces destroyed a US-made M109 Paladin self-propelled artillery system, a US-manufactured M198 howitzer, a German-made PzH 2000 self-propelled artillery gun, a Gvozdika motorized artillery system, a D-30 howitzer, two Nota and Anklav-N electronic warfare stations and a Ukrainian artillery ammunition depot, the ministry reported.

Russian forces repel nine Ukrainian counterattacks in Avdeyevka area over past day

Russian forces improved forward edge positions and repelled nine Ukrainian army counterattacks in the Avdeyevka area over the past day, the ministry reported.

"In the Avdeyevka direction, units of the Battlegroup Center improved their forward edge positions in successful operations, inflicted damage by firepower on enemy formations and repelled nine counterattacks near the settlements of Shumy, Leninskoye, Tonenkoye, Vodyanoye, Pervomaiskoye and Berdychi," the ministry said.

The Ukrainian army lost "as many as 255 personnel, 2 infantry fighting vehicles and 6 motor vehicles," it specified.

In counter-battery fire, Russian forces destroyed a US-made Paladin self-propelled artillery gun, a US-manufactured M777 howitzer and a Gvozdika motorized artillery system in the Avdeyevka direction over the past 24 hours, the ministry said.

Russian forces eliminate 60 Ukrainian troops in south Donetsk area over past day

Russian forces eliminated roughly 60 Ukrainian troops and 2 armored vehicles in the south Donetsk area over the past day, the ministry reported.

"In the south Donetsk direction, units of the Battlegroup East improved their tactical position and repulsed three counterattacks by assault groups of the 128th territorial defense brigade near the settlement of Staromayorskoye in the Donetsk People’s Republic. The enemy’s losses amounted to 60 personnel, 2 armored personnel carriers, 3 pickup trucks, a Polish-made Krab self-propelled artillery system and a Gvozdika motorized artillery system," the ministry said.

Russian forces strike two Ukrainian army brigades in Kherson area over past day

Russian forces inflicted casualties on two Ukrainian army brigades in the Kherson area, destroying roughly 40 enemy troops and two armored vehicles 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 and 121st territorial defense brigades near the settlements of Rabotino in the Zaporozhye Region and Osokorovka in the Kherson Region. The Ukrainian army lost as many as 40 personnel and two armored combat vehicles," the ministry said.

Russian air defenses destroy 210 Ukrainian UAVs over past day

Russian air defense forces shot down 210 Ukrainian unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) and 21 rockets of the US-made HIMARS and Czech-made Vampire multiple launch rocket systems over the past day, the ministry reported.

"During the last 24-hour period, air defense capabilities destroyed 210 Ukrainian unmanned aerial vehicles and shot down 21 rockets of the HIMARS and Vampire multiple launch rocket systems," the ministry said.

In all, the Russian Armed Forces have destroyed 577 Ukrainian warplanes, 270 helicopters, 17,352 unmanned aerial vehicles, 489 surface-to-air missile systems, 15,614 tanks and other armored combat vehicles, 1,256 multiple rocket launchers, 8,546 field artillery guns and mortars and 20,260 special military motor vehicles since the start of the special military operation, the ministry reported.