"In the southern Donetsk sector, leading units of the Vostok Battlegroup inflicted fire damage on equipment and manpower of the enemy, preparing for an offensive in the area of Makarovka. Tanks, armored combat vehicles and manpower of the nationalists were destroyed," Chekhov said.
He said army aircraft also destroyed a tank, infantry fighting vehicles, armored vehicles and manpower in other areas.
Ukraine launched its long-touted counteroffensive in early June after multiple postponements. According to the Russian Defense Ministry, Ukrainian troops have been trying but are failing to advance along three directions: South Donetsk, Artemovsk (Bakhmut) and Zaporozhye, the latter being of primary focus.
Russia launched a special military operation in Ukraine in February 2022 in response to calls by the Donetsk and Lugansk People's Republics for protection from Ukrainian troops. The Russian Defense Ministry said the operation, which targets Ukrainian military infrastructure, aims to "demilitarize and denazify" Ukraine, and to completely liberate Donbass.