Russian Defense Ministry spokesperson, Maj. Gen. Igor Konashenkov, speaks at a briefing in Moscow on Friday, April 13. (AP)

The Ukrainian armed forces launched a large-scale offensive in five sectors of the South Donetsk area on June 4, according to the Russian Defense Ministry's spokesperson Lt. Gen. Igor Konashenkov.

He said, "On the morning of June 4, the enemy launched a large-scale offensive in five sectors of the front in the South Donetsk direction by introducing into battle the 23rd and 31st mechanized brigades from the strategic reserves of the armed forces of Ukraine with the support of other military units and divisions."

In total, he added, Kiev's attack involved six mechanized and two tank battalions in order to break through the defense lines of the Russian armed forces, explaining that the forces were not able to achieve their goals.

The Ukrainian armed forces lost more than 250 personnel, 16 tanks, three infantry combat vehicles, and 21 armored fighting vehicles in the South Donetsk direction after the Russian military rejected a large-scale onslaught, according to Konashenkov.

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He stated that "as a result of the skillful and competent actions of the ‘Eastern’ group of the [Russian armed] forces, the losses of the Ukrainian armed forces amounted to more than 250 personnel, 16 tanks, three infantry fighting vehicles, 21 armored fighting vehicles."

Earlier on Sunday, the Russian Defense Ministry said that an artillery strike dispersed a Ukrainian group that attempted to carry out an operation in western Russia near the town of Novaya Tavolzhanka.

"On June 4, border defense units of the Western Military District and border guards of the Russian Federal Security Service detected an attempt by a sabotage and reconnaissance group of Ukrainian terrorists to cross a river near the village of Novaya Tavolzhanka, in the Belgorod Region," it said.

🇷🇺🇺🇦 Militants of the Armed Forces of Ukraine in Novaya Tavolzhanka, Belgorod Region pic.twitter.com/zlQG0tRLSj
— Sinnaig (@Sinnaig) June 4, 2023

"The enemy was hit by artillery fire. The enemy was dispersed and pulled back," the statement explained.

Moreover, on Thursday, the ministry also said that Russian troops warded off three Ukrainian cross-border attacks near Shebekino in Belgorod. According to reports, a dormitory was set on fire and one administrative building was damaged in the attacks.