The Ukrainian armed forces lost almost 3,600 fighters in the Donetsk, Southern Donetsk, Zaporozhye, Kherson and Kupiansk directions over the past week, the Russian Defense Ministry said on Saturday.
"For the past week, Ukraine's losses to air, missile and artillery strikes amounted to over 1,455 military dead or injured, 16 tanks and over armed vehicles, 25 cars, 15 artillery weapons and three multiple-launch rocket systems. Besides, three shell storage facilities have been destroyed," the ministry said.
In the Southern Donetsk direction, Russian forces repelled five attacks, eliminating over 950 troops, 14 armed vehicles, 32 cars and five artillery weapons.
Attempting to cross the Dnepr River in the Kherson direction and seize bridgeheads on the river's islands and left bank, Ukrainian forces lost up to 445 military and 35 cars, the ministry said, adding that Russian forces also curbed the operation of eight diversion-reconnaissance groups.
Another 515 Ukrainian troops were eliminated in the Zaporozhye direction, where the Russian military repelled eight attacks near the Rabotino and Verbovoye villages, in addition to 24 combat vehicles and 19 cars, as well as 35 artillery weapons
Ukrainian losses in the Kupiansk direction were estimated at 215 troops, six armored vehicles, 18 cars, 24 artillery weapons and a US-made M1097 Avenger anti-aircraft missile system, the ministry added.