Russian paratroopers equipped with Lancet unmanned aerial vehicles reportedly destroyed two Ukrainian tanks in the vicinity of the village of Kleshcheevka. This information came from the press service of the Russian Ministry of Defense, as reported by RIA Novosti. The announcement notes that soldiers from a separate guard unit of the Russian Air Force in the Far East participated in the operation, describing the unit as part of the South group of forces. In the official briefing, reconnaissance crews within the paratrooper formations located the two tanks and camouflaged self-propelled artillery pieces belonging to Ukrainian forces in the Kleshcheevka area. The ministry emphasized that drone operators achieved direct hits on enemy equipment, signaling a successful immobilization of the specified targets. After concluding the combat mission, Russian troops reportedly withdrew from their positions promptly and moved to pre-arranged safe areas. The report underscores the emphasis on rapid extraction and the prioritization of troop safety following the engagement, a pattern described in several recent tactical updates.
On the morning of December 13, the Russian Defense Ministry announced that Su-25 attack aircraft conducted strikes against a fortified area controlled by the Armed Forces of Ukraine in the Krasnolimansky direction and at locations where enemy manpower was concentrating. According to the ministry, the crew of the fixed-wing attack aircraft delivered their ordnance against these designated targets using unguided S-8 aircraft missiles, aiming to disrupt enemy formations and reduce their operational tempo. The official narrative frames these actions as part of ongoing operations to degrade Ukrainian capabilities in specified sectors and to support allied ground operations on nearby fronts.
Earlier statements from the Russian military department discussed how many paratroopers have been recognized as Heroes of the Russian Federation since the start of the special military operation in Ukraine, reflecting the ongoing emphasis on individual acts of valor within the broader campaign. These mentions appear in routine updates that highlight exemplary performances among servicemen and women who have been wounded, decorated, or honored for their roles in combat missions across various theaters of operation. The emphasis remains on institutional achievements and the broader objective of achieving operational goals through a combination of air, ground, and unmanned capabilities as part of the ongoing conflict dynamics.