Russia says destroyed 76 Ukrainian drones
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Ukraine's armed forces claim that they targeted the Morozovsk airfield in the Rostov region.
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A soldier of Ukraine's National Guard 15th Brigade works with a reconnaissance drone Leleka on a wheat field near the front line in Zaporizhzhia region, Monday, July 29, 2024. (AP)
Russia and Ukraine both repelled drone attacks overnight, their armed forces confirmed on Saturday morning.
This year, Kiev has intensified strikes on Russian territory, targeting energy sites it claims fuel Russia's attacks on Ukraine, as well as towns and villages just across the border.
The Russian Defense Ministry announced the destruction of at least 76 drones launched by Kiev, including 36 over the border region of Rostov and 17 in the Oryol region.
It added that Russian air defense systems disabled eight and nine drones respectively over the Kursk and Belgorod regions, which also border Ukraine.
Belgorod's governor, Vyacheslav Gladkov, stated that Ukrainian forces targeted an oil depot where "one of the tanks caught on fire due to the explosion" but reported no casualties.
On the other hand, Ukraine's armed forces claimed they targeted the Morozovsk airfield in the Rostov region, recording a hit "on the ammunition depots where guided aerial bombs were stored."
Russian officials in the region reported that six drones had targeted an oil depot in the Kamensky district, causing a fire and damaging several fuel tanks.
On Saturday, Kiev reported facing several missiles and 29 drones, of which 24 were destroyed. Officials in the central region of Vinnytsia said the attacks damaged infrastructure but provided no further details.
Kiev has lost over 700 service people: Moscow
In a related context, Moscow said Kiev lost over 700 service people in clashes with Russia’s southern group of forces over the past 24 hours.
"The armed forces of Ukraine lost up to 710 servicepeople, a tank, 10 vehicles .. a UK-made 105-mm L-119 gun and a 100-mm Rapira anti-tank gun," Russia's Defense Ministry indicated in a statement while also confirming that the southern group also improved its tactical positions.
It added that Russia’s center group repelled three counterattacks, while the Ukrainian troops lost up to 400 soldiers in clashes.
The Ministry said that Kiev "lost up to 470 troops [in clashes with Russia’s western group], a tank, a US-made Bradley infantry fighting vehicle, a Kozak armored fighting vehicle and 10 vehicles," adding that its western group also took better positions.
According to Moscow, the Ukrainian military also lost 115 soldiers in clashes with Russia’s eastern group and 80 more in clashes with the Dnepr group of forces.
It mentioned that the units of Russia's northern group of troops "defeated [the Ukrainian units] in the Kharkov [also known as Kharkiv] Region."
"Three counterattacks have been repelled … Enemy losses amounted to up to 200 troops … and a Bukovel-AD electronic warfare station," the Russian Defense Ministry said.
Elsewhere, the Ministry said that Russian forces hit Ukrainian fuel depots and a temporary deployment point of foreign mercenaries, adding that the air defense downed a Patriot missile, nine HIMARS missiles, and 140 drones over the past 24 hours.
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