Russian troops during a special operation in Ukraine destroyed US-made Harpoon launchers.

“In the area of ​​​​the settlement of Berezan, Odessa region, high-precision ground-based Iskander missiles destroyed the launchers of the US-made Harpoon anti-ship missile system,” Lieutenant General Igor Konashenkov, a spokesman for the Russian Defense Ministry, said at a briefing on July 12.

In addition, as a result of another strike by high-precision missiles, 180 servicemen were killed, as well as 26 units of military equipment of the 30th mechanized brigade of the Armed Forces of Ukraine.

Along with this, the Russian Aerospace Forces destroyed manpower and military equipment of the Armed Forces of Ukraine in 12 districts, four ammunition depots of the 79th air assault brigade in the Nikolaev region, as well as a repair and restoration center for armored vehicles of the Armed Forces of Ukraine in the Seversk region.

Also, two platoons of Grad multiple launch rocket systems and two artillery platoons of Giacint-B howitzers were destroyed at firing positions in the Donetsk People's Republic.

In turn, aviation, missile troops and artillery hit three command posts, three ammunition depots, artillery units at firing positions in 97 districts, as well as manpower and military equipment in 111 districts in a day.

Russian air defense systems shot down seven Ukrainian drones, including one attack vehicle near the city of Nikolaev.

In addition, 12 shells of the Uragan multiple launch rocket system were intercepted.

In total, since the beginning of the special operation in Ukraine, 243 aircraft, 137 helicopters, 1,513 drones, 354 anti-aircraft missile systems, 4,046 tanks and other armored combat vehicles, 741 MLRS combat vehicles, 3,135 field artillery pieces and mortars, as well as 4,165 units of a special military vehicle have been destroyed. technology.

  • Briefing of the Russian Ministry of Defense

Reducing the number of foreign mercenaries

The Ministry of Defense stressed that the Russian side monitors and records by name all foreign mercenaries who arrive in Ukraine to participate in hostilities.

As an example, the Ministry of Defense cited data on the arrival on July 6 at the collection and accommodation point for foreign mercenaries of two British citizens and three US citizens, whose names are known to the Russian defense department.

“We recommend that these citizens come to their senses and return home alive,” the representative of the Russian Defense Ministry emphasized.

At the same time, the department stated that the number of foreign mercenaries taking part in the events in Ukraine on the side of Kyiv continues to decline.

“Contrary to the false statements of representatives of the Kyiv regime about the alleged 20,000 foreign mercenaries who arrived on the territory of Ukraine, their real number is an order of magnitude smaller.

Moreover, it is steadily declining,” Konashenkov noted.

According to the Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation, over the past three weeks, as a result of the offensive actions of the Russian Armed Forces and units of the NM of the DPR and LPR, the number of mercenaries in Ukraine has decreased from 3221 to 2741.

“During this time, despite the arrival of another 151 mercenaries, 391 militants were destroyed.

Another 240 “wild geese” hastened to retreat outside the territory of Ukraine,” Konashenkov said.

During this period, the most losses were among the Polish militants - 166 people.

At the same time, 50 militants from Georgia and 23 mercenaries from Great Britain were killed.

As recalled in the department, foreign mercenaries are not combatants.

“The best thing that awaits them in the event of being captured alive is a trial and maximum prison terms,” Konashenkov said.

Recall that on June 9, the court of the Donetsk People's Republic issued death sentences to British citizens Sean Pinner and Aiden Eslin, as well as to Moroccan citizen Saadoun Brahim, who fought on the side of Ukraine.

According to the latest information, a decision on the appeals filed by the mercenaries will be made within a month.