MOSCOW. Aug 28 (Interfax) - Russia's western group of forces has taken better positions and repelled five Ukrainian counterattacks, while the southern group of forces has also improved its front lines, carrying out strikes on eight Ukrainian brigades, the Russian Defense Ministry said on Wednesday.
"Units of the western group of forces improved their tactical positions, striking troops and hardware of the 14th and 44th Mechanized Brigades and the 4th Tank Brigade of the Ukrainian Armed Forces and the 1st National Guard Brigade near Petropavlovka in the Kharkov region, Torskoye and Serebryanka in the Donetsk People's Republic [DPR], and Stelmakhovka and Chervonaya Dibrova in the Lugansk People's Republic," the ministry said in a statement.
Russian forces repelled five counterattacks mounted by units of the Ukrainian army's 67th Mechanized Brigade and 23rd Rifle Battalion, the 3rd National Guard Brigade and the 12th Brigade of the Azov regiment, banned in Russia, it said.
The Ukrainian army's losses in this sector included up to 490 troops, one tank, an armored fighting vehicle and three automobiles, it said.
In addition, four howitzers, a Croatian-made RAK-SA-12 launcher and a U.S.-made AN/TPQ-36 weapon tracking radar were struck during counterbattery duels, it said.
Russia's southern group of forces also took more advantageous positions and carried out strikes on eight Ukrainian brigades, it said.
"Units of the southern group of forces took better positions and struck troops and hardware of the Ukrainian 24th, 30th, 54th, 69th and 93rd Mechanized Brigades, 56th Motorized Rifle Brigade, 4th Tank Brigade and 143rd Infantry Brigade near Grigorovka, Chasov Yar, Krasnogorovka, Zaliznyanskoye, Stupochki, Karpovka and Konstantinovka in the DPR," it said.
The Ukrainian Armed Forces lost up to 690 troops, 21 automobiles, nine howitzers and a Bukovel-AD electronic warfare station in the area. The Russian army also destroyed three Ukrainian ammunition depots, it said.
Russia's eastern group of forces also improved its tactical positions and carried out strikes on troops and military hardware of the 65th and 72nd Mechanized Brigades and the 58th Motorized Rifle Brigade of the Ukrainian army near Vodyanoye, Ugledar and Shakhtyorskoye in the DPR, it said. The group's units also repelled three counterattacks launched by the 118th and 125th Territorial Defense Brigades.
The Ukrainian army's losses in the sector included up to 115 troops, six automobiles, two howitzers and a Rapira antitank gun.
"Units of the northern group of forces in the Volchansk and Liptsy sectors carried out strikes on units of the 36th Marine Brigade, the 113th Territorial Defense Brigade and the 13th National Guard Brigade near Alisovka, Liptsy and Volchansk in the Kharkov region," it said.
The enemy lost up to 165 troops, nine automobiles and two howitzers in the area. A Ukrainian fuel depot was also destroyed.
"Units of the Dnepr group of forces struck units of the Ukrainian Armed Forces' 128th Mountain Assault Brigade, the 37th Marine Brigade and the 123rd Territorial Defense Brigade near Zherebyanki and Kamenskoye in the Zaporozhye region and Dneprovskoye and Udarnik in the Kherson region," it said.
The Ukrainian army's losses in the area included up to 50 troops, nine automobiles, two howitzers and a Giatsint-B gun, it said.