Russian Defence Ministry report on the progress of the special military operation - 2023-12-29

▫️In the period from 23 to 29 December 2023, the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation inflicted 50 group strikes and one massive strike with high-precision weapons and unmanned aerial vehicles on the military industrial facilities, military airfield infrastructure, arsenals, storage sites for artillery ammunition, uncrewed surface vehicles, weapons and military hardware, as well as enemy POL bases. In addition, the locations of the AFU units, nationalist formations, and foreign mercenaries were hit. All the assigned targets have been engaged. ▫️ In Kupyansk direction, units the Zapad Group of Forces have improved the situation along the front line in several sectors and repelled 27 AFU attacks. Aviation and artillery inflicted losses on manpower and hardware of the AFU 10th Mountain Assault Brigade, 25th Airborne Brigade, 95th Air Assault Brigade, 30th, 43rd, 60th, and 115th mechanised brigades near Novoselovskoye (Lugansk People’s Republic), Sinkovka, Ivanovka, Petropavlovka, and Kupyansk (Kharkov region). The AFU losses over the week amounted to more than 265 Ukrainian troops, one tank, one armoured fighting vehicle, 18 motor vehicles, and five field artillery guns. ▫️ In Krasny Liman direction, units of the Tsentr Group of Forces supported by aviation and artillery improved the situation along the front line and repelled 13 AFU attacks. In addition, units of the AFU 24th, 63rd, 67th mechanised brigades, 100th, 125th territorial defence brigades, 12th Special Operations Brigade, and 5th Ukrainian National Guard Brigade were engaged close to Chervonaya Dibrova (Lugansk People’s Republic), Torskoye, Grigorovka (Donetsk People’s Republic), and Serebryansky forestry. The AFU losses in this direction amounted to up to 1,205 Ukrainian troops, six tanks, 12 armoured fighting vehicles, 12 motor vehicles, and 13 field artillery guns. ▫️ In Donetsk direction, units of the Yug Group of Forces supported by aviation and artillery liberated Maryinka (Donetsk People’s Republic). Assault detachments of the Southern MD’s 8th Army 150th motorised rifle division and 1st Army Corps 5th Separate Motorised Rifle Brigade made the most significant contribution to liberating the city. Over the week, in this direction Russian troops repelled 34 enemy attacks and inflicted losses on AFU units close to Kurdyumovka, Kleschcheyevka, Krasnoye, Andreyevka, and Georgievka (Donetsk People’s Republic). The AFU losses amounted to more than 1,675 Ukrainian troops, seven tanks, 13 armoured fighting vehicles, 29 motor vehicles, one Czech-made RM-70 Vampire MLRS, and 49 field artillery guns. ▫️ In South Donetsk direction, units of the Vostok Group of Forces repelled three enemy attacks. Aviation and artillery inflicted losses on units of the AFU 79th Air Assault Brigade, and 72nd Mechanised Brigade, and 128th Territorial Defence Brigade close to Novomikhailovka, Vodyanoye, Paraskoveyevka, and Makarovka (Donetsk People’s Republic). The AFU losses amounted to more than 675 Ukrainian troops, two tanks, four armoured fighting vehicles, 19 motor vehicles, and 15 field artillery guns. ▫️ In Zaporozhye direction, units of the Russian Group of Forces engaged in active defence, during which repelled two AFU attacks near Verbovoye (Zaporozhye region). Moreover, the Russian Armed Forces inflicted losses on manpower and hardware of the AFU 128th Mountain Assault Brigade, 33rd, 65th, and 118th mechanised brigades near Orekhov, Malaya Tokmachka, Belogorye, Novodanilovka, and Rabotino (Zaporozhye region). The AFU losses amounted to up to 475 Ukrainian troops, one tank, six armoured fighting vehicles, 20 motor vehicles, and 12 field artillery guns. ▫️ In Kherson direction, the enemy’s attempts to cross the Dnepr River and to land on the left bank and islands were thwarted by complex fire strikes and preventive actions of the Russian Armed Forces. In addition, aviation and artillery inflicted losses on manpower and hardware of the AFU 35th, 36th, 38th marines brigades, 124th, 126th territorial defence brigades near Berislav, Tyaginka, Tokarevka, Nikolskoye, Zmievka, and Chernobayevka (Kherson region). The AFU losses amounted to up to 390 Ukrainian troops, 25 motor vehicles, 17 motorboats, and 22 field artillery guns. ▫️Over the past week, 43 Ukrainian servicemen surrendered, 22 of them in Kupyansk direction. Operational-Tactical and Missile Troops of the Russian Groups of Forces eliminated combat vehicles of air defence systems, namely, one Norwegian-made NASAMS, one German-made IRIS-T, one French-made Crotale-NG, one S-300 air defence system radar, and three AN/TPQ-50 counterbattery warfare radar stations. Aviation and air defence units intercepted 10 enemy aircraft and two helicopters over the week, including one MiG-29, three Su-27, three Su-24, three Su-25, as well as two Ukrainian Air Force Mi-8 helicopters.