MOSCOW. May 31 (Interfax) - Russia's central group of forces has moved deeper into Ukrainian lines in the Donetsk People's Republic (DPR) and taken control of two communities over the past week, the Russian Defense Ministry said on Friday.
"Over the week, units from the central group of forces moved deeper into the enemy's lines and took control of Arkhangelskoye and Netailovo in the DPR," the ministry said.
In that period, the central group of forces hit detachments of nine formations of the Ukrainian Armed Forces and the Ukrainian National Guard in the DPR, it said.
"Thirty-one enemy counterattacks were repelled. In that area, the Ukrainian army lost up to 2,515 troops, one tank, 15 armored combat vehicles, including three U.S.-made Bradley infantry vehicles, 19 trucks, three Grad multiple rocket launchers, and 51 artillery systems over the past week," it said.
The eastern group of forces has improved its tactical position by repelling four Ukrainian counterattacks over the week, the ministry said.
"Enemy losses amounted to 920 troops, one tank, two armored fighting vehicles, 33 trucks, a Grad multiple rocket launcher and 18 artillery systems, five of them Western-made," it said.
The Dnepr group struck the forces and equipment of two naval infantry brigades, three Ukrainian military formations, a territorial defense brigade and a Ukrainian National Guard brigade, it said.
"The enemy lost up to 325 troops, three armored fighting vehicles, 24 trucks, 17 artillery systems, including three U.S.-made M777 howitzers," it said.