The Russian Armed Forces destroyed four Ukrainian platoons with American howitzers

Defense Ministry: Russian Armed Forces destroyed four Ukrainian platoons with American M777 howitzers

MOSCOW, June 18 — RIA Novosti. Russian troops destroyed four Ukrainian platoons with American M777 howitzers and four platoons of Grad MLRS with high-precision long-range missiles, said the official representative of the Russian Defense Ministry, Lieutenant General Igor Konashenkov.

In total, 12 firing positions were hit. The American-made equipment was located near the settlements of Lastochkino, Ocheretino, Vodiane and Zhelannoe in the DPR. MLRS "Grad" were based near Avdiivka, as well as the villages of Keramik and Zhelannoe.

In addition, the Russian Armed Forces destroyed fuel facilities in Kremenchug and Lisichansk with missiles.

Rocket troops and artillery also eliminated 310 nationalists, ten tanks and other armored vehicles, three Grad MLRS installations, nine field artillery guns and 14 special vehicles.

The air defense systems shot down a Ukrainian Su-25 attack aircraft, a Mi-24 helicopter and eight drones, four Tochka-U missiles and 24 Uragan multiple rocket launcher missiles, Konashenkov added.

In addition, Russian tactical and army aviation hit 62 areas of concentration of manpower and destroyed more than 160 enemy fighters.

"Since the beginning of the special military operation, 206 aircraft, 132 helicopters, 1,241 UAVs, 343 anti—aircraft missile systems, 3,613 tanks and other armored combat vehicles, 547 MLRS combat vehicles, 2,032 field artillery and mortar guns, as well as 3,687 units of special military vehicles have been destroyed," the Lieutenant General noted.

Since February 24, Russia has been conducting a special military operation to demilitarize and denazify Ukraine. President Vladimir Putin called its goal "the protection of people who have been subjected to bullying and genocide by the Kiev regime for eight years." The armed forces strike only at the military infrastructure and Ukrainian troops. The main goal of the operation in the Russian military department called the liberation of Donbass.