Belousov congratulated the Russian Armed Forces regiment on the liberation of Elizavetovka in the DNR

Russian Defense Minister Andrei Belousov has congratulated servicemen of the 57th motorized rifle regiment on the liberation of the Elizavetovka settlement in the Donetsk People's Republic (DPR). This is stated in his congratulatory telegram dated December 16.

"In the course of the special military operation, the servicemen of the 57th Motorized Rifle Regiment, showing courage and bravery, successfully carry out combat missions, destroy the enemy's combat orders and throw him back from the occupied borders in the Kurakhov direction... We will always remember the merits of the soldiers who gave their lives in the fight for our homeland," his words are quoted in the Telegram-channel of the Ministry of Defense.

It is noted that more than 1.1 thousand servicemen of the regiment were awarded state awards and departmental insignia for courage and fortitude shown in battles with the Armed Forces of Ukraine (AFU).

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Earlier in the day, the Defense Ministry said that the Russian army had liberated Elizavetovka in the DNR. It was specified that in total in this direction the militants lost up to 345 people, five vehicles, two MaxxPro armored fighting vehicles, 155-millimeter self-propelled artillery unit Paladin.

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 in connection with the aggravation of the situation in the region.