Russia claims major gains, heavy Ukrainian losses in new offensive push Over 200 fixed-wing drones intercepted

The Russian Ministry of Defence announced further territorial gains and intensified attacks across multiple fronts in Ukraine as part of its ongoing military campaign, claiming significant Ukrainian casualties and equipment losses.

Russian forces from the "Centre" grouping reportedly continued their push deeper into Ukrainian defensive lines, expanding what Moscow describes as "liberated territory" in the Dnipropetrovsk region, Caliber.Az reports, citing the Russian Defence Ministry.

According to the Ministry, Ukrainian Armed Forces (AFU) units—including a heavy mechanised brigade, two mechanised brigades, a jaeger brigade, two airborne assault brigades, a marine brigade, and a National Guard brigade—were struck in the areas of Petrovskoye, Krasnoarmeysk, Dimitrov, Novoukrainka, Udachne, and Muravka in the self-proclaimed Donetsk People's Republic.

The Russian military claims Ukraine lost over 525 personnel, seven armoured combat vehicles—including a Swedish-made Viking armoured personnel carrier—nine pickup trucks, six field artillery pieces, and a US-made AN/TPQ-48 counter-battery radar station in this sector alone.

The “East” grouping also reported advances against Ukrainian positions, with Russian forces targeting troops and equipment of a Ukrainian mechanised brigade and two territorial defence brigades near Poddubne and Komar in Donetsk, and Malynivka in Zaporizhzhia.

The Ministry claims up to 205 Ukrainian troops were killed in the attacks, along with the destruction of two tanks, three armoured vehicles, six trucks, and three artillery pieces.

Further south, the “Dnepr” grouping reportedly struck Ukrainian formations—including a mechanised brigade, a mountain assault brigade, and a coastal defence brigade—in areas such as Mala Tokmachka, Novoandriivka, Kamianske, and Bilohiria in Zaporizhzhia, as well as Antonivka in the Kherson region.

These operations, according to Russia, resulted in the deaths of up to 100 Ukrainian personnel, and the destruction of four vehicles, two field guns, an electronic warfare station, and three ammunition depots.

Russian tactical aviation, attack drones, missile forces, and artillery reportedly targeted 142 Ukrainian and foreign mercenary positions. Meanwhile, the Black Sea Fleet claimed the destruction of two unmanned surface vessels.

Russia’s air defences reportedly intercepted a long-range Neptune missile, two JDAM guided bombs, four US-made HIMARS rockets, and 212 fixed-wing drones.

Moreover, a massive night strike was carried out on a Ukrainian military airfield in Rivne region.

Thus, Russian forces launched a large-scale attack using long-range, precision air-launched weapons on a tactical aviation airbase near Dubno in the Rivne region.

The Ministry described the strike as a retaliatory response to Kyiv’s attacks on Russian military airfields.

By Aghakazim Guliyev