Map of the special operation in Ukraine on January 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 January 18 in the Izvestia material.

Russian military personnel continue their successful offensive in various directions. The units of the North group of Forces have improved their tactical situation. Formations of the mechanized, amphibious assault brigades, the assault regiment of the Armed Forces of Ukraine (AFU) and two air defense brigades were defeated in the areas of the settlements of Rogozne, Novaya Sich, Yastrebyne, Pisarevka and Miropole of the Sumy region.

In the Kharkiv direction, units of two heavy mechanized brigades of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, two air defense brigades and a border detachment of the border service of Ukraine were defeated in the areas of the settlements of Vatutino, Prikolotnoye, Ryasnoye, Pokalnoye, Okhrimovka and Zelyony Guy of the Kharkiv region. The enemy lost over 175 soldiers, 24 vehicles, five field artillery guns, an Israeli-made RADA radar station and an electronic warfare station.

"The units of the Zapad group of forces have taken more advantageous positions and positions. The manpower and equipment of three mechanized, two assault, airmobile, amphibious assault brigades of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, the air defense brigade and two National Guard brigades were defeated in the areas of the settlements of Blagodatovka, Berezovka, Novoosinovo, Petrovka, Kutkovka, Nechvolodovka of the Kharkiv region, Yarovaya and Krasny Liman of the Donetsk People's Republic. The enemy's losses amounted to up to 200 military personnel, six armored combat vehicles and 19 vehicles," the Russian Defense Ministry said in a statement.

The fighters of the "Southern" group of forces improved their tactical situation. Formations of four mechanized, airmobile and motorized infantry brigades of the Armed Forces of Ukraine were defeated in the areas of the settlements of Slavyansk, Kurtovka, Kramatorsk, Vasyutinskoye, Druzhkovka, Konstantinovka and Malinovka of the Donetsk People's Republic. The Ukrainian Armed Forces lost more than 135 soldiers, an M113 armored personnel carrier and a US-made Stryker armored personnel carrier, five armored combat vehicles, 17 vehicles and four field artillery guns.

The units of the Center group of forces have improved their position along the front line. The manpower and equipment of six mechanized, airmobile, amphibious assault brigades, three assault regiments of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, a marine brigade, a special forces brigade "Azov" and four National Guard brigades were defeated. The losses of the Ukrainian armed forces amounted to more than 455 soldiers, a tank, two armored personnel carriers, three Cossack armored vehicles, four pickup trucks and three artillery pieces.

The Russian army, with the help of aviation, unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), missiles and artillery, defeated enterprises for the assembly of long-range unmanned aerial vehicles, energy and transport infrastructure facilities used in the interests of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, as well as temporary locations of Ukrainian armed forces and foreign mercenaries in 149 districts. Six guided aerial bombs, nine US-made HIMARS multiple rocket launchers and 220 aircraft-type drones were shot down by air defense systems.

Signal to reach: Russian troops approached Svyatogorsk in the DPR

The liberation of the city will open the way to Slavyansk and Kramatorsk from the north

According to the Russian Defense Ministry, since the beginning of the special operation, the Ukrainian Armed Forces have lost 670 aircraft, 283 helicopters, 109,778 UAVs, 646 anti-aircraft missile systems, 27,192 tanks and other armored combat vehicles, 1,642 multiple rocket launchers, 32,662 field artillery and mortars, 52,152 units of special military vehicles.

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