Defence Ministry: Russia destroys another Ukrainian Abrams tank

The Russian Defence Ministry has said that another fourth Abrams tank of the Ukrainian Armed Forces was destroyed in the direction of Avdiivka city over the past 24 hours.

“The Russian troops repelled 11 counterattacks. More than 430 Ukrainian servicemen were killed, a US-made Abrams tank, two armoured combat vehicles and 18 vehicles were destroyed. A Grad multiple rocket launcher, a US-made M109 Paladin self-propelled artillery system, a D-20 howitzer and five D-howitzers 30 were also destroyed during the counter-battery battle," the message says, TASS reports.

The Russian Armed Forces also destroyed two Ukrainian ammunition depots.

Russian President Vladimir Putin announced the beginning of a military operation in Ukraine on February 24, 2022. The president said that the goals are “demilitarisation” and “denazification” of the neighbouring country, as well as the protection of the civilian population of Donbas from “genocide by Kyiv authorities”. After the outbreak of hostilities, the Ukrainian authorities introduced martial law throughout the country and launched a general mobilisation. The partial mobilisation was announced in Russia in September 2022.