More than 30 Ukrainian drones were shot down by air defense systems over the past day, the Russian Defense Ministry said. Three HIMARS multiple rockets were also intercepted.

"Air defense means destroyed 31 Ukrainian unmanned aerial vehicles per day in the areas of the settlements of Tokarivka in the Kharkiv region, Krasnorechenske, Chervonopopivka, Novovodyane, Kremenna, Ploschanka, Voevodivka, Rubizhne, Baraniivka of the Lugansk People's Republic, Zelenyi Hai, Urozhayne, Blagodatne, Volodymyrivka, Yevgenivka, Staromynivka of the Donetsk People's Republic, Ulyanovka, Pologi of the Zaporozhye region, Novaya Zburyivka and Krynki of the Kherson region," he said during the The official representative of the Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation, Lieutenant General Igor Konashenkov, of the briefing.

According to him, the fighter aircraft of the Russian Aerospace Forces during the air battle over Nikanorovka (DPR) shot down the Su-25 aircraft of the Air Force of Ukraine.

In addition, aviation, missile troops and artillery hit 95 artillery units of the Armed Forces of Ukraine in firing positions, manpower and equipment in 107 districts, and also destroyed three radar stations of counter-battery warfare produced by the United States AN / TPQ-37 in the DPR, Kherson and Zaporozhye regions.

Situation in the areas of SVO

The official representative of the Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation also spoke about the situation on the line of combat contact.

In the Kupyansk direction, the losses of the Armed Forces of Ukraine amounted to 80 Ukrainian servicemen, three armored fighting vehicles and a D-20 howitzer.

In the Krasnolimansky direction, up to 95 Ukrainian fighters, two armored fighting vehicles, as well as D-20 and D-30 howitzers were destroyed.

In the Donetsk direction, up to 160 Ukrainian servicemen, three armored fighting vehicles, four vehicles and a D-20 howitzer were destroyed.

In the South Donetsk and Zaporozhye directions, the enemy's losses amounted to more than 30 Ukrainian servicemen, two pickups, as well as a D-30 howitzer.

In the Kherson direction, more than 40 Ukrainian servicemen, three cars, two Acacia self-propelled howitzers, as well as the M777 artillery system produced by the United States were destroyed.



Zaporozhye

A powerful explosion occurred in the city of Zaporozhye controlled by the Kiev regime. This was announced by the chairman of the movement "We are together with Russia", a member of the main council of the regional administration Vladimir Rogov.

"At 13:08 in the regional center, temporarily occupied by the Zelensky regime, a powerful volumetric explosion sounded. As Zaporozhye residents inform me, after the explosion, an air raid alert was announced, "he wrote in his Telegram channel.

On March 19, Rogov reported that the Ukrainian command had turned Zaporizhia "into one of the most militarized cities in the territory occupied by Ukrainian militants." According to him, the city is "teeming with foreign mercenaries."

Warehouse of the Armed Forces of Ukraine in the DPR

Servicemen of Rosgvardia found in the suburbs of Volnovakha of the Donetsk People's Republic an abandoned stronghold of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, the press service of the department reported. There was a warehouse of ammunition, weapons and elements of equipment of the countries - members of the NATO bloc.

"Among those found are anti-tank guided missiles, hand grenade launchers, ammunition for large-caliber machine guns, a large number of F-1 hand grenades and directional anti-personnel mines," the report said.

In addition, rosgvardeytsy carried out mine clearance of approaches to the strongpoint to ensure the safety of residents of nearby households.

Avdiivka

The assault on Avdiivka will be carried out taking into account the experience of Soledar and Artemovsk. This was stated by the adviser to the acting head of the DPR Denis Pushilin Yan Gagin on the air of "Russia 24".

"There is now mainly our artillery working on the enemy's fortified areas themselves. Also, strikes are inflicted on fortified areas near the city. Our troops use the experience gained in the assaults, including Soledar and Artemovsk, to cut off the city from the supply lines in order to then shackle him in the encirclement, "RIA Novosti quoted him as saying.

Soledar's release was completed on the evening of 12 January. According to the latest data, Russian forces control about 70% of Artemovsk.