Fighters of the "West" group of forces eliminated more than 500 AFU fighters over the day

The Armed Forces of Ukraine (AFU) have lost more than 500 fighters and a large number of weapons over the past 24 hours in the area of responsibility of the Western group of troops. This was reported by the head of the press center of the grouping Ivan Bigma on January 4.

"The enemy's losses amounted to up to 555 servicemen, a Kozak armored fighting vehicle, a pickup truck, an FH-70 howitzer, and an M119 gun," TASS quoted him as saying.

Bigma specified that three electronic warfare (EW) stations and an ammunition depot were also destroyed. In addition, Bigma reported the repulsion of five counterattacks by Ukrainian militants.

According to the head of the press center, the grouping of troops "West" defeated the manpower and equipment of two assault brigades of the National Guard of Ukraine in the areas of the settlements of Dvurechnoye, Glushkovka, Boguslavka, Borovaya, Druzhelyubovka, Torskoye and Serebryanskoye forestry.

Bigma also reported that five AFU fighters surrendered to Russian servicemen.

He also added that artillerymen of the Western Group of Forces destroyed eight enemy mortar crews, and air defense (ADF) crews of Russian servicemen hit five AFU unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs). Bigma specified that the missile forces destroyed a Tornado-S multiple rocket launcher system (MLRS) in the Borovoy area.

"Our fighters have their own home behind them, literally."

How tankers of the 51st Donetsk Army destroy Ukrainian militants' strongholds in the Toretsk direction

Earlier, on January 2, Bigma reported that servicemen of the units of the Western grouping of Russian troops destroyed nine mortar units of the AFU and 13 control points of enemy drones during the day. He added that the military of the Russian army eliminated more than 50 Ukrainian fighters and a T-72 tank while repelling nine counterattacks of the AFU assault groups.

The special operation to defend Donbass, the start of which Russian President Vladimir Putin announced on February 24, 2022, continues. The decision was made against the backdrop of the worsening situation in the region.

More topical videos and details about the situation in Donbass, see on Izvestia TV channel.