[EngMilRu] 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 naval infantry 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 M-113 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 M-113 armoured personnel carriers and one French-made VAB APC, 31 motor vehicles, 20 field artillery guns, including two U.S.-made 155mm M-777 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 naval infantry 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 M-113 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 naval infantry 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.
More from the Russian Ministry of Defense
Russian Defence Ministry reports on repelling AFU attempt to invade Russian territory in Kursk region (17 January 2025)
The Armed Forces of the Russian Federation continue the operation to neutralise an enemy group, which broke into the territory of Kursk region.
?? Russian troops are in offensive in all directions. Despite the transfer of additional reserves, the enemy suffers heavy losses and retreats from the occupied areas.
A total of 63.2% (801 sq km) of the area originally occupied by the enemy (1,268 sq km) has been liberated in the Kursk region.
In two weeks of January, during the offensive operation, the Sever Group of Forces has liberated four settlements: Aleksandriya, Leonidovo, Russkoye Porechnoye, and Kruglenkoye.
Servicemen of the 7th Guards Air Assault Division, the 76th Guards Air Assault Division, the 83rd Separate Guards Air Assault Brigade, the 155th Separate Guards Naval Infantry Brigade of the Pacific Fleet, the 810th Separate Guards Naval Infantry Brigade of the Black Sea Fleet, as well as 1427th Motorised Rifle Regiment distinguished themselves in actions when liberating the settlements.
In addition, a counter-attack launched by the Ukrainian Armed Forces in the direction of Berdin was repelled. The enemy resorted to the counter-attack to stop the Russian offensive in Kursk direction and get out of the blocking area.
The Akhmat units of the 42nd Guards Motorised Rifle Division together with the 106th Air Assault Division of the Airborne Troops inflicted significant losses on the enemy, after which the enemy abandoned further actions in this direction and was driven back to initial positions.
In January in Kursk direction, the Armed Forces of Ukraine sustained losses of more than 5,600 troops and more than 570 units of military hardware, including 40 tanks, 213 infantry fighting vehicles and others, 91 artillery guns and mortars, and more than 210 motor vehicles.
Over 230 troops of the AFU have been neutralised in Kursk direction during the day. One tank, three armoured personnel carriers, to include two U.S.-made Stryker armoured personnel carriers, two armoured fighting vehicles, seven motor vehicles, four artillery guns, and a mortar have been eliminated as well.
Since the beginning of hostilities in Kursk region, the AFU losses amounted to more than 52,450 troops, 304 tanks, 231 infantry fighting vehicles, 173 armoured personnel carriers, 1,562 armoured fighting vehicles, 1,493 motor vehicles, 371 artillery guns, 44 MLRS launchers, including 13 of HIMARS and six of MLRS made by the USA, 16 anti-aircraft missile launchers, eight transport-loading vehicles, 93 EW stations, 13 counter-battery warfare radars, four air defence radars, 30 units of engineering and other materiel, including 13 counterobstacle vehicles, one UR-77 mine clearing vehicle, eight armoured recovery vehicles, and one command post vehicle.
The operation to neutralise the AFU units is in progress.