KYIV, Ukraine 

Ukraine said Tuesday its army had thwarted attacks by Russian forces on two key cities in the eastern Donetsk region. 

According to the Ukrainian General Staff, Russian forces attempted to attack Bakhmut and Avdiivka using heavy weapons.

In a separate statement, the General Staff said 150 Russian soldiers were killed, mostly in the Donetsk region, over the past day.

Donetsk is one of two Ukrainian regions bordering Russia that saw a Moscow-supported separatist conflict starting in 2014. Just before the Feb. 24 start of the war, Russia declared Donetsk an "independent republic," a move unrecognized by the international community.

Ukraine claims 45,550 Russian soldiers have been killed throughout Ukraine since the start of the war.

Also, Ukraine said Russian losses include 234 aircraft, 198 helicopters, 1,921 tanks, 4,238 armored vehicles, 266 multiple launch rocket system and 146 anti-aircraft warfare systems

Additionally, Russian tanks, warships, drones and cruise missiles have been destroyed by Ukrainian forces, the statement added.

The Ukrainian Prosecutor General's Office said 374 Ukrainian children have been killed and 723 others injured since the start of the war.  

* Writing by Seda Sevencan