Map of the special operation in Ukraine on March 17

A special military operation to protect the civilian population of Donbass has been conducted by Russia since February 24, 2022. You can track the progress of the joint forces of Russia, the Donetsk and Lugansk People's Republics (DPR and LPR), as well as view the map of military operations on March 17 in the Izvestia material.

The Ministry of Defense reported that units of the Dnepr group of forces, thanks to active and decisive actions, liberated the village of Stepovoye in the Zaporizhia region. Units of the group struck the manpower and equipment of the coastal brigade and the air defense brigade of the Armed Forces of Ukraine (AFU) in the areas of the settlements of Pavlovka, Zaporizhia region, and Tyaginka, Kherson region.

In this area, the Ukrainian army lost up to 65 soldiers, five vehicles and an electronic warfare station.

In addition, units of the Vostok group of forces defeated two motorized infantry brigades and an air defense brigade of the Armed Forces of Ukraine in the areas of Bogatyr, Fedorovka and Otradnoye settlements of the Donetsk People's Republic (DPR).

There, Ukrainian troops lost more than 140 military personnel, two armored combat vehicles and six vehicles.

In addition, air defense systems shot down two US-made JDAM guided aerial bombs and 177 aircraft-type unmanned aerial vehicles.

Purpose and instructions: UAV divisions have been created in artillery brigades

Drones have significantly increased the effectiveness of Russian accounting

Since the beginning of the special military operation, 283 helicopters, 47094 unmanned aerial vehicles, 658 aircraft, 32989 units of special military vehicles, 22625 field artillery and mortars, 601 anti-aircraft missile systems, 22303 tanks and other armored fighting vehicles and 1529 multiple rocket launchers have been destroyed.

Watch more relevant videos and details about the situation in Donbass on the Izvestia TV channel.