Map of the special operation in Ukraine on December 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 a map of military operations on December 18 in the Izvestia material.

The North group of troops defeated formations of the Armed Forces of Ukraine (AFU) in a number of settlements in the Kharkiv region. The enemy lost up to 150 people, an armored combat vehicle, eight vehicles, two artillery pieces, two electronic warfare (EW) stations and an Israeli-made RADA radar station.

Units of the Zapad group of forces defeated the manpower and equipment of the Armed Forces of Ukraine in the areas of settlements of the Kharkiv region and the DPR. The losses of the Ukrainian army amounted to 200 soldiers, an M113 armored personnel carrier made in the USA, two Turkish-made Cobra armored fighting vehicles, 13 vehicles, two electronic warfare stations and two ammunition depots.

The southern group of troops occupied more advantageous positions, and also hit Ukrainian units in a number of settlements of the DPR. The enemy lost more than 195 militants, four armored combat vehicles, 14 vehicles, three field artillery guns, including two 155 mm M777 howitzers made in the USA, two electronic warfare stations and three ammunition depots.

The military personnel of the Center group of forces continued the destruction of the encircled enemy in the residential districts of Vostochny and Zapadny in the city of Dimitrov in the DPR. Attempts by the Ukrainian Armed Forces to counterattack in the area of Krasnoarmeysk were thwarted. The enemy's losses amounted to over 545 people, five armored combat vehicles, 10 vehicles and two artillery pieces.

Units of the Vostok group of forces continued to advance into the depth of the enemy's defenses and defeated units of the Armed Forces of Ukraine in a number of settlements in the Dnipropetrovsk and Zaporizhia regions. The enemy lost up to 245 militants, four armored combat vehicles, 12 vehicles and three warehouses of materiel.

Units of the Dnepr group of forces defeated formations of the mountain assault brigade and the coastal defense brigade of the Armed Forces of Ukraine in the areas of settlements in the Kherson region. Up to 70 Ukrainian soldiers, 21 vehicles, two field artillery pieces, including a 155 mm M777 howitzer made in the USA and two warehouses of materiel were destroyed.

Operational-tactical aircraft, unmanned aerial vehicles, missile forces and artillery of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation defeated energy infrastructure facilities involved in the interests of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, assembly shops for long-range unmanned aerial vehicles and their storage sites, as well as temporary locations of Ukrainian armed forces and foreign mercenaries in 149 areas.

216 aircraft-type unmanned aerial vehicles were shot down by air defense systems.

Column salvo: how Russian Marines destroyed an enemy armored group

"Black Berets" ambushed 12 units of Ukrainian Armed Forces equipment within half an hour.

According to the Ministry of Defense, since the beginning of the special military operation, 669 aircraft, 283 helicopters, 103758 unmanned aerial vehicles, 640 anti-aircraft missile systems, 26591 tanks and other armored combat vehicles, 1633 multiple rocket launchers, 31994 guns of field artillery and mortars, 49358 units of special military vehicles have been destroyed.

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

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