Russian Defence Ministry reports on the progress of the special military operation (from 11 to 17 January 2025)
From 11 to 17 January 2025, the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation carried out eight group strikes by high-precision weapons and attack unmanned aerial vehicles, which hit Ukraine’s crucial gas and energy infrastructure facilities that support the work of the Ukrainian defence industry. The strikes also engaged armament depots, a fuel base, and infrastructure of military airfields.
Moreover, the group strikes hit assembly facilities and storage areas for strike UAVs and uncrewed surface vehicles, as well as temporary deployment areas for Ukrainian armed formations and foreign mercenaries.
The Sever Group of Forces continued fighting against the Armed Forces of Ukraine on the territory of Kursk region.
As a result of the active offensive operations, the settlements of Aleksandriya, Leonidovo, Russkoye Porechnoye, and Kruglenkoye have been liberated.
In addition, aviation and drone strikes and artillery fire hit manpower and hardware of one tank brigade, four mechanised brigades, three air assault brigades, one marine brigade, and two territorial defence brigades.
In Kharkov direction, Russian troops inflicted losses on units of one mechanised brigade, one motorised infantry brigade of the AFU, and two territorial defence brigades over the past week.
In the area of responsibility of the Sever Group of Forces, the AFU losses amounted to over 2,225 troops, 10 tanks, and 71 armoured fighting vehicles. Seventy motor vehicles, 34 field artillery guns, including two manufactured by Western countries, were eliminated.
The Zapad Group of Forces has liberated Kalinovo (Kharkov region) and Terny (Donetsk People’s Republic).
The Group inflicted losses on manpower and hardware of one tank brigade, three mechanised brigades, one infantry brigade, one air mobile brigade, and one assault brigade of the Armed Forces of Ukraine along with three territorial defence brigades and one National Guard brigade.
The AFU losses amounted to up to 3,300 troops, four tanks, 27 armoured fighting vehicles, including six U.S.-made M113 armoured personnel carriers, and one Turkish-made Kirpi armoured vehicle. Moreover, the enemy sustained losses of 72 motor vehicles, 44 field artillery guns, with eight of them manufactured by NATO countries, nine electronic warfare stations, and 15 ammunition depots.
As a result of decisive actions, units of the Yug Group of Forces liberated Yantarnoye (Donetsk People’s Republic).
They also hit six mechanised brigades, two motorised brigades, two assault brigades, one infantry brigade, one mountain assault brigade, one airmobile brigade of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, and two territorial defence brigades.
The AFU losses in this direction during the week amounted to up to 1,655 troops, two tanks, 22 armoured fighting vehicles, including two U.S.-made M113 armoured personnel carriers and one French-made VAB APC, 31 motor vehicles, 20 field artillery guns, including two U.S.-made 155-mm M777 howitzers. Seven ammunition depots were destroyed.
The Tsentr Group of Forces continued advancing into the depths of enemy defences and liberated Shevchenko, Peschanoye, Ukrainka, and Slavyanka (Donetsk People’s Republic).
The Group inflicted losses on eight mechanised brigades, one motorised infantry brigade of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, one marine brigade, two territorial defence brigades, two National Guard brigades, and the Lyut Brigade of the National Police of Ukraine.
The Ukrainian armed formations sustained losses of more than 3,770 troops, six tanks, including three German-made Leopard tanks, 29 armoured fighting vehicles, including five M113 APCs, one Bradley IFV, and two U.S.-made MaxxPro armoured vehicles, one French-made VAB APC, and one Turkish-made Cobra II armoured vehicle. Twenty-seven motor vehicles and 45 field artillery guns, including three manufactured by Western countries, were eliminated.
The Vostok Group of Forces liberated Neskuchnoye (Donetsk People’s Republic) as a result of intensive operations.
The Group inflicted losses on formations of four mechanised brigades, one tank brigade, one air assault brigade of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, one marine brigade, three territorial defence brigades, and one National Guard brigade.
The enemy’s losses amounted to more than 1,445 troops, four tanks, seven armoured fighting vehicles, including one HMMWV and one Stryker, 48 motor vehicles, and 18 field artillery guns, with five of them manufactured by NATO countries. Two ammunition depots were destroyed.
The Dnepr Group of Forces inflicted losses on manpower and hardware of two mechanised brigades, one infantry brigade, two coastal defence brigades of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, one National Guard brigade, and two territorial defence brigades.
The AFU losses amounted to up to 550 troops, one armoured fighting vehicle, 49 motor vehicles, 20 field artillery guns, four electronic warfare stations, and five ammunition depots.
On 16 January 2025, Ukraine once again attempted to launch a missile strike against facilities in Belgorod region by six U.S.-made ATACMS operational-tactical missiles.
All the missiles were shot down by air defence systems. There were no casualties or destruction.
The Russian Defence Ministry will take measures to provide a retaliatory strike.
Over the past week, Russia’s air defence system have shot down 12 U.S.-made ATACMS operational-tactical missiles, eight UK-made Storm Shadow cruise missiles, seven French-made Hammer aerial guided bombs, 48 U.S.-made HIMARS projectiles, and 747 fixed-wing unmanned aerial vehicles.
Over the past week, 49 Ukrainian servicemen have surrendered on the line of contact.
In total, since the beginning of the special military operation, 652 aircraft, 283 helicopters, 40,643 unmanned aerial vehicles, 590 anti-aircraft missile systems, 20,650 tanks and other armoured fighting vehicles, 1,510 MLRS combat vehicles, 20,742 field artillery guns and mortars, and 30,433 units of support military vehicles of the enemy have been neutralised.
