Russian Defence Ministry report on the progress of the special military operation - 2023-06-21

◽️ The Ukrainian Armed Forces have continued their attempts to conduct offensive operations in South Donetsk, Zaporozhye, and Donetsk directions during the previous 24 hours. ◽️ In the area of Vremenka salient, Operational-Tactical Aviation and Army Aviation launched an attack against AFU units near Novodonetskoye, Storozhevoye (Donetsk People’s Republic), Levadnoye (Zaporozhye region). ▫️ As a result of the strikes, a tank, an infantry fighting vehicle, and three armoured fighting vehicles were annihilated. ◽️ In Zaporozhye direction, two attacks by Ukrainian 65th mechanised brigade reinforced by tanks in the areas of Novodanilovka and Yablokovo (Zaporozhye region) were repelled by decisive and competent actions of Vostok Group of Forces, air strikes and artillery fire during the day. ▫️ In addition, enemy reserve columns advancing towards Lobkovoye and Kamenskoye (Zaporozhye region) as well as a manpower and equipment cluster near Belogorye (Zaporozhye region) were engaged by gunfire. ◽️ Three sabotage and reconnaissance groups were also eliminated close to Dorozhniyanka, Gulyai Pole, and Mirnoye (Zaporozhye region). ▫️ Total enemy losses in South Donetsk and Zaporozhye directions overnight were up to 200 Ukrainian servicemen, eight tanks, six infantry fighting vehicles, 13 armoured fighting vehicles, three motor vehicles, two D-20 howitzers, two Msta-B howitzers, as well as one Gvozdika self-propelled howitzer, and one Grad MLRS fighting vehicle. ▫️ In Donetsk direction, the Yug Group of Forces has successfully repelled ten enemy attacks close to Veseloye, Georgiyevka, Pervomayskoye, Krasnogorovka, Vodyanoye, and Marinka (Donetsk People’s Republic) during the past 24 hours. ▫️ Up to 400 Ukrainian troops, a tank, two armoured fighting vehicles, and eight motor vehicles were neutralised during combat. ▫️ In Kupyansk direction, aviation and artillery of the Zapad Group of Forces inflicted a fire damage on the units of the Armed Forces of Ukraine close to Berestovoye, Kislovka (Kharkov region), Stelmakhovka (Lugansk People’s Republic). 💥 In addition, actions of three sabotage and reconnaissance groups of the Armed Forces of Ukraine were thwarted near Sinkovka, Kotlyarovka (Kharkov region) and Novoselovskoye (Lugansk People’s Republic). ◽️ The enemy suffered over 40 Ukrainian troops, an armoured fighting vehicle, and two pick-up trucks in this direction during the day. A serviceman of the Armed Forces of Ukraine surrendered. ◽️ In Krasny Liman direction, Russian aviation, artillery, and heavy flamethrower systems of the Tsentr Group of Forces hit units of the Armed Forces of Ukraine close to Ploshchanka, Chervonopopovka, Chervonaya Dibrova (Lugansk People’s Republic), Yampolovka, and Grigorovka (Donetsk People’s Republic). ▫️ Also during the day, actions of three Ukrainian sabotage and reconnaissance groups were foiled close to Chervonaya Dibrova (Lugansk People’s Republic) and in the Serebryansky forestry. ▫️ Up to 135 Ukrainian troops, an infantry fighting vehicle, two armoured fighting vehicles, four pick-up trucks, a D-30 howitzer, and three Gvozdika self-propelled artillery units have been eliminated in this direction during the day. Eight servicemen of the Armed Forces of Ukraine surrendered. ▫️ In Kherson direction, over 60 Ukrainian troops, seven motor vehicles, one Akatsiya self-propelled system, two Msta-B howitzers, and one M777 artillery system have been neutralised over the past 24 hours. 💥 Operational-Tactical and Army aviation, Missile Troops and Artillery of the Russian Group of Forces have engaged 117 AFU artillery units at their fire positions, manpower, and military hardware in 129 areas during the day. ▫️ Also, ammunition depots of the 109th Territorial Defence Brigade, 44th Artillery and the 60th Mechanised brigades of the Ukrainian Armed Forces have been destroyed near Novgorodskoye (Donetsk People’s Republic), Novopavlovka (Zaporozhye region), and Morohovets (Kharkov region). ▫️ Moreover, a command post of the 128th Mountain Assault Brigade of the Ukrainian Armed Forces was destroyed close to Zapasnoye (Zaporozhye region). ▫️ Air defence forces have intercepted seven HIMARS and Uragan MLRS projectiles during the day. ▫️ Moreover, 12 Ukrainian unmanned aerial vehicles were shot down close to Lyubimovka, Zaporozhskoye, Perezhnoye (Zaporozhye region), Ploshchanka, Kremennaya (Lugansk People’s Republic), Volodino, and Blagoveshchenka (Donetsk People’s Republic). 📊 In total, 444 airplanes and 240 helicopters, 4,725 unmanned aerial vehicles, 426 air defence missile systems, 10,256 tanks and other armoured fighting vehicles, 1,127 combat vehicles equipped with MLRS, 5,187 field artillery cannons and mortars, as well as 11,098 units of special military equipment have been destroyed during the special military operation.