[EngMilRu] Russian Defence Ministry report on the progress of the special military operation (20 September 2023)
The Armed Forces of the Russian Federation continue the special military operation.
In Donetsk direction, the Yug Group of Forces, supported by aviation and artillery, repelled five attacks by assault groups of the 3rd Assault Brigade, the 53rd and 110th Mechanised Brigades of the Ukrainian Armed Forces close to Kleshcheyevka, Veseloye, and Khimik (Donetsk People's Republic).
The enemy's losses were up to 175 Ukrainian troops, one tank, one armoured fighting vehicle, and three pick-up trucks.
In counterbattery warfare, the Russian troops hit one U.S.-made M777 artillery system, one Polish-made Krab self-propelled artillery system, and one 122mm D-30 howitzer.
In Zaporozhye direction, units of the Russian Group of Forces supported by helicopters, artillery, and heavy flamethrower systems repelled three attacks by the AFU 71st Jaeger Brigade close to Verbovoye (Zaporozhye region).
Also, a cluster of manpower and hardware of the 116th Mechanised Brigade of the AFU near the locality of Charivnoye (Zaporozhye region) was hit by fire.
Up to 35 Ukrainian troops, two armoured fighting vehicles, and two motor vehicles were eliminated.
In counterbattery warfare, the Russian troops hit one U.S.-made M109 Paladin self-propelled howitzer, one 152mm Akatsiya self-propelled artillery system, two 122mm D-30 and one 152mm D-20 howitzers.
In Krasny Liman direction, well-coordinated actions of the Tsentr Group of Forces, strikes by Army Aviation and artillery fire repelled two attacks by assault groups of the 63rd and 67th Mechanised Brigades of the Ukrainian Armed Forces near Chervonaya Dibrova (Lugansk People's Republic).
Also, close to Torskoye (Donetsk People's Republic) and the Serebryansky forestry, the Russian troops inflicted fire damage on clusters of manpower and hardware of the 63rd Mechanised Brigade, the 12th Special Forces Brigade, and the 5th Brigade of the Ukrainian National Guard.
Up to 70 Ukrainian servicemen were killed and wounded, two armoured fighting vehicles, two pick-up trucks, and 122mm D-30 howitzers were neutralised.
In South Donetsk direction, the Vostok Group of Forces, in cooperation with aviation and artillery repelled one attack of an assault detachment of the AFU 110th Territorial Defence Brigade in the direction of Priyutnoye (Zaporozhye region).
Air strikes and artillery fire defeated manpower and hardware of the 79th Air Assault and 72nd Mechanised Brigades of the Ukrainian Armed Forces close to Novomikhail'ovka and Vladimirovka (Donetsk People's Republic).
In addition, the activities of a sabotage and reconnaissance group of the Ukrainian Armed Forces' 38th Naval Infantry Brigade were suppressed near the village of Novodonetskoye (Donetsk People's Republic).
The enemy's losses for the day totalled up to 135 Ukrainian servicemen killed and wounded, two pick-up trucks, and one Msta-B howitzer.
In Kupyansk direction, aviation and artillery of the Zapad Group of Forces inflicted fire damage on manpower and hardware of the 14th, 32nd Mechanised, and 25th Air Assault Brigades of the Armed Forces of Ukraine close to Zagoruikovka, Ivanovka (Khar'kov region), Rozovka and Berestovoye (Lugansk People's Republic).
Over 65 Ukrainian troops, two motor vehicles, and one U.S.-made M1097 Avenger anti-aircraft missile system were neutralised.
In counter-battery warfare, the Russian troops hit one M109 Paladin self-propelled howitzer, two U.S.-made M777 artillery systems, and one 152mm D-20 howitzer.
An ammunition depot of the AFU 120th Territorial Defence Brigade has been obliterated close to Gatishche (Kharkov region).
In Kherson direction, four sabotage and reconnaissance groups of the AFU special operations forces close to Kazatskoye (Kherson region) and the islands of Alyoshkinsky and Pereyaslavskyi.
The enemy's losses were over 60 Ukrainian servicemen, one armoured fighting vehicle, and four motor vehicles.
Also, two U.S.-made M777 artillery systems and one 122mm D-30 howitzer were hit during counter-battery warfare.
Operational-Tactical and Army aviation, Missile Troops and Artillery of the Russian Groups of Forces have engaged AFU manpower and hardware in 126 areas during the day.
In addition, the command and observation post of a battalion of the 72nd Mechanised Brigade (AFU) near Ugledar (Donetsk People's Republic) and the temporary deployment area of the 35th Naval Infantry Brigade (AFU) near Petropavlovka (Donetsk People's Republic) were hit.
Fighter jets of the Russian Aerospace Forces intercepted one Su-24m bomber of the Ukrainian Air Force close to Novovladimirovka (Nikolayev region).
A Ukrainian MiG-29 fighter jet has been hit by a drone strike at the Dolgintsevo airfield (Dnepropetrovsk region).
Air defence and electronic warfare systems and small arms fire intercepted four Storm Shadow long-range cruise missiles and five HIMARS and Smerch MLRS projectiles.
Moreover, 42 Ukrainian unmanned aerial vehicles were downed close to Nagornoye, Gorlovka, Mikhailovka (Donetsk People's Republic), Belogorovka, Karamzinovka, Volcheyarovka (Lugansk People's Republic), Novogorovka, Novoye, and Mirnoye (Zaporozhye region), Podstepnoye, and Kazachi Lagery (Kherson region).
In total, 475 airplanes and 249 helicopters, 6,945 unmanned aerial vehicles, 438 air defence missile systems, 12,009 tanks and other armoured fighting vehicles, 1,152 combat vehicles equipped with MLRS, 6,462 field artillery cannons and mortars, as well as 13,262 units of special military equipment have been destroyed during the special military operation.