Map of the special operation in Ukraine on May 18

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 May 18 in the Izvestia material.

Units of the Vostok group of forces liberated the Bogatyr settlement in the DPR, and also defeated a mechanized brigade of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, a territorial defense brigade and a brigade of the Ukrainian National Guard. At the same time, the Center group of forces continued to advance deep into the enemy's defenses, destroying up to 420 militants, seven armored fighting vehicles and other enemy equipment.

"Operational-tactical aircraft, unmanned aerial vehicles, missile forces and artillery of groups of troops of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation have damaged the infrastructure of a military airfield, ammunition and fuel depots, storage sites for unmanned aerial vehicles, radar stations, as well as temporary deployment points of units of Ukrainian armed formations," the Russian Defense Ministry added.

The air defense forces, in turn, destroyed seven American-made JDAM guided aerial bombs and 75 aircraft-type drones.

According to the Russian Defense Ministry, during the special operation, the Ukrainian Armed Forces lost 662 aircraft, 283 helicopters, 57,591 unmanned aerial vehicles, 605 anti-aircraft missile systems, 23,384 tanks and other armored personnel carriers, 1,563 multiple launch rocket systems, 25,019 field artillery and mortars, 35,641 units of special military vehicles.

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