Russians fire on Ukrainian artillery units, spreading fake news about Ukraine’s combat losses in Zaporizhia region

That’s according to the acting Mayor of Zaporizhia, Anatolii Kurtiev, who took to Telegram to report the news, as seen by Ukrinform.

“Thus, they (the occupiers - ed.) seek to restrain the actions of our defenders, trying to hit Ukrainian artillery units. In addition, the Ruscists continue to wage their dishonest war in the media space,” reads the statement.

According to the Zaporizhia mayor, the Russian military is trying to spread misinformation that Ukrainian commanders were allegedly banned from retrieving the bodies of their fallen subordinates from the battlefield, claiming that this way Ukraine is hiding its actual combat losses.

“All of this is manipulation and total lies. In fact, the situation is exactly the opposite. It is the Russian military that is leaving its people behind on the battlefield. It is they who pursue such an inhumane strategy," Kurtiev said.

In the past 24 hours, the Defense Forces in Zaporizhia region eliminated 142 Russian forces, injuring another 183 combatants. In addition, Ukrainian fighters destroyed four main battle tanks, three BM-21 "Grad" multiple rocket launchers, two artillery units, a mortar, 14 armored combat vehicles, two drones, and 23 military trucks.