Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu has ordered his troops to destroy unmanned drones of the Ukrainian forces.

The Russian Defense Ministry said on Wednesday that Shoigu inspected troops on the frontlines in Ukraine and was briefed by the commander on the war situation.

The ministry said Shoigu ordered the soldiers to accelerate destruction of unmanned drones used in attacks by Ukrainian forces in a border region.

He suggested that Ukrainian troops are using unmanned drones to attack areas captured by Russia.

The defense minister has been visiting Russian troops on the frontline in recent days. On Monday, he said that Ukrainian forces were using long-range missiles and artillery weapons to wage their attacks. He ordered troops to prioritize attacking those weapons. His order is apparently part of a strategy to reduce Ukraine's offensive capabilities.

Russian forces are stepping up their ground operation, aimed at taking control of the eastern Ukrainian region of Donetsk.

Ukrainian troops are fighting back in the southern region of Kherson, which Russia claims is under its control, using weapons supplied by Western countries.

The British Defense Ministry said on Wednesday that Ukrainian forces hit a bridge over the Dnipro River in the Kherson region on the previous day. The river is important for logistics connecting the region to the Black Sea.

The defense ministry said the area, which includes the city of Kherson, is important for Russia. It said the bridge was a necessary route for Russia to supply or withdraw its forces. The ministry analyzes the attack on the bridge "is likely to become a key factor in the outcome of fighting in the region."