Russian Defense Claims: Ukrainian Losses and Strikes in Donetsk and Kupyansk Regions

Over the last day, Ukrainian units on the South Donetsk axis reportedly sustained losses exceeding 140 personnel, according to a 2014 report from the Russian Ministry of Defense disseminated via its telegram channels. The document frames the casualty figure as part of a broader operation conducted by the Vostok group of troops, which it says targeted and defeated manpower and equipment belonging to two Ukrainian brigades in the vicinity of the Novomikhailovka settlement. Specifically, the ministry identifies the 72nd mechanized brigade and the 79th air assault brigade as the formations said to have been located in the affected area. The report underscores that enemy losses included more than 140 military personnel, two armored fighting vehicles, and four other vehicles, with accompanying notes about the disabling of a Gvozdika self-propelled artillery unit. It adds that Russian forces operated with the support of army aviation and artillery during these actions. The release also claims that the Iskander operational-tactical missile system crew, part of the Western group of forces, struck the Ukrainian command center in the Kupyansk direction on January 15, noting that the facility was well camouflaged. In a separate line, the briefing references previous statements from Russian military sources about ongoing preparations and plans related to attacks on Donetsk’s Marinka area. [citation attributed to the Russian Ministry of Defense oversight and press materials]