MOSCOW. April 20 (Interfax) - Russian assault units are continuing intensive operations in the western districts of Artyomovsk (Bakhmut), while airborne and artillery forces are providing support and not allowing the Ukrainian army to counterattack on the flanks or redeploy its reserves, Russian Defense Ministry spokesman Igor Konashenkov said at a press briefing on Thursday.
"In the Donetsk sector, assault units are continuing intensive operations to eliminate the enemy in the western part of Artyomovsk," Konashenkov said.
"Airborne forces and artillery of the southern group of forces are providing support to the assault units in their efforts to take control of the town, and are suppressing the enemy's attempts to counterattack on the flanks or to redeploy reserves," he said.
"Over the past day, tactical and army aircraft carried out ten air missions to support the assault units. Artillery units of the southern group of forces completed 64 fire missions," he said.
Units of the Ukrainian Armed Forces in the Donetsk People's Republic (DPR) were hit in these strikes, Konashenkov said.
"The enemy's losses in this sector over the past day include up to 470 Ukrainian troops and mercenaries, three tanks, five infantry fighting vehicles, six armored combat vehicles, four automobiles, a Grad multiple launch rocket system, and a Msta-B howitzer," he said.
In addition, an ammunition depot of the Ukrainian army's 72th Mechanized Brigade was destroyed in the DPR, Konashenkov said.