Map of the special operation in Ukraine on July 8th

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 July 8 in the Izvestia material.

Units of the Vostok group of forces continued to advance deep into the defense of the Armed Forces of Ukraine (AFU). As a result of the group's actions, the enemy lost up to 215 militants, a tank, three armored fighting vehicles, 15 vehicles and two artillery pieces.

At the same time, the troops of the North and Center groups improved their tactical position. The units of the "Southern" grouping also occupied more advantageous positions.

"Units of the Dnepr group of forces defeated formations of two mechanized mountain assault brigades, two coastal defense brigades of the Armed Forces of Ukraine and two air defense brigades in the areas of the settlements of Orekhov, Novoandreevka, Kamenskoye, Novodanilovka of the Zaporizhia region, Sadovoye and Antonovka of the Kherson region," the Russian Defense Ministry said.

In addition, aircraft, unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), missile forces and artillery of the Russian Army hit gas and energy infrastructure facilities that support the work of the Ukrainian military-industrial complex, as well as temporary deployment points of the Armed Forces of Ukraine and mercenaries in 133 districts.

The Air Defense Forces, in turn, shot down four guided aerial bombs, a US-made HIMARS multiple rocket launcher and 202 aircraft-type UAVs.

According to the Russian Defense Ministry, during the special operation, the Ukrainian Armed Forces lost 663 aircraft, 283 helicopters, 68,251 drones, 614 anti-aircraft missile systems, 24,162 tanks and other armored personnel carriers, 1,576 combat vehicles with multiple launch rocket systems, 27,129 field artillery and mortars, 37,832 units of special military vehicles.

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