Russia claims it took control of Ukraine's Yasnobrodivka settlement

By Elena Teslova

MOSCOW (AA) - Russia announced on Tuesday that it has taken control of the Ukrainian settlement of Yasnobrodivka in the Donetsk region.

In a statement, the Russian Defense Ministry claimed that four US-made HIMARS multiple rocket launchers were destroyed in a coordinated group strike by Russian forces using high-precision weapons.

The statement also mentioned the destruction of a low-altitude radar and two launchers of the S-300PS air defense systems using drones and aviation.

Russian air defense systems shot down 97 Ukrainian drones and eight HIMARS rockets, it added.

"Since the beginning of the special military operation, a total of 626 aircraft, 277 helicopters, 27,441 unmanned aerial vehicles, 542 anti-aircraft missile systems, 16,536 tanks and other armored combat vehicles, 1,373 multiple rocket launchers, 11,618 field artillery and mortars, and 23,490 special military vehicles have been destroyed," the ministry stated.

Ukraine has yet to comment on Russia's claims.

Independent verification of claims is challenging due to the ongoing conflict.