Map of the special operation in Ukraine on April 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 the map of military operations for April 18 in the Izvestia material.

The North group of troops improved the tactical situation, defeated the manpower and equipment of the Ukrainian armed forces in the areas of the settlements of Miropole, Kondratovka, Bachevsk and Sukhodol, Sumy region, Izbitskoye, Veterinary, Staritsa and Zemlyanki, Kharkiv region. As a result of the actions of Russian servicemen, the Armed Forces of Ukraine (AFU) lost up to 190 militants, 17 vehicles, three field artillery guns, two electronic warfare stations, 12 material depots and five ammunition depots.

In addition, the Zapad group of troops has improved its position along the front line. The losses of the Ukrainian Armed Forces in this area amounted to 210 militants, an M113 armored personnel carrier, an armored combat vehicle, 16 vehicles, four artillery pieces and an AN/TPQ-50 counter-battery radar station.

"The units of the Center group of forces have improved their tactical situation. They defeated the manpower and equipment of three mechanized, airmobile brigades, an assault regiment of the Armed Forces of Ukraine and two National Guard brigades in areas of settlements <...> of the Donetsk People's Republic, <...> of the Dnipropetrovsk region. The losses of the Ukrainian armed forces amounted to 315 soldiers," the Russian Defense Ministry said in a statement.

The Russian army, with the help of aviation, unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), missiles and artillery, has defeated Ukrainian energy and transport infrastructure facilities used in the interests of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, storage and preparation sites for launching long-range drones, as well as temporary locations of Ukrainian armed forces and foreign mercenaries in 145 areas.

In turn, air defense systems shot down nine guided aerial bombs, a HIMARS multiple rocket launcher and 568 aircraft-type drones.

According to the Russian Defense Ministry, since the beginning of the special operation, the Ukrainian Armed Forces have lost 671 aircraft, 284 helicopters, 135,370 UAVs, 656 anti-aircraft missile systems, 28,950 tanks and other armored combat vehicles, 1,703 multiple rocket launchers, 34,505 field artillery and mortars, 59,669 pieces of special vehicles.

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