MOSCOW. Sept 30 (Interfax) - Units from the Russian western group of forces have improved their position and seized 44 Ukrainian strongholds in the past 24 hours, group spokesman Ivan Bigma said.
"As a result of intensive operations, motorized infantry units from the western group of forces improved their frontlines and seized 44 strongholds of the enemy," Bigma said.
The group's missile forces fired a Tornado-S multiple rocket launcher at a temporary base of a unit of the 14th Mechanized Brigade of the Ukrainian Armed Forces near Staroverovka, he said.
"Ukrainian troops and hardware were struck near Petropavlovka, Makeyevka, Vishnyovoye, Sharovka, Novoosinovo, Nevskoye and Torskoye with support of artillery, heavy flamethrowers and aircraft," Bigma said.
Air defense of the western group of forces downed seven Ukrainian drones, he said.
In his words, the Ukrainian Army lost up to 450 troops, 26 weapon systems, three field ammo depots, and 16 drone operation posts in the sector over the past day.