LIVE UPDATES - Russian forces hit command post of Azov nationalist regiment in Zaporozhye region

©Russian Defence Ministry/TASS

Russian troops hit the command post of the nationalist regiment Azov (banned in the Russian Federation) in the Zaporozhye region around Maryevka, official representative of the Russian Defense Ministry, Lieutenant-General Igor Konashenkov announced on Sunday.

"The command post of the nationalist Azov regiment was hit near the village of Maryevka, Zaporozhye region," Konashenkov said.

He added that the Armed Forces of Ukraine lost over 30 military personnel in the Kherson region over the day as a result of fire damage inflicted by Russian troops. "Over 30 Ukrainian servicemen, 10 vehicles, the Gvozdika self-propelled howitzer, as well as the Msta-B and D-30 howitzers were destroyed in a day as a result of fire damage in the direction of Kherson," he said.

The Russian forces also hit 83 artillery units of the Armed Forces of Ukraine in firing positions over the past day.

Meanwhile, units of the Southern Group of Forces destroyed over 210 servicemen of the Armed Forces of Ukraine in the Donetsk region over the past day, official representative of the Russian Defense Ministry, Konashenkov added. "More than 210 Ukrainian servicemen were killed over the day in the Donetsk direction as a result of active actions by units of the Southern Group of Forces, air strikes, and artillery fire," he said.

Russian forces destroy Ukrainian UAV control centers near Avdeevka

Russian troops destroyed control posts of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) and electronic warfare equipment of the Armed Forces of Ukraine in the area of the settlements of Avdeevka in the Donetsk People's Republic and Dvurechnaya in the Kharkov region, official representative of the Russian Defense Ministry, Lieutenant-General Igor Konashenkov announced on Sunday.

"Control points for Ukrainian unmanned aerial vehicles and electronic warfare equipment were destroyed In the areas of the settlements of Avdeevka in the Donetsk People's Republic and Dvurechnaya in the Kharkov region," he said.

He added that Russian air defense systems shot down a Mi-8 helicopter, intercepted six HIMARS and Smerch MLRS shells, and also destroyed 12 drones of the Armed Forces of Ukraine over the past day.

"Air defense systems shot down a Mi-8 helicopter of the Ukrainian Air Force in around the settlement of Dimitrov in the Donetsk People's Republic. In addition, six HIMARS and Smerch multiple launch rockets were intercepted during the day, and 12 Ukrainian unmanned aerial vehicles were destroyed," Konashenkov said.

RIA Novosti obtained footage of an extremely rare defeat of a Ukrainian tank by the very first unguided rocket not intended for marksmanship.

After the discovery of enemy equipment by aerial reconnaissance of the 1st Slavic brigade, its coordinates were transferred to the BM-21 Grad installation. The missiles of this system are not guided, and the crew hoped to hit the target with at least one of the 40 projectiles. But the first of the four sighters hit the tank.

Special operation, March 4th. Main:

▪️Shoigu inspected the Russian grouping of troops "Vostok" in the zone of the NVO, in particular, he visited the forward command post of one of the formations, the Defense Ministry reported;

Russian forces destroyed an enemy group in the Kremensk sector in the Donbass

▪️The Minister of Defense of the Russian Federation at the headquarters of the joint group held a meeting on a special operation, discussed the issues of organizing a continuous supply of troops with weapons, equipment and ammunition;

▪️In the Krasnolimansk, Kupyansk, Donetsk, Yuzhnodonetsk, Zaporozhye and Kherson directions, Kyiv's losses per day amounted to 880 soldiers killed and wounded, the Russian Defense Ministry said;

▪️The White House reported that Biden and Scholz, during a personal meeting in Washington, discussed the progress in providing military, economic and humanitarian assistance to Kiev, and also confirmed their readiness to impose restrictions against the Russian Federation "for as long as necessary."

Russian MoD briefing on the progress of the special military operation in Ukraine:

▪️The Russian Army eliminated up to 150 Ukrainian servicemen and destroyed a Grad multiple rocket launcher in the Krasny Liman direction;

▪️Ukrainian losses in the Kherson direction amounted to up to 70 servicemen, with a US-made M777 howitzer destroyed;

Shoigu at the headquarters of the joint group held a meeting on the special operation. We discussed the issues of organizing the continuous supply of troops with weapons, equipment and ammunition, and paid special attention to the organization of combat training of reserve units.

Shoigu also spoke with the military, thanked them for their exemplary performance of tasks during the special operation and presented state awards, including Gold Stars to the Heroes of Russia, Orders of Courage, St. George Crosses and medals For Courage. Video from the Ministry of Defense.

▪️Russian troops continued to advance in the Donetsk direction, where Ukrainian losses amounted to almost 500 servicemen;

▪️Russian forces eliminated more than 90 Ukrainian servicemen in the Kupyansk direction;

▪️Ukrainian losses in the South Donetsk and Zaporozhye directions amounted to more than 80 servicemen, with a tank and two D-20 howitzers destroyed;

▪️Ukrainian troops lost a tank, three infantry fighting vehicles, two Msta-B, three D-30, and one US-made M-777 howitzers in the Donetsk direction;

▪️Russian air defense systems shot down a Ukrainian Mi-8 helicopter, 12 HIMARS MLRS rockets, and destroyed 11 Ukrainian UAVs;

▪️The Russian Aerospace Forces shot down two Ukrainian Mi-8 helicopters.