MOSCOW. May 5 (Interfax) - The Russian Defense Ministry reported that offensive operations have been conducted by assault units in the western part of Artyomovsk (Bakhmut), supported by the Airborne Forces.
"In the Donetsk sector, assault units continued offensive operations in the western part of Artyomovsk," Defense Ministry spokesman Igor Konashenkov said at a press briefing on Friday.
"Units of the Airborne Forces provided support and contained the enemy on the flanks," he said.
Tactical and army aircraft and artillery of the southern group of forces have struck Ukrainian personnel and hardware near Kalinovka and Krasnoye in the Donetsk People's Republic, he said.
"Aircraft performed seven flights in the area, and artillery carried out 69 fire missions," he said.
Ukrainian forces have lost up to 300 troops, three infantry fighting vehicles, four armored fighting vehicles, one Grad multiple rocket launcher vehicle, and an Akatsiya self-propelled artillery system in the sector over the past 24 hours, he said.