"In the Soledar-Artemovsk direction, assault detachments, supported by units of the airborne forces, continued fighting to capture the western quarters of the city of Artemovsk. Over the past day, the enemy has made massive attempts to break through the defenses of our troops north and south of Artemovsk. All attacks of the Ukrainian armed forces are repelled. There are no breakthroughs in the Russian defenses," the ministry said in a statement.
In total, the Ukrainian forces lost over 400 military, 12 tanks, 18 infantry fighting vehicles, two armored transports and a D-20 howitzer in this area over the past day, according to the statement.
While repelling the attacks, the commander of the Russian 4th Motor Rifle Brigade, Col. Vyacheslav Makarov, and the deputy commander for political work of the army corps, Col. Yevgeny Brovko, have died, the ministry said.
Additionally, Russian troops repelled six Ukrainian attacks near Bogdanovka in the Donetsk People's Republic and eliminated over 50 soldiers, 7 tanks and 11 infantry fighting vehicles, according to the statement.