MOSCOW. July 4 (Interfax) - The Russian southern group of forces has improved its position, repelled five Ukrainian attacks and struck Ukrainian forces, including in the Chasov Yar area, the Russian Defense Ministry said on Thursday.
"Units from the southern group of forces have improved their frontlines and struck troops and hardware of the 30th, 54th and 72nd Mechanized Brigades, the 143rd Infantry Brigade, the 46th and 81st Air Mobile Brigades, and the 5th and 80th Assault Brigades of the Ukrainian Armed Forces, and the 109th and 119th Territorial Defense Brigades near Georgiyevka, Serebryanka, Minkovka, Spornoye, Krasnogorovka, Katerinovka and Chasov Yar in the DPR," the ministry said.
Five counterattacks by detachments of the 10th Mountain Assault Brigade and the 79th Air Assault Brigade of the Ukrainian Armed Forces were repelled in that area, it said.
The enemy lost up to 630 troops, four armored combat vehicles, and 12 trucks, the ministry said.
Counterbattery measures of the southern group of forces hit a 155mm M198 howitzer, a 155mm M777 howitzer, 105mm M119 and L119 howitzers, and two EW stations, it said.
"Eleven field ammo depots were destroyed in the sector over the past day," the ministry said.
Units from the central group of forces improved their tactical position and struck detachments of the 24th and 41st Mechanized Brigades of the Ukrainian Armed Forces, the 109th and 129th Territorial Defense Brigades, and the 2nd National Guard Brigade near Mikhailovka, Novgorodskoye and Toretsk in the DPR. Six counterattacks by assault groups of the 31st and 47th Mechanized Brigades and the 95th Air Assault Brigade of the Ukrainian Armed Forces and the Lyut Assault Brigade of the Ukrainian Interior Ministry were repelled, it said.
There, the enemy lost up to 490 troops, three tanks, two trucks, three 122mm D-30 howitzers, and a 100mm Rapira anti-tank gun, the ministry said.