The Russian Ministry of Defense announced the elimination of over 1,300 Ukrainian soldiers and the downing of 93 drones across various fronts in the last 24 hours. According to the daily statement from the Russian Defense Ministry regarding the military operation in Ukraine:
In the Kupyansk sector in Kharkiv region, eastern Ukraine, the Russian “Western” forces improved their positions, resulting in enemy losses of 50 soldiers along with Western equipment and weaponry.
In the Donetsk sector, Russian forces strengthened their positions, took control of significant fortifications, repelled 4 enemy attacks, and inflicted enemy losses of 600 soldiers, including 3 tanks, one of which was a German “Leopard”, and several armored personnel carriers, including an American M113 carrier, along with Western weapons and other military equipment.
In the Avdiivka sector, Russian forces continued to consolidate their lines and clear significant sites, with enemy losses amounting to 495 soldiers, 7 tanks, armored vehicles, military equipment, and Western artillery. In the South Donetsk sector, 105 enemy soldiers were eliminated, and equipment, weapons, and Western artillery were destroyed. In the Kherson sector, Russian forces fortified their positions, leading to enemy losses of 50 soldiers, the destruction of Western artillery, and a Bukovel-AD electronic station. An attempt by a Ukrainian airborne group to infiltrate through Tendra Island was thwarted, resulting in 25 enemy soldiers killed and one captured. A command center of the Ukrainian tactical group, two control centers, an S300 air defense system, and three ammunition depots were destroyed. Russian defenses shot down 9 American HIMARS missiles and 2 British JDAM guided bombs. Additionally, 93 Ukrainian drones were shot down in the Luhansk, Donetsk, and Zaporizhzhia sectors.
The conflict between Russia and Ukraine began with Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine on February 24, 2022, marking a significant escalation from the ongoing tensions that had been building since the 2014 annexation of Crimea and support for pro-Russian separatists in the Donbas region. The invasion targeted Ukrainian military assets and cities across the country, drawing widespread international condemnation and severe sanctions against Russia. The conflict has led to numerous civilian casualties, significant displacement, and accusations of war crimes. Russia’s actions have been driven by a desire to assert its influence and prevent Ukraine from moving closer to Western institutions like the EU and NATO, reflecting deep historical, cultural, and political ties between the two nations. The war has largely been confined to Ukraine’s east and south since the summer of 2022, with ongoing battles and missile strikes causing extensive damage and exacerbating a global food crisis due to Ukraine’s role as a major agricultural exporter.
