Marochko reported doubled attempts by the AFU to infiltrate the LPR

Over the past week, the Russian military repelled 70 attempts by the Armed Forces of Ukraine (AFU) to penetrate the territory of the Luhansk People's Republic (LPR). Military expert Andrei Marochko said on December 9 that this number is almost twice as many as in the period from November 23 to 29.

"Analysis of the course of conducting air defense on the borders of the LNR over the past week. <...> From November 30 to December 6, units of the "West" and "South" grouping repelled 70 enemy counterattacks - 27 more compared to the previous reporting period," TASS quoted him as saying.

According to the expert, 64 counterattacks were repulsed in the Kupyansk and Svatovsko-Kremen directions. At the same time, from November 23 to 29, the Ukrainian side attempted to attack 28 times in the same area.

"Statistical analysis of the data suggests a sharp intensification of Ukrainian armed formations on the western borders of the LNR," he added.

It is noted that in the areas of responsibility of the groups "North", "South" and "West" Kiev lost almost 8.2 thousand soldiers of the AFU and foreign mercenaries on the borders of the LNR. Also destroyed were 10 tanks, 37 field artillery guns, 11 electronic and counter-battery warfare stations, 23 field ammunition depots, as well as over 170 different enemy combat vehicles.

Earlier, on December 7, Marochko said that the intensity of counterattacks by the AFU militants had decreased in the Svatovo area in the LNR. The expert noted that Russian units were launching major strikes against Ukrainian militant units deployed near the settlements of Kopanka, Makeyevka and Terny. A "small advance" of the Russian Armed Forces troops near the Nevskoye locality was also observed.

At the same time, he noted that the AFU was able to reduce desertions near the village of Nadiya in the LNR, but such actions are fraught with unjustified losses. In his opinion, the Ukrainian command, as before, will most likely not consider the losses among Ukrainian fighters.

Before that, on November 24, the Russian Defense Ministry published footage of the destruction of the AFU combat vehicle in the LNR. The object was found in a wooded area. The strike was carried out on military equipment with the help of an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV). As a result of the actions of the Russian army, the object was eliminated, which is confirmed by the real-time objective control footage.

The special operation to protect Donbass, the start of which was announced by Russian President Vladimir Putin on February 24, 2022, continues. The decision was made against the backdrop of the aggravated situation in the region.

For more current video and details on the situation in Donbass, see Izvestia TV channel.