MOSCOW. Dec 12 (Interfax) - Units from the southern group of forces kept moving deeper into Ukrainian defense lines, while the western and eastern groups improved their position and hit Ukrainian brigades, the Russian Defense Ministry said on Thursday.
"Units from the southern group of forces kept moving deeper into enemy defense lines and hit detachments of two mechanized brigades and one motorized infantry brigade of the Ukrainian Armed Forces, as well as two territorial defense brigades near Minkovka, Chasov Yar, Ostrovskoye, Annovka, Uspenovka and Kurakhovo in the DPR," the ministry said.
The Ukrainian Army lost up to 295 troops, two armored combat vehicles, and a pickup truck, it said.
Units from the western group of forces improved their tactical position and hit seven Ukrainian brigades, while the eastern group of forces improved its frontlines and repelled three Ukrainian counterattacks, the ministry said.
The western group of forces repelled seven Ukrainian counterattacks over the past day, and Ukrainian forces lost up to 410 troops, a tank, a pickup truck, six artillery systems, and an ammo depot in that area, it said.
Units from the eastern group of forces struck three Ukrainian brigades in the DPR, and Ukrainian forces lost up to 150 troops, two trucks, and three artillery systems, the ministry said.
"Units from the northern group of forces operating in the Kharkov sector struck detachments of a territorial defense brigade near Volchansk in the Kharkov region. The Ukrainian Armed Forces lost up to 65 troops and an armored combat vehicle," it said.
Units from the Dnepr group of forces hit troops and hardware of two Ukrainian brigades near Mikhailovka and Nikolskoye in the Kherson region, the ministry said.
"The Ukrainian Armed Forces lost up to 35 troops, two trucks, a 122mm D-30 howitzer, and an EW station," it said.