Map of special operations in Ukraine on December 16

Russia has been conducting a special military operation to protect civilians in Donbas since February 24, 2022. You can track the progress of the joint troops of Russia, the Donetsk and Luhansk People's Republics (DNR and LNR), as well as view a map of military operations as of December 16 in the Izvestiya piece.

It is noted that as a result of the actions of units of the "Southern" group of troops, the village of Elizavetovka in the Donetsk People's Republic has been liberated. The units of the "Center" group of troops occupied more advantageous lines and positions, and the units of the "East" group of troops continued advancing deep into the enemy's defense, defeated the formations of two mechanized brigades of the militants and a brigade of the teroprotectors.

In addition, the militants lost over 55 servicemen, two vehicles, a US-made 155-millimeter M777 howitzer and two 152-millimeter D-20 guns in the area of responsibility of the Dnipro group of troops. Four ammunition depots were destroyed.

"Air defense means shot down nine unmanned aerial vehicles of the aircraft type," the Defense Ministry noted.

Operational-tactical aviation, strike drones, missile troops and artillery of the Russian Armed Forces' troop groups hit the infrastructure of military airfields, as well as concentrations of enemy manpower and military equipment in 133 areas.

In total, 650 aircraft, 283 helicopters, 37,818 unmanned aerial vehicles, 590 anti-aircraft missile systems, 19,810 tanks and other armored combat vehicles, 1,501 multiple rocket launchers, 19,695 field artillery and mortars, 29,260 units of special military vehicles have been destroyed since the beginning of the special military operation.

For more up-to-date video and details on the situation in Donbas, see Izvestiya TV channel.