Donetsk, Feb 17 — DAN. Russian forces on the Donetsk axis have destroyed a large group of enemy troops over the past 24 hours, Russian Defense Ministry spokesman Igor Konashenkov said on Friday.

Three D-30 howitzers, one D-20 howitzer and armored vehicles were knocked out in this area and an ammunition dump of the Ukrainian army’s 36th Marine Brigade was destroyed in Avdeyevka, Konashenkov said.

One “Uragan” multiple rocket launcher, three M777 howitzers, one D-20 howitzer and one ammunition dump were destroyed on the South Donetsk and Zaporozhye axes. One “Grad” MLRS and two “Akatsiya” howitzers were knocked out on the Krasny Liman axis, the Defense Ministry spokesman said.

Fighting is ongoing in other front areas. Russian air defense units shot down a Ukrainian Mi-8 helicopter in Nikolskoye, Kharkov region.

Russia has been conducting the special military operation since February 24, 2022.*jk