Russian MoD: Reports of Russian casualties in the Donbas are 'nonsense'
According to the Ukrainian Intelligence, 38 bodies of the Russian military were transported from the Donbas to the Russian Federation overnight. The Russian Defense Ministry called this information "nonsense."
According to the website of the Main Intelligence Directorate (MID) of the Ukrainian Ministry of Defense, 38 dead Russian soldiers were transported from the territory of Ukraine to Russia during the night on Saturday, April 16th. As stated by the Intelligence, the bodies were transported to the Russian territory through the former checkpoint "Donetsk". Russian Defense Ministry Spokesman Igor Konashenkov called this information "nonsense", in commentary to Novaya Gazeta.
The Ukrainian Ministry also reported losses among the personnel of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation that conduct sabotage and intelligence activities near Avdiivka. In particular, on April 14th, nine soldiers of the 11th Separate Motorized Rifle Regiment were wounded, and, on April 15th, eleven wounded and nine dead soldiers from the separate assault battalion were brought to the hospitals in Yasynuvata city and Novotroitske village.
In early March, the Ukrainian MID stated that the 22nd Special Purpose Separate Brigade of the Main Intelligence Directorate of the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Russia was transferred from Rostov region to the area controlled by separatists in the Donbas. The Ukrainian Defense Ministry also reported losses from the 9th Special Motorized Rifle Regiment of Marines. In particular, on March 4th, as a result of an unsuccessful attempt of a sabotage and reconnaissance group to make a move, a Russian officer was killed and three others were injured.
A report by the OSCE mission, issued on April 13th, said that on April 6th, a group of observers saw a vehicle with a van bound for the Russian Federation crossing the Ukrainian-Russian border. “Cargo-200” was written on the van, which indicates the transport of military personnel who were killed in the line of duty.