Фото: Луганский Информационный Центр

Russian air defense units have shot down 73 Ukrainian unmanned aerial vehicles in the special military operation zone including the territory of the Lugansk People’s Republic over the past 24 hours, the Russian Defense Ministry reported.

“Over the past 24 hours, electronic warfare systems downed and suppressed 73 Ukrainian drones in the military operation zone including the following areas: Olshana in the Kharkov region, Shishkovo in the Lugansk People’s Republic, Berestovoye and Golmovsky in the Donetsk People’s Republic, and Vasilyevka, Sladkaya Balka, Inzhenernoye and Zhovtnevoye in the Zaporozhye region,” the report said.

On the Kupyansk axis, Task Force “West” units supported by aircraft and artillery, repelled three attacks by two Ukrainian army brigades in the areas of Sinkovka in the Kharkov region and Sergeyevka (LPR). Enemy losses on this axis over the past 24 hours amounted up to 50 servicemen, two tanks, three infantry fighting vehicles, two pickups and one D-20 howitzer.

On the Krasny Liman axis, Task Force Center” units, aircraft and artillery repelled an attack by Ukraine’s 42nd Mechanized Brigade in the Kuzmino settlement area in the  Lugansk People’s Republic.

Strikes were delivered at enemy units in the areas of Chervonaya Dibrova (LPR), and Torskoye and Grigorovka (DPR).

“The Ukrainian army lost up to 80 servicemen, four armored fighting vehicles and two pickups on the Krasny Liman axis,” the Defense Ministry said.

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The Ukrainian government launched the so-called anti-terrorist operation against Donbass in April 2014.  The peace talks failed to reach tangible results due to Kiev’s position to settle the conflict by force.

President Vladimir Putin announced a special military operation on February 24, 2022 to protect Donbass residents from Ukrainian aggression. Prior to that, LPR and DPR Heads Leonid Pasechnik and Denis Pushilin asked the Russian leader to provide military assistance.*i*sb