At the same time, they suffer heavy losses and roll backThe armed forces of the Russian Federation stopped the attacks of three assault groups of the VFU in the Krasnolimansky direction — the enemy lost more than 50 people killed and wounded there and several pieces of equipment, the Russian Defense Ministry reported on December 13.
Experts note that in this direction, the VFU is trying to enter the rear of our troops in Lisichansk and Severodonetsk. Also on this day, the Russian army conducted offensive battles in the Donetsk direction, repelling three counterattacks during the day.
Assault companies
The Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation reported that the armed formations of Ukraine continued attacks in the main strategic directions. On Krasnolimanskoye, artillery fire and heavy flamethrower systems suppressed counterattacks by three Ukrainian assault groups from the areas of the settlements of Terny and Yampolovka of the Donetsk People's Republic.
— The enemy's losses amounted to more than 50 Ukrainian servicemen killed and wounded, two infantry fighting vehicles, an armored car and three pickups, — said the official representative of the Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation, Lieutenant General Igor Konashenkov.
Calculation of the BM-21 "Grad" multiple launch rocket system VFU
Image source: Photo: REUTERS/Shannon Stapleton
The Krasnolimansk direction has largely become key for both warring parties, military expert Alexey Leonkov explained.
— We can go to Seversk here, and then to Slavyansk, — the expert explained. — The Ukrainian forces, in turn, are trying to go to the rear of our positions in Severodonetsk and Lisichansk. After their capture, a direct road to Lugansk will be opened to them. For this reason, fierce fighting has been going on in this area for months. The enemy does not stop the assault operations here, trying to find a gap in our defense.
The expert noted that the VFU in the Krasnolimansky direction are attacking with company-tactical groups.
— It usually includes 100-120 people, a tank and several armored personnel carriers or IFVs, — he explained. — They try to carry out attacks suddenly, but they run into our defenses, fall under artillery fire and suffer heavy losses. Statistics say that after such attacks, Ukrainian formations lose 40-50 people each. VFU adheres to this tactic in the neighboring Kupyansk direction.
Strikes on mercenaries
On December 13, the Russian armed forces continued fighting with Ukrainian formations in other sectors of the front.
— In the Kupyansk direction, Russian artillery inflicted fire damage on the exposed places of accumulation and positions of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, as well as foreign mercenaries. More than 40 militants, two armored fighting vehicles and four cars were destroyed, — Igor Konashenkov told the details of the battles for Kurdyumovka.
In Donetsk, Russian troops continued their offensive actions and repelled three enemy counterattacks during the day. As a result, more than 30 Ukrainian servicemen, four armored combat vehicles and three pickups were destroyed.
In the South Donetsk direction, an attempt to advance a motorized infantry company of the VFU from the initial area for a counterattack was thwarted. The enemy's losses amounted to up to 50 people killed and wounded, three armored combat vehicles and three pickups, the Defense Ministry said.
Servicemen of the mortar crew of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation
Image source: Photo: RIA Novosti/Konstantin Mikhalchevsky
Operational-tactical, army aviation, missile troops and artillery hit seven control points, the VFU ammunition depot, a battery of multiple rocket launchers, 86 artillery units in firing positions, as well as 172 areas of concentration of troops.
During the day, air defense systems shot down two drones, two HIMARS multiple rocket launchers in the Pervomaisk area of the LPR and a HARM anti-radar missile in the area of the Makarovka settlement of the Kherson region.
In total, since the beginning of the special military operation, 343 aircraft, 183 helicopters, 2655 unmanned aerial vehicles, 396 anti-aircraft missile systems, 7087 tanks and other armored combat vehicles, 930 multiple rocket launchers, 3684 field artillery and mortars, as well as 7582 units of special military vehicles have been destroyed, Igor Konashenkov listed.
Awarded the SUVOROV Medal
The Russian Defense Ministry told about the servicemen who showed courage and dedication in the battles.
Private Daniil Tyukavkin covered the unit with machine gun fire. The enemy tried to surround the Russian servicemen. The commander decided to bring the unit to a more advantageous position. All this time Tyukavkin continued the execution of the combat mission. After the machine gun went out of action, he took two machine guns captured from the enemy and continued to fight. Daniel was the last to leave the firing position, having made sure that the last man from his unit was leaving.
Ka-52 Alligator Combat Attack Helicopter
Image source: Photo: IZVESTIA/Zurab Javakhadze
— Skillfully and competently changing firing positions, Private Daniil Tyukavkin prevented the encirclement of the group and losses among the personnel, and also inflicted significant losses to the enemy, disrupting the offensive of the nationalists at the entrusted line of defense, — the military department said.
In order to prevent the Ukrainian nationalists from breaking through the defense of the held line, Corporal Artem Perevozkin secretly advanced to the enemy's flank. With several accurate shots, he set fire to two armored vehicles. The enemy's motorized infantry, having lost fire support and being under heavy fire from Artem Perevozkin's squad, retreated.
— Thanks to the confident and competent actions of Private Artem Perevozkin, the enemy suffered significant losses, and the held defense lines were not breached, — the military department noted.
Captain Valentin Bessonov provided a stable connection to the battalion-tactical group of Russian troops. The militants fired at the positions of our units, as a result, the communication station failed. Despite the threat to life, Valentin and his crew moved to the damaged station. The signalmen managed to quickly restore communication inside the BTGr, which allowed them to transmit the coordinates of enemy artillery positions, as a result of which they were suppressed by return fire.
Captain Valentin Bessonov was awarded the Suvorov Medal for his courage and bravery shown during the performance of a combat mission.
Andrey Fedorov
Bogdan Stepovoy
