The Russian Armed Forces thwarted 16 attempts by the AFU to restore the position in the "South" grouping zone

After Russian troops liberated the settlement of Kurakhovo in the Donetsk People's Republic (DPR), 16 attempts by the Ukrainian Armed Forces (UAF) to restore the tactical position in the area of responsibility of the "South" group were thwarted. The Russian Defense Ministry said on January 10.

"The formations of eight mechanized, two motorized infantry, infantry, mountain assault, two airmobile brigades of the AFU and two brigades of terro-defense were defeated. 16 attempts of the enemy to restore the tactical position were thwarted", - stated in the summary of the department for the week.

During this time, the Ukrainian forces lost three tanks, including Leopard of German manufacture, 12 armored fighting vehicles, including two American M113 armored personnel carriers, 17 vehicles and 20 field artillery guns, four of which are Western-made. Six ammunition depots of the AFU were destroyed.

According to the Russian Defense Ministry's summary for the week, the AFU lost up to 1,715 fighters in the area of responsibility of the Southern Group of Forces unit.

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

The Russian Defense Ministry reportedabout the liberation of Kurakhovo by the Russian military on January 6. During the fighting to liberate the settlement the AFU lost more than 12,000 people and about 3,000 weapons and military equipment.

On January 8, it became known about the capture of 18 AFU fighters near Kurakhovo in the DNR. In addition, the Russian army in this direction 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.

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