The AFU lost a Leopard and up to 185 soldiers in the "Vostok" group's area of operations

Over the course of the day, units of the Vostok group of forces destroyed a Leopard tank and up to 185 servicemen of the Armed Forces of Ukraine (AFU). This was reported in the Russian Defense Ministry on December 16.

"The units of the Vostok group of forces continued advancing deep into the enemy's defense, defeated the formations of two mechanized brigades of the AFU and a brigade of teroporona in the areas of the settlements of Razliv, Zelenoye Pole and Vremevka of the Donetsk People's Republic," the ministry said.

In addition, the Russian military repelled three counterattacks of the enemy in their own area, preventing him from taking more favorable positions.

On the same day, December 16, the crews of T-90M "Breakthrough" tanks of the "West" group of troops successfully destroyed machine gun points, automatic grenade launchers, strongholds, ammunition depots, a tank, as well as a live force of the Armed Forces of Ukraine (AFU), the Russian Defense Ministry reported on December 16.

Earlier, on December 10, the Russian Defense Ministry reported that tankers of the Vostok group of troops from Buryatia destroyed a fortified firing position of the Armed Forces of Ukraine at one of the directions in the special operation zone.

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 taken against the background of the aggravated situation in the region.