The Russian Ministry of Defence announced on Friday that its forces had destroyed a Ukrainian air defense unit stationed in the town of Kremennaya in the Luhansk Region during the past 24 hours.
The defence unit was stationed close to civilian infrastructure, resulting in damage to several residential buildings and public facilities, including a school and kindergarten, according to the statement from the Ministry of Defence.
Russian forces targeted the air defense system following its use against Russian military aircraft, the Ministry of Defence said. No casualties were reported among Russian troops or civilians in Kremennaya as a result of the attack.
The Ministry of Defence also reported that Russian forces had repelled several counterattacks from Ukrainian forces in various regions, inflicting significant casualties on the opposing side. The Ministry stated that over 800 Ukrainian servicemen had been killed or wounded during these engagements, while numerous armoured and motor vehicles had also been destroyed.
The Russian defence ministry further claimed that its troops had liberated several settlements in the Luhansk Region as well as advanced towards other towns in the area.
Overall, the Russian Ministry of Defence asserted that since the start of the conflict, its forces have eliminated over 200 Ukrainian warplanes and helicopters, along with thousands of armoured vehicles, artillery systems, and multiple rocket launchers.