MOSCOW. May 12 (Interfax) - Russia's southern group of forces has taken advantageous positions near the Berkhovskoye water reservoir to enhance defense lines in the Malaya Ilyinka area, Russian Defense Ministry spokesman Igor Konashenkov said.
"Seeking to enhance defense lines in the Malaya Ilyinka area, units from Russia's southern group of forces took advantageous positions near the Berkhovskoye water reservoir," Konashenkov said on Friday.
According to him, the Ukrainian attacks were deterred by the 4th and 200th motorized infantry brigades, army aviation, and some other units of the Russian Armed Forces.
"Over 540 Ukrainian troops were killed, and eight tanks and over 20 other armored vehicles were destroyed," Konashenkov said.
In the entire Donetsk sector, the Ukrainian Armed Forces lost about 900 men either dead or wounded, as well as over 30 armored vehicles, seven trucks, two D-30 howitzers, and one British-made L118 howitzer, he said.