One Ukrainian helicopter, three drones downed in one day - Russian Defense Ministry

MOSCOW. March 12 (Interfax) - The Russian Aerospace Forces shot down one Ukrainian Mil Mi-14 helicopter and three unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), including a Bayraktar drone, in one day, Russian Defense Ministry spokesman Igor Konashenkov said.

"In one day, aircraft and air defense systems of the Russian Aerospace Forces shot down one Mi-24 helicopter of the Ukrainian Air Force and three unmanned aerial vehicles, including one Bayraktar TB-2," Konashenkov said at a press briefing on Saturday.

Furthermore, Russia's tactical and army aviation and UAVs destroyed 79 items of Ukraine's military infrastructure, he said.

"They include four command points and signal stations, two anti-aircraft missile systems, three multiple launch rocket systems, one electronic warfare station, six ammunition and fuel depots, and 54 sites where military hardware was concentrated," Konashenkov said.

According to Konashenkov, the Russian Armed Forces already destroyed 1,159 tanks and other armored vehicles in Ukraine during the special operation.

"In all, 3,593 items of Ukraine's military infrastructure have been rendered inoperable during the operation. Sixty-one helicopters, 126 unmanned aerial vehicles, 1,159 tanks and other armored combat vehicles, 118 multiple launch rocket systems, 436 field artillery weapons and mortars, and 973 specialized military vehicles have been destroyed," he said.

Meanwhile, forces of the Luhansk People's Republic (LPR) have reached the outskirts of the city of Sievierodonetsk, Konashenkov said.

Sievierodonetsk is a city of over 100,000 people in the east of Ukraine and one of the Luhansk region's administrative centers.