Russian troops have destroyed over 18,500 Ukrainian unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) since the start of the special military operation in Ukraine, Russia’s Defense Ministry reported on Wednesday.

"In all, the following targets have been destroyed since the start of the special military operation: 581 aircraft, 270 helicopters, 18,538 unmanned aerial vehicles, 495 surface-to-air missile systems, 15,684 tanks and other armored combat vehicles, 1,262 multiple rocket launchers, 8,644 field artillery guns and mortars and 20,576 special military motor vehicles," TASS quoted the ministry as saying.

Russian forces destroy 30 Ukrainian troops in Kupyansk area over past day

Russian forces struck Ukrainian army units in the Kupyansk area, eliminating roughly 30 enemy troops and 6 pieces of military equipment over the past day, the ministry reported.

"In the Kupyansk direction, Western Battlegroup units inflicted casualties on enemy personnel and equipment near the settlement of Stroyevka in the Kharkov Region and repelled three attacks by assault groups of the Ukrainian army’s 60th mechanized and 95th air assault brigades near the settlement of Terny in the Donetsk People’s Republic. The Ukrainian army’s losses over the past 24 hours amounted to 30 personnel and 3 motor vehicles," the ministry said.

Russian forces also destroyed a US-made M777 howitzer and two D-20 howitzers in the Kupyansk direction over the past 24 hours, it specified.

Kiev loses 390 troops in Donetsk area over past day

The Ukrainian military lost roughly 390 troops and 2 armored vehicles in battles with Russian forces in the Donetsk area over the past day, the ministry reported.

During the last 24-hour period, Russia’s Southern Battlegroup units gained more advantageous sites in that direction and inflicted casualties on personnel and military hardware of the Ukrainian army’s 24th, 28th and 53rd mechanized, 5th assault and 241st territorial defense brigades near the settlements of Chasov Yar, Kurdyumovka and Krasnogorovka in the Donetsk People’s Republic, it specified.

"They also repulsed 10 counterattacks by formations of the Ukrainian army’s 81st airmobile, 10th mountain assault, 67th and 72nd mechanized brigades and 4th National Guard brigade near the settlements of Belogorovka in the Lugansk People’s Republic, Berestovoye, Krasnoye, Bogdanovka and Konstantinovka in the Donetsk People’s Republic. The enemy’s losses amounted to 390 personnel, two Kozak and MaxxPro armored combat vehicles and 19 motor vehicles," the ministry said.

In counter-battery fire, Russian forces destroyed a US-made 105mm M119 howitzer, a Gvozdika 122mm self-propelled artillery gun, a 122mm D-30 howitzer and an MT-12 Rapira 100mm anti-tank gun of the Ukrainian army in the Donetsk direction over the past 24 hours, the ministry reported.

Russian forces repulse nine Ukrainian counterattacks in Avdeyevka area over past day

Russian forces improved their frontline positions and repulsed nine Ukrainian army counterattacks in the Avdeyevka area over the past day, the ministry reported.

"In the Avdeyevka direction, Battlegroup Center units improved their forward edge positions in active operations, inflicted casualties on enemy formations and repulsed nine counterattacks," the ministry said.

The Ukrainian army lost "as many as 305 personnel, two armored combat vehicles, three motor vehicles, a US-made 155mm M777 howitzer, a 152mm D-20 howitzer, two 122mm D-30 howitzers and a 122mm Gvozdika motorized artillery system in the Avdeyevka direction over the past 24 hours, it specified.

Russian troops improve tactical position in south Donetsk area over past day

Russian troops improved their tactical position and inflicted casualties on the Ukrainian army in the south Donetsk area over the past day, the ministry reported.

"In the south Donetsk direction, Battlegroup East units improved their tactical position and inflicted damage by firepower on personnel and equipment of the Ukrainian army’s 72nd mechanized brigade near the settlement of Vodyanoye in the Donetsk People’s Republic," the ministry said.

Russian forces repulse Ukrainian counterattack in south Donetsk area over past day

Russian forces repulsed a Ukrainian army counterattack in the south Donetsk area over the past day, the ministry reported.

"Near the settlement of Urozhainoye in the Donetsk People’s Republic, a counterattack by an assault group of the Ukrainian army’s 58th motorized infantry brigade was repulsed. The enemy’s losses amounted to 155 personnel, 3 motor vehicles and a 122mm BM-21 Grad multiple rocket launcher," the ministry said.

Russian forces strike two Ukrainian army brigades in Kherson direction over past day

Russian forces inflicted casualties on two Ukrainian army brigades in the Kherson direction, eliminating roughly 35 enemy troops and a British artillery gun over the past day, the ministry reported.

"In the Kherson direction, Dnepr Battlegroup units inflicted damage by firepower on formations of the Ukrainian army’s 65th mechanized and 121st territorial defense brigades near the settlements of Novodanilovka and Nesteryanka in the Zaporozhye Region and Respublikanets in the Kherson Region," the ministry said.

The Ukrainian army’s losses amounted to 35 personnel, 4 motor vehicles, a British-made AS-90 Braveheart 155mm self-propelled artillery gun, a 152mm D-20 howitzer, and a 122mm D-30 howitzer in the Kherson direction over the past 24 hours, it specified.

Russian forces wipe out Ukrainian UAV storage hangar, arms depot over past day

Russian forces destroyed a Ukrainian UAV (unmanned aerial vehicle) storage hangar and an armament depot over the past day, the ministry reported.

"During the last 24-hour period, operational/tactical aircraft, unmanned aerial vehicles, missile troops and artillery of the Russian groupings of forces destroyed a hangar for the production and storage of unmanned aerial vehicles and an armament depot and struck the Ukrainian army’s manpower and military hardware in 131 areas," the ministry said.

Russian air defenses destroy 164 Ukrainian UAVs, two JDAM smart bombs over past day

Russian air defense forces shot down 164 Ukrainian unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) and 2 American JDAM smart bombs over the past day, the ministry reported.

"Air defense capabilities shot down 164 Ukrainian unmanned aerial vehicles and two US-made JDAM guided aerial bombs," the ministry said in a statement.