MOSCOW. March 13 (Interfax) - The Russian central group of forces has moved deeper into Ukrainian defense lines, while the eastern group of forces has intensified operations in the special military operation zone, the Russian Defense Ministry said on Thursday.
"Units from the central group of forces moved farther into enemy defense lines," the ministry said in a statement.
The eastern group of forces has intensified operations in the special military operation zone, the statement said.
While moving farther into Ukrainian defense lines, the central group of forces struck several Ukrainian brigades near Dimitrov, Novopavlovka, Krasnoarmeisk, Shevchenko, Sribnoye, Udachnoye, Ulyanovka, Mirolyubovka and Uspenovka in the DPR, it said.
There, Ukrainian forces lost over 475 troops, five armored combat vehicles, seven vehicles, two artillery systems and an electronic warfare station, it said.
"Units from the eastern group of forces continued active operations and struck detachments of an infantry brigade and an assault regiment of the Ukrainian Armed Forces, in addition to two territorial defense brigades near Otradnoye, Bogatyr, Fyodorovka and Konstantinopol in the Donetsk People's Republic," the ministry's statement said.
In that sector, Ukrainian forces lost over 180 troops, a tank, four armored combat vehicles, three vehicles, and four artillery systems, it said.
Units from the western group of forces improved their tactical position and struck troops and hardware of a mechanized brigade and an assault brigade of the Ukrainian Armed Forces and a territorial defense brigade near Kopanki and Novoyegorovka in the Kharkov region and Redkodub in the DPR, it said.
There, Ukrainian forces lost over 220 troops, four M113 armored personnel carriers, three vehicles, four artillery systems, and two electronic warfare stations. Two ammo depots were destroyed, it said.
"Units from the southern group of forces took better lines and positions and hit detachments of four mechanized brigades, an infantry brigade, an assault brigade and a drone regiment of the Ukrainian Armed Forces near Alexandropol, Alexandro-Kalinovo, Verolyubovka, Konstantinovka, Alexeyevo-Druzhkovka and Krymskoye in the Donetsk People's Republic," it said.
In that sector, Ukrainian forces lost over 225 troops, two armored combat vehicles, two vehicles, and an artillery system. Two ammo depots were destroyed, it said.
Units from the northern group of forces operating in the Kharkov sector hit detachments of a mechanized brigade and a motorized infantry brigade of the Ukrainian Armed Forces near Kazachya Lopan and Volchansk. Ukrainian forces lost up to 35 troops, a tank, five vehicles, two artillery systems, an electronic warfare station and an ammo depot, it said.
"Units from the Dnepr group of forces hit troops and hardware of a coastal defense brigade of the Ukrainian Armed Forces and two territorial defense brigades near Nikolskoye, Burgunka and Tyaginka in the Kherson region and Pavlovka in the Zaporozhye region. Up to 55 troops were killed, and eight vehicles and an electronic warfare station were destroyed," it said.