The Defense Ministry published footage of motorized rifle crews working near Kurakhovo

On January 9, the Russian Defense Ministry published footage of combat work by crews of the motorized rifle unit of the Southern Group of Forces to eliminate armored vehicles, fortifications and personnel of the Armed Forces of Ukraine (AFU).

After taking the settlement of Kurakhovo in the Donetsk People's Republic (DNR), tank crews of the motorized rifle unit of the Southern Group of Forces continue to hit the AFU's personnel, thus supporting the advance of Russian assault groups.

"They give the command 'Fire' - and work. They often sit in dugouts, basements, it's hard to hit a "square meter", but we hit. And it's hard to hit the landings, there are trenches there, so it's a bit hard to hit them. But usually from the second or third (shot. - Ed.) we already put it exactly on target", - said the mechanic-driver with the call sign Boxer.

Tank crews of the units of the Southern Group of Forces are on round-the-clock combat duty, changing each other only for rest and replenishment of ammunition in the rear areas.

Offensive initiative: major victories of the Russian army in the NWO zone over the year

Russian Armed Forces launched attacks and liberated strategically important towns in the DNR

Earlier, on January 8, the Defense Ministry reported the capture of 18 AFU fighters near Kurakhovo in the DNR. In addition, the Russian army in this area repelled three counterattacks of the AFU assault brigades, destroyed a tank, an infantry fighting vehicle, an M113 armored personnel carrier, seven pickup trucks, two artillery pieces and an ammunition depot.

On the same day, the Russian Defense Ministry reported that tankers of the Southern Group of Forces, in cooperation with a reconnaissance unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV),hit a camouflaged AFU gun in the Chasovoyarsk direction.

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

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