Russian Defence Ministry reports on the progress of the special military operation (18 January 2025)
This morning, in response to the fire of U.S.-made ATACMS operational-tactical missiles on civilian infrastructure in Belgorod region, the Russian Armed Forces carried out a group high-precision strike against the Ukrainian defence industry facilities, including the Luch design bureau, which is designing and manufacturing Neptune long-range guided missiles and Olkha MLRS rockets. All objectives achieved, targets engaged.
In Kharkov direction, the Sever Group of Forces hit formations of a motorised infantry brigade and a national guard brigades close to Volchansk and Glubokoye (Kharkov region).
The AFU lost up to 30 men, two motor vehicles, and three field artillery guns.
Units of the Zapad Group of Forces took more advantageous lines and positions. Russian units hit manpower and hardware of two airmobile brigades and an air assault regiment of the AFU close to Lozovaya and Zagryzovo (Kharkov region).
The AFU losses amounted to up to 470 troops, a tank, two armoured fighting vehicles, including a U.S.-made M113 armoured personnel carrier, five motor vehicles, and eight field artillery guns, including two manufactured by NATO states. One ammunition depot was wiped out.
The Yug Group of Forces improved the tactical position. Russian troops hit formations of three mechanised brigades, an airmobile brigade, and an assault brigade of the AFU near Seversk, Novodmitrovka, Chasov Yar, Dachnoye, and Konstantinovka of the Donetsk People’s Republic.
The AFU losses amounted to more then 245 troops and four motor vehicles. One ammunition depot was wiped out.
As a result of the successful offensive, the Tsentr Group of Forces units liberated Petropavlovka (Donetsk People’s Republic).
Russian forces engaged manpower and materiel of seven mechanised brigades of the AFU near Petrovka, Dzerzhinsk, Solenoye, Petropavlovka, Peschanoye, Novovasilyevka, and Slavyanka of the Donetsk People’s Republic.
The enemy lost up up to 585 troops, three armoured fighting vehicles, four motor vehicles, and four artillery guns.
The Vostok Group of Forces’ units continued advancing to the depths of the enemy’s defence and liberated Vremevka (Donetsk People’s Republic).
Russian units hit a mechanised brigade and an air assault brigade near Konstantinopol and Velikaya Novoselka of the Donetsk People’s Republic.
The AFU losses amounted to up to 135 troops, two armoured fighting vehicles, three motor vehicles, and five foreign-made field artillery guns. One ammunition depot was wiped out.
The units of the Dnepr Group of Forces have engaged the manpower and hardware of the two marine brigades close to Antonovka and Kazatskoye (Kherson region).
The enemy lost up to 65 troops, eight motor vehicles, a field artillery gun, and a Bukovel-AD electronic warfare station.
Operational-Tactical Aviation, attack drones, Missile Troops and Artillery of the Russian Groups of Forces have engaged the infrastructure of military airfields, the production and assembly plant of unmanned aerial vehicles as well as clusters of enemy manpower and hardware in 156 areas.
Air defence units shot down 83 fixed-wing unmanned aerial vehicles.
In total, since the beginning of the special military operation, 652 aircraft, 283 helicopters, 40,726 unmanned aerial vehicles, 590 anti-aircraft missile systems, 20,658 tanks and other armoured fighting vehicles, 1,510 MLRS combat vehicles, 20,764 field artillery guns and mortars, and 30,459 units of support military vehicles have been neutralised.