MOSCOW, October 17. /TASS-DEFENSE/. Russian troops continued delivering strikes against Ukrainian command centers and energy infrastructure facilities, eliminated nine unmanned aerial vehicles, shot down 21 HIMARS and Olkha MLRS rockets, intercepted two US-made HARM anti-radar missiles during the special military operation in Ukraine, Defense Ministry Spokesman Lieutenant General Igor Konashenkov said.
In the past 24 hours, the Russian troops continued delivering strikes with long-range airborne and sea-based precision-guided weapons against Ukrainian command centers and energy infrastructure facilities. All the assigned targets were hit.
In the Kupyansk direction, Russian artillery systems and army aviation aircraft inflicted damage on manpower and military hardware of the Ukrainian army’s 14th and 92nd mechanized brigades near the settlements of Sinkovka, Petropavlovka, Peschanoye, Ivanovka and Berestovoye in the Kharkov Region. About 160 Ukrainian servicemen, four armored fighting vehicles, two artillery systems, a pickup truck and two automotive vehicles were eliminated.
In the Lisichansk direction, a Ukrainian battalion task force undertook an unsuccessful attempt to advance towards the settlement of Stryapovka in the Donetsk People’s Republic. As a result of active operations of the Russian troops, the Ukrainian units were pushed back to initial positions. More than 50 Ukrainian troops, six tanks, two armored fighting vehicles and four pickup trucks were wiped out.
In the Nikolayev-Krivoi Rog direction, Russian troops thwarted an attempt by Ukrainian army units to breach the defenses near the settlement of Bruskinskoye in the Kherson Region. The Russian troops destroyed over 100 Ukrainian troops, 13 armored fighting vehicles and eight automotive vehicles.
In the past 24 hours, operational-tactical and army aviation aircraft, missile and artillery units hit two command posts near Dvurechnaya in the Kharkov Region and Drobyshevo in the Donetsk People’s Republic, 29 artillery units at firing positions, manpower and military hardware in 127 areas. Six ammunition depots were destroyed near the settlements of Figolevka in the Kharkov Region, Verkhnekamenskoye and Soledar in the Donetsk People’s Republic, Novogrigorovka in the Nikolayev Region, Novopetrovka and Davydov Brod in the Kherson Region.
Near the city of Nikolayev, a fuel depot for Ukrainian military hardware was destroyed. Also, near the settlement of Bereznegovatoye in the Nikolayev Region, a repair facility for Ukrainian military hardware was eliminated.
In counterbattery warfare, a Ukrainian battery of Smerch multiple launch rocket systems near the settlement of Kazachya Lopan and a battery of American M777 howitzers near Metallovka in the Kharkov Region were hit.
Russian air defenses destroyed nine unmanned aerial vehicles near the settlements of Yagodnoye in the Kharkov Region, Pilipovka in the Lugansk People’s Republic, Novosyolka and Valeryanovka in the Donetsk People’s Republic, Shirokaya Balka, Sukhanovo, Tomarino, Pyatikhatki and Ingulovka in the Kherson Region.
The troops also shot down 21 rockets of HIMARS and Olkha multiple launch rocket systems near Vladimirovka in the Donetsk People’s Republic, Olgovka, Nikolayevka, Novaya Kakhovka, Vesyoloye and Otradokamenka in the Kherson Region.
Also, the troops intercepted two American HARM anti-radar missiles near the settlement of Antonovka in the Kherson Region.
Since the beginning of the special military operation, the Russian troops have eliminated 323 Ukrainian warplanes, 161 helicopters, 2,256 unmanned aerial vehicles, 380 air defense missile systems, 5,855 tanks and other armored fighting vehicles, 871 multiple rocket launchers, 3,484 field artillery systems and mortars, and 6,610 special military motor vehicles.