Russian Defence Ministry on progress of special military operation as of 26 December 2025
In response to the terrorist attacks launched by Ukraine against civilian facilities in the Russian Federation from 20 to 26 December 2025, the Russian Armed Forces carried out one massive and five group strikes including by Kinzhal hypersonic air-launched ballistic missiles. They hit enterprises of the Ukrainian defence industry, energy facilities providing them with work, transport, airfield, port and depot infrastructure used for the benefit of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, assembly facilities, storage areas of long-range strike unmanned aerial vehicles, fuel and military equipment depots as well as temporary deployment areas of Ukrainian armed formations and foreign mercenaries.
During the week, units of the Sever Group of Forces took over control Vysokoye in Sumy region.
Strikes were delivered at manpower and hardware of two mechanised brigades, one jaeger brigade, one assault regiment of the AFU, two territorial defence brigades, one national guard brigade, and two border detachments of the Ukrainian border service.
In Kharkov direction, the settlements of Vilcha and Prilipka (Kharkov region) have been taken under control as a result of active actions. Three mechanised and two motorised infantry brigades of the AFU were hit.
In total, the AFU lost more than 1,230 troops, one tank, nine armoured fighting vehicles, 77 motor vehicles, five field artillery guns, two electronic warfare stations, and 21 ammunition and materiel depots in the Sever Group’s area of responsibility.
Units of the Zapad Group of Forces took more advantageous lines and positions. Russian troops have launched strikes on seven mechanised brigades, two assault brigades, one air assault brigade, one airmobile brigade of the AFU, one territorial defence brigade, and two national guard brigades.
The enemy losses in this direction amounted to more than 1,515 troops, three tanks, 21 armoured fighting vehicles, 123 motor vehicles, and 10 field artillery guns. Three AFU ammunition depots were destroyed.
As a result of resolute actions, units of the Yug Group of Forces liberated Svyato-Pokrovskoye in the Donetsk People’s Republic.
Russian troops inflicted losses on manpower and hardware of three mechanised brigades, one motorised infantry brigade, one airmobile brigade, one mountain assault brigade, one engineer brigade of the AFU, one marine brigade, one territorial defence brigade, and one national guard brigade.
In total, more than 1,635 troops, two tanks, 24 armoured fighting vehicles, 90 motor vehicles, and 15 field artillery guns have been neutralised in the Yug Group’s area of responsibility. Seven electronic warfare stations and 25 ammunition and materiel depots have been neutralised.
During the week, units of the Tsentr Group of Forces liberated Svetloye in the Donetsk People’s Republic as a result of active actions. Russian troops continue to destroy an encircled AFU group in Dimitrov, as well as to mop up of scattered enemy formations close to Rodinskoye and Grishino iin the Donetsk People’s Republic.
Strikes were delivered at formations of four mechanised brigades, two jaeger brigades, two air assault brigades, one airmobile brigade, two airborne regiments, two unmanned systems regiments of the AFU, two marine brigades, two territorial defence brigades, four national guard brigades, and one Azov special military operation brigade.
In this direction, the enemy lost more than 3,395 troops, four tanks, including one U.S.-made Abrams tank, and one German-made Leopard tank, 29 armoured fighting vehicles, 53 motor vehicles, and 18 field artillery guns.
The Vostok Group’s units continued to advance to the depths of the enemy’s defence and, as a result of decisive actions, liberated the settlements of Andreyevka (Dnepropetrovsk region), as well as Zarechnoye and Kosovtsevo (Zaporozhye region).
The Group’s units neutralised formations of six mechanised, assault brigades, four assault regiments of the AFU, one marine brigade, one territorial defence brigade, and one national guard brigade were hit.
Over the past week, the Vostok Group of Forces has lost more than 1,770 troops, one tank, 19 armoured fighting vehicles, 72 motor vehicles, 12 field artillery guns, two electronic warfare stations, and four ammunition and materiel depots.
Units of the Dnepr Group of Forces inflicted losses on units of one mechanised brigade, one assault brigade, one mountain assault brigade, two coastal defence brigades, two assault regiments of the AFU, and one territorial defence brigade.
Up to 365 troops, three tanks, four armoured fighting vehicles, 73 motor vehicles, seven field artillery guns, 12 electronic warfare stations, 27 ammunition, materiel, and fuel depots have been neutralised.
Air defence systems shot down seven Storm Shadow UK-made air-to-air missiles, 21 guided aerial bombs, eight HIMARS MLRS projectiles, one Neptune long-range missile, four unmanned aerial vehicles, and 1,350 fixed-wing unmanned aerial vehicles.
In total, since the beginning of the special military operation, the enemy has lost:
669 aircraft,
283 helicopters,
105,217 unmanned aerial vehicles,
640 anti-aircraft missile systems,
26,728 tanks and other armoured fighting vehicles,
1,634 MLRS combat vehicles,
32,185 field artillery guns and mortars,
50,080 support military vehicles.