Russian Defence Ministry report on the progress of the special military operation - 2023-07-26

▫️The AFU continued attempts to conduct offensive actions in Donetsk, Krasny Liman and South Donetsk directions. ▫️In Donetsk direction, as a result of coordinated actions of the defending units in close cooperation with aviation and artillery of the Yug Group of Forces, 4 enemy attacks have been successfully repelled close to Belogorovka, Severnoye, Maryinka and Vodyanoye (Donetsk People’s Republic). ▫️In addition, AFU units have been eliminated close to Bogdanovka, Spornoye and Avdeevka (Donetsk People’s Republic). ▫️2 ammunition depots of 28th and 110th mechanised brigades of the AFU have been destroyed near Dyleevka and Avdeyevka (Donetsk People’s Republic). ▫️The enemy losses were up to 210 Ukrainian servicemen, 7 armoured fighting vehicles, 3 motor vehicles, 2 M777 artillery systems, 3 Polish-manufactured Krab self-propelled artillery systems, D-20 and D-30 guns, and 1 M119 howitzer. ▫️In Krasny Liman direction, units of the 15th Motorised Rifle Brigade of the Tsentr Group of Forces continued offensive operations near Sergeevka (Lugansk People’s Republic). The advance was up to 3 kilometres along the front and 2,700 metres deep into the enemy defence. ▫️As a result of actions by aviation, artillery and heavy flamethrower systems, 4 AFU attacks have been repelled close to Chervonaya Dibrova and Raigorodka (Lugansk People’s Republic), and Serebryansky forestry area. ▫️In addition, AFU manpower and hardware have been hit close to Novovodyanoye (Lugansk People’s Republic), and Torskoye, Yampolovka, and Grigorovka (Donetsk People’s Republic). ▫️The activities of 1 Ukrainian sabotage and reconnaissance group have been suppressed near Terny (Donetsk People’s Republic). ▫️1 ammunition depot of the AFU 66th Mechanised Brigade has been destroyed near Novolyubovka (Lugansk People’s Republic). ▫️The enemy losses were over 190 Ukrainian servicemen, 5 armoured fighting vehicles, 4 pickup trucks, 2 howitzers: D-20 and D-30, 3 Gvozdika self-propelled artillery systems, and 1 AN/TPQ-50 counter-battery radar station. ▫️In South Donetsk direction, as a result of actions by defending units, with reliance on competently installed mine obstacles, Operational-Tactical and Army aviation, and artillery of the Vostok Group of Forces, 1 enemy attack forward Nikolskoye (Zaporozhye region) has been repelled. ▫️AFU manpower and hardware have been hit close to Storozhevoye and Neskuchnoye (Donetsk People’s Republic). ▫️In Zaporozhye direction, 1 enemy attack forward Rabotino has been repelled. 2 tanks, 1 Giatsint-B howitzer, and 1 Gvozdika self-propelled artillery system have been destroyed. ▫️In addition, as a result of combat actions by Operational-Tactical and Army aviation, as well as artillery, AFU units have been hit near Malaya Tokmachka, Yablokovo and Rabotino (Zaporozhye region). ▫️1 AFU sabotage and reconnaissance group has been destroyed near Lugovskoye (Zaporozhye region). ▫️From the morning of 26 July the enemy resumed intensive offensive actions in Orekhovo direction. The enemy has conducted a massive attack with the forces of three battalions, reinforced by tanks. ▫️The courageous and professional actions of units of the 810th Marine Brigade and the 71st Motorised Rifle Regiment of the 42nd Motorised Rifle Division have repelled all AFU attacks. The positions were held. ▫️In the course of the battle, 22 enemy tanks, 10 infantry fighting vehicles, 1 armoured fighting vehicle and more than 100 Ukrainian servicemen have been destroyed. ▫️In Kupyansk direction, units of the 7th Motorised Rifle Regiment of the Zapad Group of Forces, using the results of the shelling, conduct successful offensive operations in Kuzyomovka direction. The troops have taken more advantageous positions. ▫️The enemy losses were up to 135 Ukrainian servicemen, 1 tank, 3 armoured fighting vehicles, 4 motor vehicles, 1 M777 artillery system, Msta-B and D-20 howitzers, 1 Gvozdika self-propelled artillery system, and 1 AN/TPQ-50 counter-battery radar station. ▫️In Kherson direction, the enemy losses were up to 40 Ukrainian servicemen, 5 motor vehicles, and 1 Akatsiya self-propelled artillery system. ▫️1 ammunition depot of the AFU 124th Brigade of the Territorial Defence of Ukraine has been destroyed near Zelenovka (Kherson region). ▫️Operational-Tactical and Army aviation, Missile Troops and Artillery of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation have neutralised 104 AFU artillery units at their firing positions, manpower and hardware in 128 areas. ▫️2 command posts of AFU 21st mechanised and 79th airborne assault brigades have been hit near Ivanovka and Novomikhailovka (Donetsk People’s Republic). ▫️Air defence facilities have intercepted 7 HIMARS multiple-launch rocket system projectiles and 2 Storm Shadow cruise missiles.