Russian Armed Forces liberate Vesely Gai and Pushkino settlements in the DNR

Soldiers of the Russian Armed Forces have liberated the settlements of Vesyelyi Gai and Pushkino in the Donetsk People's Republic (DPR). This was reported by the Russian Defense Ministry on December 15.

"As a result of decisive actions of the units of the Southern group of troops, the settlement of Veseliy Gai was liberated," the ministry said in a statement.

It specified that it also defeated the formations of two mechanized, two aeromobile brigades of the Armed Forces of Ukraine (AFU) and the brigade of territorial defense in the areas of Seversk, Zvanovka, Dachnoye and Kurakhovo.

Among other things, the AFU fighters repelled two counterattacks by assault groups. The enemy lost up to 400 soldiers, a tank, two armored fighting vehicles, six vehicles, a 155-mm M777 howitzer, a 122-mm D-30 howitzer and a 105-mm L-119 gun.

"As a result of active offensive operations, units of the Center group of troops liberated the village of Pushkino," the Defense Ministry added.

The units also hit the manpower and equipment of two mechanized, motorized infantry, gamekeeper brigades of the AFU, a brigade of marines and an assault brigade of the Ukrainian National Police in the areas of the settlements of Dzerzhinsk, Andreevka and Shevchenko.

Units of the Center Group of Forces repelled 10 enemy attacks. The Ukrainian militants lost over 280 men, two tanks, three pickup trucks, a 152-mm Msta-B howitzer, a 122-mm D-30 howitzer, as well as two US-made Bradley BMPs, a 155-mm M777 howitzer and a 105-mm M119 gun.

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On December 1, the Russian armed forces liberated the settlements of Ilyinka and Petrovka in the DNR. Later, servicemen of the Center group of troops who took part in the operation in Petrovka described the course of the assault.

The attackers, supported by an armored group, swiftly entered the forest belts near Petrovka and destroyed the enemy in the fortifications. UAV calculations in cooperation with artillery calculations and other units carried out corrective actions. Strong fire support was provided by FPV drone strike teams, which knocked the enemy out of the fortifications. As a result of active and decisive actions, the servicemen took especially important positions and installed the Russian tricolor in the settlement. Local residents were found in the basements of houses and released by the Russian servicemen.

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 worsening situation in the region.

More topical videos and details about the situation in Donbass, see on Izvestia TV channel.