The Armed Forces of Russia (Armed Forces of the Russian Federation) carried out 37 strikes on military installations on the territory of Ukraine in the week from February 17 to 23. This was announced on February 23 by the Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation.
"In the period from February 17 to 23, 2024, the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation carried out 37 group strikes with precision weapons, including long-range air-based, as well as unmanned aerial vehicles, on objects of the military-industrial complex, military airfield infrastructure, arsenals and fuel bases," the ministry said in a statement.
The Ministry of Defense also reported that the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation hit the locations of units of the Armed Forces of Ukraine (AFU), paramilitary nationalist formations and foreign mercenaries. It is noted that all designated facilities were successfully hit.
In addition, the Western grouping of troops in the Kupyansk direction repelled 25 enemy counterattacks near the settlements of Sinkovka in the Kharkiv region and Terny in the Donetsk People's Republic (DPR). The Ukrainian Armed Forces' manpower and equipment were defeated in the settlements of Chugunovka, Petropavlovsk, Kislovka, Kharkiv region, Yampolovka and Torskoye in the DPR, Stelmakhovka and Chervonaya Dubrova in the Luhansk People's Republic (LPR).
"In the Donetsk direction, units of the Southern Group of Troops liberated the settlement of Pobeda, occupied more advantageous positions and defeated the manpower and equipment of the Armed Forces of Ukraine in the areas of the settlements of Belogorovka, Grigorovka, Krasnoe, Kleshcheyevka, Kurdyumovka, Razdolovka, Novomikhailovka, Nevelskoye and Krasnogorovka of the Donetsk People's Republic," the ministry said.
The department also recalled that in the Avdiivka direction, units of the Center group of troops liberated the city of Avdiivka in the DPR and continued to advance to the west. During the week in this direction, the Armed Forces of Ukraine, according to the Ministry of Defense, lost over 2.9 thousand soldiers, four tanks, 37 armored combat vehicles and many other equipment.
The Defense Ministry added that during the week, aviation and air defense systems shot down a MiG-29 fighter, a Mi-8 helicopter of the Ukrainian Air Force, seven Storm Shadow cruise missiles, a Patriot anti-aircraft guided missile, four S-200 anti-aircraft guided missiles modified to hit ground targets, three HARM anti-radar missiles, six JDAM guided aerial bombs and 42 HIMARS multiple rocket launchers, and 652 unmanned aerial vehicles.
Earlier that day, the Ministry of Defense showed the work of calculations of the shock FPV drones of the Trans-Baikal paratroopers, who destroyed wheeled vehicles with military APU and a drone control point in the area of Chasov Yar.
On February 17, Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu announced that the Russian Armed Forces had taken full control of Avdiivka in the DPR, and the enemy had fled, abandoning weapons and military equipment. Shoigu stressed that the liberation of Avdiivka by the Russian military made it possible to move the front line away from Donetsk and, consequently, significantly secure the city from attacks by the Kiev regime.
Three days later, the deputy head of the Russian Defense Ministry, Colonel General Viktor Goremykin, presented state awards to the military of the Center group, who distinguished themselves during the liberation of Avdiivka from the Armed Forces of Ukraine. Goremykin noted the high fighting spirit of the fighters, their courage, perseverance and professionalism.
The special operation to protect Donbass, which was announced by Russian President Vladimir Putin on February 24, 2022, continues. The decision was made against the background of the aggravation of the situation in the region due to shelling by the Ukrainian military.
Watch more relevant videos and details about the situation in Donbass on the Izvestia TV channel.