A Ukrainian soldier helps a wounded soldier on the road in the freed territory in the Kharkov region, Ukraine, Monday, Sept. 12, 2022. (AP)

The Russian Defense Ministry said on Tuesday that Ukraine has lost up to 210 militaries in the Donetsk direction over the past 24 hours, noting that the Russian armed forces have staved off 18 attacks by the Ukrainian army in the Donetsk direction over the given period.

"Up to 210 military personnel, one tank, four infantry fighting vehicles, six pickup trucks, and three D-30 howitzers were destroyed [in the Donetsk direction]," a statement by the Defense Ministry read.

In the Kupyansk direction alone, Russia has neutralized nine counterattacks by Ukrainian armed forces, the ministry said, noting that Kiev lost up to 110 soldiers, three vehicles, and two D-20 howitzers.

In the Krasnyi Lyman direction, Russia neutralized another three attacks by Kiev and eliminated 80 Ukrainian soldiers.

As for the South Donetsk direction, Russia repelled three Ukrainian attacks and eliminated 125 soldiers, as well as eight vehicles and two howitzers. the statement added.

In the Zaporozhye direction, Russian armed forces eliminated up to 110 soldiers, one tank, five armored vehicles, and other military equipment pieces, the statement further read.

In their efforts to recapture the annexed territories of Donetsk, Kherson, Lugansk, and Zaporozhia, Ukrainian forces launched in June a counteroffensive that has so far resulted in more defeats than victories.

On July 31, Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu said that in the month of July alone, Ukraine lost 20,824 soldiers and 2,227 pieces of military equipment during battles.

"Over the past month, as a result of the successful activities of our troops, the losses of the enemy amounted to more than 20,800 servicemen, to be exact, 20,824 people, and 2,227 pieces of various weapons," Shoigu said, adding that Kiev sustained the loss of an additional10 Leopard tanks.

The official further said that from July 26-27, Ukraine lost 400 soldiers and 63 pieces of equipment in the Orikhove direction, adding that Kiev's forces failed to break through Russian defense lines.

On July 26, during talks with Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko in St. Petersburg, Russian President Vladimir Putin said that the Ukrainian counteroffensive had failed, noting that 26,000 Ukrainian troops had been neutralized.

"There is no [Ukrainian] counteroffensive," Lukashenko said.

"There is one, but it failed," Putin replied.