'Strike The Occupier': Ukraine's Army Kills More 180 Russian Soldiers, Neutralizes Reconnaissance Group

The Armed Forces of Ukraine said Wednesday more than 180 Russian soldiers were killed in the last 24 hours in the ongoing war.

Kyiv's officials also said the country's military forced Moscow's troops to retreat, with losses, on the Kharkiv, Avdiivka and Bakhmut fronts.

General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine wrote on Facebook a Russian reconnaissance group on the Sloviansk front was also neutralized. The total combat losses of the Russian forces since the war began on Feb. 24 include the death of more than 41,300 enemy soldiers. Russian troops have suffered the heaviest on the Bakhmut and Donetsk fronts, according to the statement.

"Beat the occupier! Together we will win! Our strength is in the truth! Strike the occupier! Let's win together! Our strength is in the truth!" the statement concluded.

Meanwhile, Russian forces have hit several districts in Ukraine’s northeastern Kharkiv region overnight, the region's governor said on his Telegram channel.

“Residential buildings and commercial buildings were damaged,” Oleh Sinegubov said. However, no casualties have been reported so far. Sinegubov also said Russian soldiers had tried to advance in Dementiivka and Kochubeivka, both towns bordering Russia. But, they haven't succeeded as Ukraine's forces pushed them back, Al Jazeera reported.

International Business Times could not independently verify these claims.

Tensions have increased as the war in Ukraine continues, with Russia recently accusing the United States of being directly involved in the conflict. Russia’s defense ministry said Washington is not just supplying Kyiv with arms but the country's intelligence officials are interacting with Ukraine's counterparts before Kyiv's forces are carrying out strikes against Russian troops.

“All this undeniably proves that Washington, contrary to White House and Pentagon claims, is directly involved in the conflict in Ukraine,” the Russian defense ministry said in a statement. “It is the Biden administration that is directly responsible for all Kyiv-approved rocket attacks on residential areas and civilian infrastructure in populated areas of Donbas and other regions, which have resulted in mass deaths of civilians.”

Britain’s defense minister Ben Wallace said last week Russia was failing in “many areas” in its war in Ukraine, hinting Vladimir Putin could be planning a new strategy.

“The Russians are failing at the moment on the ground in many areas … Putin’s plan A, B, and C has failed and he may look to plan D,” Wallace said at the time.