Russian Forces Liberate Four Villages in Kharkov Region

MOSCOW (Sputnik) - Russia’s Ministry of Defense reported on the progress of special military operation and the achievements of Russian Armed Forces.

Russia's Sever (lit. North) Group of Forces took control over four villages in the Kharkov region over the past 24 hours, the Russian Defense Ministry said on Sunday.

"The units of the Sever Group of Forces advanced deep into the enemy's defensive and liberated the settlements of Gatishche, Krasnoye, Morokhovets and Oleynikovo in the Kharkov region," the ministry said.

Russian forces also eliminated up to 100 Ukrainian solders and destroyed two tanks near the villages of Degtyarnoye, Vovchansk, and Kozachya Lopan in the Kharkov region, the ministry added.

Furthermore, Ukrainian forces lost about 600 servicepeople and a US-made Abrams tank in the zone of responsibility of the Russian Zapad (West) and Tsentr (Center) groups of forces over the past 24 hours.

"Units of the Western grouping of forces took more advantageous positions and hit [Ukrainian] formations ... in the areas of [the city of] Makeyevka, [the villages of] Artemovka, Dibrova of the Lugansk People's Republic [LPR], [the villages of] Yampolovka and Torskoye of the Donetsk People's Republic [DPR], as well as the Olivovsky Yar gully. Repulsed four counterattacks ... in the areas of the villages of Stelmakhovka in the Lugansk People's Republic and Synkovka in the Kharkov region," the ministry said.

The Zapad group of forces eliminated up to 190 Ukrainian servicepeople, two armored fighting vehicles and four pickup trucks, as well as a US-made M777 howitzer, the ministry said. Kiev also lost an Msta-B howitzer, US-made M119 howitzer and a Grad multiple launch rocket system, the ministry added.

The Tsentr group of forces improved its tactical situation and hit Ukrainian forces in the areas of the villages of Maiorsk, Yevgenyevka, Vodyanoye and Semyonovka of the DPR, the ministry noted. The grouping also repulsed 10 attacks of the Ukrainian forces in the areas of the DPR, the ministry said.

"The Ukrainian army lost up to 415 servicepeople, two tanks, including US-made Abrams, a US-made Bradley infantry fighting vehicle, a US-made Kozak armored fighting vehicle, three vehicles, and a US-made Paladin 155-mm self-propelled artillery system," the ministry added.

Russia's Yug (South) Group of Forces in turn have improved their position along the frontline, defeated Ukrainian troops and repelled two counterattacks.

"The units of the Yug Group of Forces have improved the position along the front line and also defeated manpower and equipment of the 93rd mechanized, 92nd assault, 56th motorized infantry brigades of the Ukrainian armed forces, 107th, 112th, 115th brigades of the territorial defense in the areas of Spornoye, Orekhovo-Vasylivka, Chasov Yar, Kleshcheyevka, Andreyevka and Kurdyumovka settlements of the Donetsk People's Republic," the ministry said in a statement, adding that the losses of Ukrainian armed forces "amounted to up to 620 servicemen."

Russia's Vostok (East) Group of Forces also took more favorable positions and repulsed two attacks of the Ukrainian army, eliminating up to 125 servicepeople over the past 24 hours.

"The units of the Vostok Group of Forces took more favorable positions and hit the manpower and equipment of the 58th motorized infantry brigade of the Ukrainian army and the 128th territorial defense brigade in the areas of the villages of Volodymyrivka of the Donetsk People's Republic and Dorozhnyanka of the Zaporozhye region," the ministry said.

The grouping also repulsed two counterattacks of the Ukrainian forces in the areas of the villages of Staromayorskoye and Urozhainoye, the ministry added.

"Ukrainian losses amounted to up to 125 servicepeople, three vehicles, a 155-mm US-made M777 howitzer, a 152-mm Msta-B howitzer, a 122-mm Gvozdika self-propelled artillery unit and a 100-mm Rapira anti-tank gun," the ministry noted.