MOSCOW. June 28 (Interfax) - Units of Russia's northern group of forces have advanced into the Ukrainian army's defensive lines in the Kharkov region over the past week, the Russian Defense Ministry said on Friday.
"Over the past week, units of the northern group of forces have continued to advance into the enemy's defensive lines and inflicted damage on the personnel and hardware of three Ukrainian Armed Forces formations, a marine brigade, and three territorial defense brigades. The enemy's losses amounted to up to 1,560 troops, 12 armored fighting vehicles, and 43 automobiles," it said.
In the course of counterbattery engagements, 33 field artillery systems, including seven foreign-made howitzers, three Nota and Bukovel-AD electronic warfare stations, and two AN/TPQ-50 weapon locating radars, were struck, it said.
Units of the western group of forces have improved their tactical position and inflicted damage on four mechanized and two tank brigades of the Ukrainian Armed Forces and two territorial defense brigades. They repelled six counterattacks by assault groups. The Ukrainian Armed Forces' losses in this area included up to 3,230 troops, four armored fighting vehicles, 40 automobiles, three Grad multiple rocket launchers, and 24 field artillery systems. Three AN/TPQ-50 and AN/TPQ-37 weapon locating radars and 11 field ammunition storage facilities have been destroyed, the ministry said.
Units of the central group of forces have improved their frontline position and attacked four mechanized and two infantry formations of the Ukrainian Armed Forces and two territorial defense brigades, repelling 39 counterattacks in this area, the ministry said.
The Ukrainian Armed Forces' losses in that sector included up to 2,950 troops, three tanks, six armored fighting vehicles, including two Bradley infantry fighting vehicles, 30 automobiles, and 42 field artillery systems, including six M777 howitzers, it said.
"Units of the eastern group of forces have enhanced their tactical position and inflicted damage on personnel and hardware of two Ukrainian Armed Forces brigades, three territorial defense formations, and two National Guard brigades. The enemy lost up to 930 troops, six armored fighting vehicles, 36 automobiles, and 19 field artillery systems, including six UK-made FH-70 howitzers," it said.
Units of the Dnepr group of forces have inflicted damage on two Ukrainian Armed Forces formations and three territorial defense brigades. Ukraine lost up to 740 troops, three tanks, two armored fighting vehicles, 48 automobiles, and 23 field artillery systems, including 11 foreign-made ones, the ministry said. Eight Anklav and Bukovel electronic warfare stations and six field ammunition storage facilities have also been destroyed, it said.