The Russian government stressed Monday that its troops are continuing a «successful offensive» in the eastern Ukrainian region of Donetsk, annexed by Moscow in September, before assuring that it has taken «advantageous positions» during the latest fighting.
«In the direction of Donetsk, Russian troops are continuing their successful offensive operations, during which they have taken advantageous lines and positions,» said Russian Defense Ministry spokesman Igor Konashenkov, who confirmed attacks on Ukrainian Army positions in Kupiansk, Krasno-Limansky and Yuzhno-Donetsk.
Thus, he stressed that more than 120 Ukrainian servicemen, including five officers, were killed as a result of these attacks, as reported by the Russian news agency Interfax. «The total losses of the enemy in this direction are one hundred servicemen, four infantry vehicles and eight (other) vehicles,» he stressed.
Moreover, he has stated that Russian forces have attacked 63 artillery units and positions in 79 districts over the past 24 hours, during which seven Ukrainian drones have been shot down. «In addition, two multiple launch rocket systems (HIMARS) have been intercepted in Rubezhnoye and Krasnorechenskoye,» he remarked.
Donetsk is one of the main epicenters of hostilities in recent weeks. Russia announced in September the annexation of this region together with Lugansk, Kherson and Zaporiyia, all of them partially occupied in the invasion. Likewise, Donetsk and Lugansk, located in the Donbas, have been the scene of a conflict with the Ukrainian central authorities since 2014.
Source: (EUROPA PRESS)
