Russian Defence Ministry report on the progress of the special military operation - 2024-03-15

▫️From 9 to 15 March 2024, the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation carried out 50 group strikes by high-precision weapons, multiple launch rocket systems, and unmanned aerial vehicles against the airfield infrastructure of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, repair of weapons and military equipment, storage depots for UAVs and uncrewed surface vehicles, arsenals and POL bases. All the assigned targets have been engaged. Moreover, the strikes also hit deployment areas of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, nationalists, and foreign mercenaries. ▫️In Kupyansk direction, units of the Zapad Group of Forces have improved the situation along the front line and inflicted fire damage on manpower and hardware of six mechanised brigades of the Armed Forces of Ukraine close to Berestovoye, Peschanoye (Kharkov region) and Serebryanka (Donetsk People’s Republic). Twenty-two counter-attacks launched by assault groups of the AFU 57th Motorised, 32nd and 47th Mechanised brigades were repelled close to Sinkovka, Pershotravnevoye (Kharkov region) and Terny (Donetsk People’s Republic). The AFU losses amounted to more than 305 Ukrainian troops, three tanks, two armoured fighting vehicles, 21 motor vehicles, one Czech-made Vampire MLRS, and 25 field artillery guns. In addition, from 12 to 15 March 2024, as a result of preventive and coordinated actions of the Russian troops, all attempts by the AFU to break through Belgorod and Kursk regions were thwarted by actions of the Russian Armed Forces during the special military operation. Air strikes and artillery fire neutralised over 550 Ukrainian troops, 16 tanks, 19 armoured fighting vehicles, including 11 Bradley, and 15 motor vehicles. ▫️ In Donetsk direction, units of the Yug Group of Forces liberated Nevelskoye (Donetsk People’s Republic) and seized more advantageous lines. Russian troops hit seven mechanised and five assault brigades of the AFU close to Kurakhovo, Spornoye, Razdolovka, Kleshcheyevka, Kurdyumovka, Krasnogorovka, and Georgiyevka (Donetsk People’s Republic). In addition, four counter-attacks of the AFU 79th Air Assault Brigade and 81st Airmobile Brigade were repelled close to Belogorovka and Novomikhailovka (Donetsk People’s Republic). The AFU losses amounted to more than 1,930 Ukrainian troops, nine tanks, 12 armoured fighting vehicles, 41 motor vehicles, 18 field artillery guns, two Strela-10 anti-aircraft missile launchers, and eight field ammunition depots. ▫️In Avdeyevka direction, the Tsentr Group of Forces’ units continued to advance and occupy more advantageous positions. In cooperation with aviation and artillery, the Russian Armed Forces inflicted fire damage on manpower and hardware of 11 brigades of the Armed Forces of Ukraine near Ocheretino, Novzvelannoye, Novogrodovka, Rozovka, and Kalinovo (Donetsk People’s Republic). Sixty-four counter-attacks launched by the AFU units have been repelled close to Berdychi, Semenovka, Pervomayskoye, Tonenkoye, and Orlovka (Donetsk People’s Republic). Over the past week, the Armed Forces of Ukraine have lost over 2,710 Ukrainian troops killed and wounded, three Abrams tanks, 19 armoured fighting vehicles, 91 motor vehicles, and 18 field artillery guns. ▫️ In South Donetsk direction, the Vostok Group of Forces’ units improved the tactical situation along the front line and defeated the units of the 58th Motorised Infantry Brigade, the 72nd Mechanised Brigade, 127th, 128th Territorial Defence brigades of the AFU close to Vodyanoye, Ugledar, Rovnopol, Urozhaynoye (Donetsk People’s Republic), Chervonoye, and Malinovka (Zaporozhye region). Seven enemy counter-attacks were repelled close to Staromayorskoye, Novodonetskoye, Shevchenko (Donetsk People’s Republic) and Vladimirovka (Zaporozhye region). The AFU losses amounted to more than 980 Ukrainian troops, seven armoured fighting vehicles, 31 motor vehicles, and 11 artillery guns. ▫️ In Kherson direction, the Russian troops took more advantageous positions, inflicted complex fire damage on the formations of the 141st Infantry, 65th, 117th mechanised, 82nd, 128th assault, 35th Marine brigades of the Armed Forces of Ukraine close to Rabotino, Novosyolovka, Orekhov, Kamenskoye, Stepnoye, Pyatikhatki (Zaporozhye region), Berislav and Tyaginka (Kherson region). The AFU losses were more than 270 Ukrainian servicemen, one tank, 23 motor vehicles, and 12 field artillery guns. ▫️ The Groups’ Missile Troops, Artillery, and unmanned aerial vehicles have shot down one HIMARS MLRS launcher, two Patriot anti-aircraft missile launchers, and one S-300 anti-aircraft missile launcher with radar stations during the week. Air defence system and aviation have eliminated over the past week: one MiG-29 fighter jet and two Mi-8 helicopters of the Ukrainian Air Force; one Tochka-U tactical missile; five French-made Hammer aerial bombs; 86 projectiles of the HIMARS, Czech-made Vampire, and Grad MLRS; and 915 unmanned aerial vehicl