Units of the Russian Vostok forces have successfully thwarted two attempts by Ukrainian troops to conduct reconnaissance-in-force in the Zaporozhye direction, a spokesperson from the Russian Defense Ministry told Sputnik.

In the recent engagements, motorized rifle subunits of the Vostok group effectively countered an enemy reconnaissance operation in the area north of Priyutnoye, resulting in significant losses for the opposing forces. The Ukrainian troops were forced to retreat following the setback.

Another attempt by the Armed Forces of Ukraine to conduct reconnaissance-in-force east of the village of Rabotino also faced resistance from the Russian troops. During the ensuing fire exchange, the militants suffered heavy casualties and were compelled to withdraw.

Russian bombers, attack aircraft, and helicopters specifically targeted points of temporary deployment, accumulations of manpower, and military equipment in three other areas.

Over the past 24 hours, the Vostok forces has announced the destruction of a Leopard tank, several infantry fighting vehicles, an M777 howitzer, and an electronic warfare station used by Ukrainian troops in the Zaporozhye direction.

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Russia's defense ministry reported that three Ukrainian drones were shot down over Moscow early on Sunday, causing a brief closure of the international airport.

One drone was destroyed on the city's outskirts, while two others were rendered inoperative and crashed into an office complex without causing injuries.

These recent drone attacks, including some targeting the Kremlin and Russian towns near the Ukrainian border, have been attributed to Kiev by Moscow.

The Russian defense ministry labeled the incident as an "attempted terrorist attack," adding that "On the morning of July 30, the Kiev regime's attempted terrorist attack with unmanned aerial vehicles on objects in the city of Moscow was thwarted."

Yesterday, during a speech on the results of the second Russia-Africa Summit, President Putin said Russia does not want a direct clash with NATO but maintained that the country is ready for any scenario.

"We are always ready for any scenario. But nobody wants this. We once established a special mechanism to prevent these conflicts at the initiative of the American side. Our heads of relevant departments directly communicate with each other and have the opportunity to consult on any crisis situation," Putin told journalists.

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