April 13, 2025

Russian Ministry of Defense: up to 1,280 Ukrainian casualties in the past day; a Ukrainian F16 was shot down

Russian Defense Ministry

progress of special military operation as of 13 April 2025

👮‍♂️ The Armed Forces of the Russian Federation continue the special military operation.

💥 The Sever Group of Forces in Belgorod direction engaged units of two mechanised brigades, a coastal defence brigade of the Ukrainian Armed Forces, and four territorial defence brigades close to Turya, Miropolskoye, Novodmitrovka, Prokhody, and Petrushevka (Sumy region).

📍In Kharkov direction, the Russian Armed Forces inflicted fire damage on manpower and hardware of a mechanised brigade of the AFU and a territorial defence brigade close to Karasevka and Shuby (Kharkov region).

▪️The AFU losses amounted to up to 90 troops, an infantry fighting vehicle, an armoured personnel carrier, a motor vehicle, three field artillery guns, a UK-made 128-mm RAK-SA-12 multiple rocket launcher, a counter-fire station, and an electronic warfare station. Three enemy ammunition depots were destroyed.

📍Units of the Zapad Group of Forces took more advantageous lines and positions. Russian units hit five mechanised brigades, an assault brigade, a jaeger brigade of the AFU, and two territorial defence brigades close to Kupyansk, Radkovka, Petropavlovka, Borovaya, Novaya Kruglyakovka, Novoyegorovka (Kharkov region), Redkodub, Yampol, Kirovsk (Donetsk People’s Republic), and the Serebryansky forestry. 

▪️The AFU losses amounted to up to 260 troops, seven pickup trucks, and seven artillery guns. Three Zakhist and Kvertus electronic warfare stations and an ammunition depot were eliminated.

The Yug Group of Forces’ units improved the tactical situation. Russian troops damaged manpower and hardware of three mechanised brigades, an airmobile brigade, a regiment of unmanned aerial systems of the AFU, a territorial defence brigade, a national guard brigade, and the Azov special forces brigade near Dronovka, Novaya Poltavka, Zarya, Kalinovo, Chasov Yar, Kleban-Byk, and Katerinovka (Donetsk People’s Republic). 

▪️The AFU losses amounted to up to 295 troops, 17 motor vehicles, and three field artillery guns. One ammunition depot and one fuel depot were neutralised.

🚩 The Tsentr Group of Forces liberated Yelizavetovka (Donetsk People’s Republic).

💥 Russian troops engaged four mechanised brigades, an assault brigade, a Jaeger brigade, an unmanned aerial vehicles brigade, an assault regiment of the AFU, a marine brigade, and three national guard brigades close to Novoekonomicheskoye, Zverevo, Kotlino, Udachnoye, Alekseyevka, Novopavlovka, Krasnoarmeysk, Novosergeyevka, Mirolyubovka, and Preobrazhenka (Donetsk People’s Republic).

▪️The AFU losses amounted to more than 435 troops, two Kozak armoured fighting vehicles, seven pick-up trucks, and eight field artillery guns including a U.S.-made 155-mm Paladin self-propelled artillery system.

↗️ Units of the Vostok Group of Forces continued advancing into the depth of enemy defence. Russian forces hit manpower and hardware of two mechanised brigades, a mountain assault brigade of the AFU, a marine brigade, and three territorial defence brigades close to Bogatyr, Novopol, Aleksandropol, Karl Marks, Burlatskoye, Shevchenko, Otradnoye (Donetsk People’s Republic), Filiya (Dnepropetrovsk region), and Gulyaypole (Zaporozhye region).

▪️The AFU losses amounted to up to 130 Ukrainian troops, one armoured fighting vehicle, one motor vehicle, and two field artillery guns, including one Polish-made 155-mm Krab self-propelled artillery system. One electronic warfare station was eliminated.

📍The Dnepr Group of Forces’ units took more advantageous lines and positions. Russian units engaged three mechanised brigades, a mountain assault brigade, and two coastal defence brigades of the AFU near Novodanilovka, Pavlovka, Novoandreyevka (Zaporozhye region), Sadovoye, Nikolskoye, and Antonovka (Kherson region).

▪️Up to 70 troops, an infantry fighting vehicle, five motor vehicles, and two ammunition depots have been neutralised.

✈️ Operational-Tactical Aviation, attack drones, Missile Troops and Artillery of the Russian Groups of Forces have engaged the infrastructure of the military airfield, the location of the ammunition and armament of the Ukrainian Armed Forces, a training center for pilots of unmanned aerial vehicles, the location of tactical missiles as well as temporary deployment areas of the Ukrainian armed forces and mercenaries in 141 area.

🎯 Russian air defence units have shot down an F-16 aircraft of the Ukrainian Air Force, eight JDAM guided bombs, seven U.S.-made HIMARS MLRS projectiles, and 207 fixed-wing unmanned aerial vehicles.

📊 In total, since the beginning of the special military operation the AFU lost: 

 661 aircraft, 

 283 helicopters, 

 51,335 unmanned aerial vehicles, 

 601 anti-aircraft missile systems, 

 22,817 tanks and other armoured fighting vehicles, 

 1,535 MLRS combat vehicles,

 23,556 field artillery guns and mortars, 

 34,048 units of support military vehicles.

Share the Post:

Wilson Center

Forced displacement represents one of the most pressing humanitarian issues of our time. Individuals and families, torn from the fabric of their communities, find themselves navigating a world of uncertainty, often without basic necessities or a clear path to safety. There are currently some 110 million forced displaced, and this number is growing by 10 million each year!

At the heart of this crisis are the political triggers. Armed conflicts, ethnic or religious persecutions, and systemic human rights abuses force millions to flee their homes in terror. Many are displaced within their own national boundaries, while others seek asylum abroad. If these factors change as a result of political shifts at home or the pressures from abroad, they can return to their homes. Forced displacement is thus different from environmentally driven displacement, as victims of climate change may never be able to return to their homes.

The ramifications of any sort of displacement are profound, not just for those directly affected, but also for host communities and countries. Overburdened infrastructures, socio-economic strains, and cultural tensions can arise, necessitating comprehensive strategies to foster harmony and integration. Yet the root causes of forced displacement can be remedied with a concerted focus by local players and international diplomacy.

Organizations like Refugees International play a crucial role in this arena, advocating for the rights and needs of the displaced, conducting on-the-ground assessments, and influencing policymakers to take informed actions. Their relentless work underscores the gravity of the situation and the urgency ofinternational cooperation. But they, too, are overwhelmed by the rapid expansion of the crisis.

International Humanitarian Law (IHL), with its core principles centered on the protection of civilians during conflicts, plays a pivotal role in this discourse. Yet, despite clear legal frameworks, compliance remains
inconsistent. This initiative emphasizes the importance of upholding and reinforcing these international standards.

It’s not just about recognizing the problem; it’s about active engagement. We urge governments, organizations, and individuals to prioritize the rights and needs of the forced displaced. Through collective efforts, informed policies, and sustained advocacy, we can shift the narrative from passive acknowledgment to proactive intervention.