Russia attacks command post, destroys equipment before Ukraine counterattack

Nga tấn công sở chỉ huy, phá hủy khí tài trước cuộc phản công của Ukraine - 1 — Russian soldiers drive T-90M tanks (Photo: Sputnik).

Russian Defense Ministry spokesman Lieutenant General Igor Konashenkov announced on May 5 that Russian forces attacked the command posts of two Ukrainian army brigades.

"In the areas near the settlements of Novoandreyevka in the Zaporozhye region, Belogorovka in the Lugansk People's Republic (self-proclaimed) and Nestryga Island in the Kherson region, the command posts of the 128th mountain brigade, the 54th mechanized brigade and the center of the special forces of the Ukrainian army were attacked," General Konashenkov said.

The Russian Defense Ministry spokesman said that in 24 hours, Russian operational/tactical forces, air force, missile and artillery attacked 103 Ukrainian artillery units at firing positions, servicemen and military equipment in 118 regions of Ukraine.

According to General Konashenkov, Russian forces have taken control of two urban areas and are continuously attacking Ukrainian forces west of the city of Bakhmut, Donetsk province.

"Operational/tactical forces, aviation and artillery from the southern combat group attacked units of the 54th, 60th and 93rd motorized infantry brigades of the Ukrainian army near the settlement of Krasnoye, the southwestern suburbs of Bakhmut and Grigorovka," the Russian Defense Ministry spokesman confirmed.

In this area, Russian paratroopers have repeatedly thwarted Ukrainian counterattacks from both flanks. In just one day, Russian warplanes carried out six sorties and artillery from the southern task force attacked 57 targets in the area to support the attacking units, according to General Konashenkov.

Russian forces have eliminated about 255 Ukrainian soldiers on the Donetsk front in 24 hours, the Russian Defense Ministry said. In addition, 2 armored fighting vehicles, 6 vehicles, 2 D-20 howitzers and a Gvozdika motorized artillery system were also destroyed in the area. Russian forces destroyed an ammunition depot of the 54th mechanized brigade of the Ukrainian army near Belogorovka.

On the Kherson front, the Russian side claimed that up to 35 Ukrainian soldiers, 6 vehicles, a Gvozdika motorized artillery gun and D-30 and Msta-B guns were destroyed by Russian fire.

In 24 hours, Russian air defense forces intercepted nine missiles of HIMARS, Uragan and Smerch multiple launch rocket systems and destroyed 14 Ukrainian drones.

In total, the Russian armed forces have destroyed 416 combat aircraft, 230 helicopters, 3,949 drones, 421 surface-to-air missile systems, 8,967 tanks and other armored fighting vehicles, 1,095 multiple launch rocket systems, 4,728 field guns and mortars, and 9,949 special military vehicles of Ukraine since the conflict began.

The Russian offensive comes as Ukraine is believed to have begun a large-scale counteroffensive. Yevgeny Prigozhin, head of the Russian private military organization Wagner, announced on May 3 that a major Ukrainian counteroffensive had begun.

According to Mr Prigozhin, the fierce fighting phase will take place in the coming days when Ukraine begins its counter-offensive. Mr Wagner said Ukraine has mobilized "unlimited numbers of soldiers and weapons" for this counter-offensive.

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