08:10     18 December 2023    

Over the past 24 hours, Russian air defense systems shot down two MiG-29 aircraft, one Su-25, and 91 unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) of the Ukrainian Armed Forces, according to the Russian Ministry of Defense. "Over the day, air defense systems shot down two MiG-29 and one Su-25 aircraft of the Ukrainian Air Force in the areas of the settlements of Elizavetovka in the Nikolayev region, Druzhkovka and Dobropolye in the Donetsk People’s Republic. In addition, 91 Ukrainian unmanned aerial vehicles were destroyed during the day ", the ministry said. Two HIMARS MLRS shells and a JDAM guided munition were also intercepted, the Ministry of Defense added. The Russian Armed Forces destroyed the command post of the 47th mechanized brigade of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, a HIMARS MLRS launcher, as well as aircraft fuel depots. "Operational-tactical aviation, unmanned aerial vehicles, missile forces and artillery of groupings of troops of the Russian Armed Forces destroyed the command post of the 47th mechanized brigade of the Armed Forces of Ukraine. In addition, in the area of the settlement of Konstantinovka in the Donetsk People's Republic, a launcher of the HIMARS multiple launch rocket system was hit and fuel depots for aircraft of the Armed Forces of Ukraine were destroyed at the Kanatovo airfield in the Kirovograd region and Starokonstantinov in the Khmelnytsky region," the statement said. The Russian Armed Forces also repelled nine attacks by the Armed Forces of Ukraine in the Kupyansk direction over the day. "In the Kupyansk direction, competent actions of units of the Western Group of Forces, air strikes, artillery fire and heavy flamethrower systems repelled nine attacks by assault groups of the 115th mechanized and 95th air assault brigades of the Ukrainian Armed Forces in the areas of the settlements of Sinkovka and Terny in the Kharkov region. Losses of the Ukrainian Armed Forces consisted of over 50 military personnel, an infantry fighting vehicle, and two armored combat vehicles," the statement said. According to the ministry, two Gvozdika self-propelled artillery mounts and two D-30 howitzers were hit during the fight. Units of the central group of the Russian Armed Forces in the Krasny Liman direction repelled an attack by a special forces brigade of the Ukrainian Armed Forces. "In the Krasny Liman direction, units of the Center group of troops, with the support of artillery, repelled an attack by the 12th Special Forces Brigade of the National Guard of Ukraine southeast of the village of Kuzmino, Lugansk People’s Republic," the statement said.