[EngMilRu] Russian Defence Ministry report on the progress of the special military operation (9–16 September 2023)
In the period of 9–16 September 2023, the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation carried out 11 group strikes with long-range air- and sea-based precision weapons, as well as unmanned aerial vehicles, against port infrastructure facilities, production and storage sites for unmanned boats, POL, ammunition, Western weaponry and locations where AFU personnel were stationed.
As a result of the strikes, logistical support for the Ukrainian groups of troops operating in the Donetsk and Zaporozhye directions, supplies of Western-made weapons were disrupted, and a large arsenal of technical ammunition of the AFU was destroyed.
On 11 September 2023, the Russian Aerospace Forces launched a strike on the Dolgintsevo airfield near Krivoy Rog (Dnepropetrovsk region).
The strike destroyed two MiG-29 fighters and three Su-25 ground-attack aircraft of the Ukrainian Air Force, according to revised data.
In Donetsk direction, the enemy did not abandon plans to capture Artyomovsk (Donetsk People's Republic) and continued to conduct assault operations by groups of the 28th, 93rd Mechanised, 80th Air Assault and 3rd Assault Brigades, unsuccessfully trying to dislodge Russian troops from Kleshcheevka and Andreevka (Donetsk People's Republic).
Over the past week in this direction, units of the Yug Group of Forces repelled 34 attacks launched by AFU units, as a result of which the enemy lost more than 1,700 servicemen killed and wounded, 16 tanks and other armoured fighting vehicles, 34 motor vehicles, and 12 field artillery pieces.
In Zaporozhye direction, Russian troops repelled 18 attacks launched by the Ukrainian Armed Forces close to Rabotino and Verbovoye (Zaporozhye region).
As a result of significant manpower losses, the Ukrainian command was forced to begin withdrawing the 82nd Air Assault Brigade to the rear area in order to recover combat capability.
The 71st Jaeger Brigade of the AFU from the strategic reserve, along with combined assault groups of the 47th, 65th Mechanised, and 46th Airmobile Brigades of the AFU, are now involved in this operation to hold locations.
? The enemy suffered losses of about 740 Ukrainian personnel, 20 tanks and armoured fighting vehicles, and 20 motor vehicles throughout the battles.
In addition, 38 enemy field artillery guns were eliminated as part of counter-battery warfare.
In South Donetsk direction, Russian troops repelled eight enemy attacks with concerted action during the week, continuing to defeat clusters of AFU manpower and hardware.
During interrogations, Ukrainian servicemen who voluntarily surrendered complain about the psychological condition and extremely low morale of the 36th and 38th Naval infantry Brigades of the AFU Marines due to considerable losses in manpower.
Over the past period, the enemy in this direction has lost over 1,100 servicemen killed and wounded, 15 armoured fighting vehicles, 22 motor vehicles, and seven field artillery pieces.
In Kupyansk direction, as a result of active operations, the units of the Zapad Group of Forces improved their tactical position in their areas of responsibility.
Five counterattacks launched by the enemy's 30th Mechanised and 25th Airborne Brigades have been repelled. AFU units suffered severe damage as a result of the effective deployment of army aviation and artillery.
Enemy losses amounted to up to 400 troops, five armoured fighting vehicles, 17 motor vehicles, 17 field artillery pieces, and one multiple rocket launcher.
Seven field ammunition depots of AFU units were also destroyed.
In Krasny Liman direction, the AFU made unsuccessful attempts to regain lost positions near Torskoye (Donetsk People's Republic) and Serebryansky forestry.
The Tsentr Group of Forces, air strikes, artillery fire, and heavy flame-throwing systems managed to successfully repel 13 enemy attacks. The losses of the AFU were more than 400 servicemen, 18 armoured fighting vehicles, 12 motor vehicles, and ten guns.
In Kherson direction, the main efforts were concentrated on preventing the enemy sabotage and reconnaissance groups from landing on the islands and the left bank of the Dnepr River, as well as conducting counter-battery warfare.
In this direction, the AFU lost up to 360 servicemen, one tank, two armoured fighting vehicles, 26 motor vehicles, as well as 12 field artillery pieces.
A Ukrainian Mi-8 helicopter was intercepted by Russian fighter jets on 13 September 2023 near Krasny Liman (Donetsk People's Republic).
Black Sea Fleet naval aircraft and ships have located and destroyed 12 unmanned semi-submersible boats and three fast boats that were transporting landing groups of the AFU special operations forces in the Black Sea.
Air defence systems intercepted 19 HIMARS projectiles and shot down 270 Ukrainian unmanned aerial vehicles.
In total, 472 airplanes and 249 helicopters, 6,810 unmanned aerial vehicles, 437 air defence missile systems, 11,881 tanks and other armoured fighting vehicles, 1,150 combat vehicles equipped with MLRS, 6,403 field artillery cannons and mortars, as well as 13,035 units of special military equipment have been destroyed during the special military operation.