Russian Armed Forces destroyed Ukrainian missile launchers with Iskander missiles, according to Russian Defense Ministry Spokesperson Igor Konashenkov.

According to the Ministry, on the night of March 18, Tochka-U missiles with cluster warheads were launched from the outskirts of Zaporizhzhia toward Melitopol residential districts, but the attack was repelled by air defense systems.

Coordinates of the launch of Ukrainian ballistic missiles detected

Konashenkov revealed that "the Russian Armed Forces have detected the coordinates of the launch of Ukrainian ballistic missiles. In order to prevent missile attacks and protect Ukrainian citizens from new attacks by the Kiev nationalist regime, the launchers of Ukrainian nationalists were destroyed with two Iskander missiles," noting that they were unsuccessful in disturbing the peaceful life of Melitopol.

"It must be emphasized that Melitopol lives a normal life. Shops and public transport work. Russian servicemen deliver humanitarian aid to the city every day, which has been repeatedly reported and shown by media," Konashenkov said.

The Spokesperson added that "the next use of ballistic missiles by the Kiev regime on civilians, knowing that there are no firing positions of the Russian Armed Forces in the residential areas of Melitopol, confirms the criminal nature of the nationalist leadership of Ukraine."

Russian forces shot down 6 drones in Ukraine over past day

Today, Konashenkov confirmed that Russia's Armed Forces have shot down six drones, including one Bayraktar combat drone, in Ukraine over the past day. 

"During the night, aviation and air defense systems of the Russian Aerospace Forces shot down six more Ukrainian unmanned aerial vehicles in the air, including one Bayraktar TB2," Konashenkov told reporters.

The official added that the Russian armed forces have also hit another 81 military facilities of Ukraine, including four multiple launch rocket systems, three command posts, eight ammunition depots, and 28 military equipment sites.

Since the start of Moscow's special military operation in Ukraine, Russia has destroyed 183 unmanned aerial vehicles, 1,406 tanks and other armored combat vehicles, 138 multiple launch rocket systems, and 535 field artillery guns and mortars, as well as 1,197 units of special military equipment.

Ukrainian troops shelled hospital in Donetsk

In the Donbass region, Ukrainian troops shelled a hospital in Donetsk, injuring two medical workers and one civilian, the Donetsk People's Republic (DPR) Territorial Defense Headquarters reported.

"As a result of the shelling by the Ukrainian forces in the Petrovskyi district of Donetsk, the building of hospital No. 14 was damaged, three people were injured: two employees of the medical facility and one civilian," the defense headquarters wrote on Telegram.

90% of the LPR's territory liberated

Russia's Defense Ministry also announced that the Lugansk People's Republic troops have liberated more than 90% of the territory of the republic with support of the Russian Armed Forces.

"With the fire support of the Russian armed forces, LPR troops have liberated more than 90% of the republic's territory. At present, the LPR units are destroying scattered nationalist groups on the southern outskirts of the liberated settlement Rubizhne," Konashenkov told reporters.

The official added that the troops managed to advance 16 kilometers (10 miles) over the past day and take several settlements of the Donetsk region under control.

A few days ago, the Russian Foreign Ministry reported targeting the training ground in Lvov, as the Ministry's Spokesperson Maria Zakharova underlined that the targeting was a warning to mercenaries who want to fight in Ukraine.