MOSCOW. May 28 (Interfax) - The northern group of forces has moved deeper into Ukrainian lines and has repelled five Ukrainian counterattacks near Volchansk and Staritsa in the Kharkov region, the Russian Defense Ministry said on Tuesday.
"Units from the northern group of forces are moving into the enemy's defensive lines," the ministry said.
Ukrainian troops and hardware were hit near Petropavlovka and Liptsy in the Kharkov region, it said.
"Five counterattacks by enemy assault groups were repelled near Volchansk and Staritsa in the Kharkov region," the ministry said.
In the northern group of forces' zone of responsibility, the Ukrainian army lost up to 285 troops, three armored combat vehicles, six vehicles, two 155mm Bogdana self-propelled artillery systems, a 155mm M777 howitzer, a 155mm Caesar howitzer, a 122mm D-30 howitzer, and four 122mm BM-21 Grad and Vampire multiple rocket launchers over the past day, it said.