Russian artillery has been shelling eastern cities such as Slovyansk
Russian artillery has been shelling eastern cities such as Slovyansk AFP / ARIS MESSINIS

KEY POINTS

  • The Russian military unit carried out a reconnaissance mission in the village of Dolyna
  • Russian soldiers also attempted to advance in Kramatorsk and South Buh
  • Ukraine says at least 350 Russian soldiers were killed Monday

The Armed Forces of Ukraine successfully forced a Russian unit carrying out a reconnaissance operation in the Slovyansk direction to withdraw from its positions, according to a report.

A group of Russian troops was using reconnaissance UAVs in the village of Dolyna on Saturday where it was met with a counteroffensive from the Ukrainian army. The Russian military unit was forced to pull back from the positions after suffering losses, the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine (UAF) said in the report.

"In the Slovyansk direction, shelling was recorded from tanks, barrel artillery, and MLRS near Kurulka, Brazhkivka, Bohorodychne, Krasnopilla, and Adamivka. The enemy used reconnaissance UAVs. It tried to carry out a pointless reconnaissance by combat in the area of ​​the village of Dolyna, suffered losses and withdrew," it said.

On Monday, the Russian army again tried to improve its tactical position in Dolyna but withdrew from its position after suffering losses and failing to break through Ukrainian defenses.

The Russians also suffered losses while attempting to advance in the direction of the settlement of Ivano-Daryivka in Kramatorsk and Potyomkino in South Buh, as per the UAF General Staff's report.

According to estimates from the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine, at least 350 Russian soldiers were killed Monday, putting Russia's total military death toll since the beginning of the war at 47,100. The Russian army has also lost over 1,900 tanks, 4,200 combat armored machines, 1,000 artillery systems and 3,100 vehicles and fuel tanks in the invasion, the ministry said.

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The UAF General Staff's report comes as the Ukrainian army is launching its counteroffensive operations with the aim of retaking the Russian-occupied territories in the southern part of the country.

Ukrainian forces shelled the occupied town of Nova Kakhovka in Kherson Oblast on Monday, knocking out the area's electricity and water supply. The shelling destroyed a Russian headquarter set up at the Sokil plant.

Ukrainian officials also said that they breached Russia's "first line of defense" outside of Kherson. The region was the first to fall to Russian control when the war began in February. Russia has already installed a puppet government in Kherson and started issuing Russian passports to residents.

Residential houses destroyed by Russian military strike are seen, as Russia's attack on Ukraine continues, in the town of Orikhiv