MOSCOW. March 11 (Interfax) - Russian forces have improved their frontline position and destroyed another Abrams tank in the Avdeyevka sector of the special military operation zone, the Defense Ministry said on Monday.
The Ukrainian Armed Forces lost "over 430 troops, a U.S.-made Abrams tank, two armored fighting vehicles, and 18 automobiles" in the Avdeyevka sector, it said.
Russian forces improved their frontline position and inflicted fire damage on personnel and hardware of the 53rd and 110th Mechanized Brigades of the Ukrainian Armed Forces and the 103rd Territorial Defense Brigade near Kalinovo, Mayorsk, and Rozovka in the Donetsk People's Republic (DPR), the ministry said.
Russian forces also "repelled 11 counterattacks by assault groups of the Ukrainian 24th and 47th Mechanized Brigades and the 3rd Assault Brigade near Novobakhmutovka, Berdychi, Orlovka, and Tonenkoye in the DPR," it said.
A Grad multiple rocket launcher vehicle, a U.S.-made M109 Paladin self-propelled artillery system, a D-20 howitzer, and five D-30 howitzers were destroyed during the course of counterbattery engagements. Russian forces also destroyed two ammunition depots, it said.
The Russian Defense Ministry reported destroying a third Abrams tank operated by the Ukrainian Armed Forces on March 6. It had said previously that two other Abrams tanks were destroyed in the Avdeyevka sector on February 27 and March 4.