Russian Defence Ministry on progress of special military operation as of 21 August 2025
Last night, the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation carried out a group strike with high-precision weapons as well as drones against enterprises of the Ukrainian defence industry and power facilities that supported their operation, military airfield infrastructure, positions of operational-tactical missile systems, ammunition and materiel depots of the Armed Forces of Ukraine.
The goal of the strike was achieved. All the assigned targets were engaged.
Units of the Sever Group of Forces inflicted fire damage on manpower and hardware of two mechanised brigades, one air assault brigade, two assault brigades, and two assault regiments of the Armed Forces of Ukraine close to Novaya Guta, Andreyevka, Novaya Sech, Proletarskoye, Katerinovka, Varachino, Sadki, and Yunakovka (Sumy region).
In Kharkov direction, Russian troops hit formations of one mechanised brigade and one motorised infantry brigade of the Armed Forces of Ukraine close to Gatishche and Volchansk (Kharkov region).
The AFU losses were up to 115 troops, one tank, one armoured fighting vehicle, 13 motor vehicles, and three field artillery guns including one U.S.-made 155-mm M198 howitzer. In addition, 11 ammunition, POL, and materiel depots were neutralised.
Units of the Zapad Group of Forces took more advantageous lines and positions. Russian troops launched attacks on three mechanised brigades, one assault brigade of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, and one territorial defence brigade near Kupyansk, Andreyevka, Novy Mir (Kharkov region), Sredneye and Kirovsk (Donetsk People’s Republic).
The enemy losses were up to 230 troops, five armoured fighting vehicles, four of them Western-made ones, 24 motor vehicles, and one artillery gun. In addition, seven electronic warfare stations and six ammunition depots were neutralised.
As a result of decisive actions, the Yug Group of Forces’ units liberated Aleksandro-Shultino (Donetsk People’s Republic).
Russian troops inflicted fire damage on formations of two mechanised brigades, one mountain assault brigade, one airmobile brigade of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, and one National Guard brigade near Seversk, Markovo, Nikolayevka, Minkovka, and Vasyukovka (Donetsk People’s Republic).
The enemy losses were up to 240 troops, one armoured fighting vehicle, two pickup trucks, two field artillery guns, and four ammunition and materiel depots.
ne assault brigade, two air assault brigades, one assault regiment of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, one territorial defence brigade, and two National Guard brigades near Krasnoarmeysk, Rodinskoye, Chunishino, Udachnoye (Donetsk People’s Republic), and Philiya (Dnepropetrovsk region).
The AFU losses were up to 380 troops, six armoured fighting vehicles including one U.S.-made M113 armoured personnel carrier, and one Turkish-made Kirpi armoured vehicle, 12 motor vehicles, and two artillery guns.
The Vostok Group of Forces continued advancing into the depth of enemy defences. Russian troops launched attacks on manpower and hardware of one mechanised brigade, one assault brigade of the Armed Forces of Ukraine as well as one marine brigade close to Velikomikhaylovka, Dibrova, Ivanovka (Dnepropetrovsk region), Poltavka, Olgovkskoye, Dorozhnyanka (Zaporozhye region), and Kamyshevakha (Donetsk People’s Republic).
The AFU losses were more than 225 troops, one tank, four armoured fighting vehicles, 12 motor vehicles, and three field artillery guns including one U.S.-made 155-mm M198 howitzer. Three materiel depots were destroyed.
Units of the Dnepr Group of Forces hit formations of one mechanised brigade, one mountain assault brigade, three coastal defence brigades of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, and two territorial defence brigades close to Belogorye, Stepovoye (Zaporozhye region), Novoberislav, Ponyatovka, Sadovoye, and Belozerka (Kherson region).
The enemy losses were more than 80 troops, one U.S.-made HMMWV armoured fighting vehicle, 13 motor vehicles, and two artillery guns including one U.S.-made 155-mm M777 howitzer.
In addition, eight electronic warfare stations and four ammunition and materiel depots were neutralised.
Operational-Tactical Aviation, attack unmanned aerial vehicles, Missile Troops and Artillery of the Russian Groups of Forces inflicted fire damage on production, storage, and launching areas of long-range unmanned aerial vehicles, temporary deployment areas of the AFU and foreign mercenaries in 153 areas.
Air defence systems shot down four guided aerial bombs and 294 fixed-wing unmanned aerial vehicles.
In total, since the beginning of the special military operation, the enemy has lost:
665 aircraft,
283 helicopters,
78,728 unmanned aerial vehicles,
625 anti-aircraft missile systems,
24,697 tanks and other armoured fighting vehicles,
1,588 MLRS combat vehicles,
28,772 field artillery guns and mortars,
40,095 units of support military vehicles.