Russian troops liberate 11 communities in Ukraine operation over week — top brass

Military operation in UkraineRussian troops liberate 11 communities in Ukraine operation over week — top brass Russian troops delivered one massive and nine combined strikes by precision-guided weapons and unmanned aerial vehicles on Ukrainian military-industrial facilities, logistics centers and cruise missile launch sites over the week© Alexander Polegenko/TASSMOSCOW, August 21. /TASS/. Russian troops liberated 11 communities in the Kharkov and Zaporozhye Regions and the Donetsk People’s Republic over the week of August 15-21, including one community over the past 24 hours in the special military operation in Ukraine, Russia’s Defense Ministry reported. "Last week, Battlegroup North units took control of the settlement of Kudiyevka in the Kharkov Region through active operations. Over the past week, Battlegroup South units liberated the settlements of Pershomaryevka, Orekhovatka and Nikolaypolye in the Donetsk People’s Republic through active offensive operations. During the week, Battlegroup Center units liberated the settlements of Andreyevskaya Obshchina, Krasnopodolye, Vodyanskoye and Matyashevo in the Donetsk People’s Republic through decisive operations," the ministry said in a statement. "Last week, Battlegroup East units continued advancing deep into the enemy’s defenses and liberated the settlements of Rybalskoye and Novosoloshino and yesterday, on August 20, they liberated the settlement of Zelyonoye in the Zaporozhye Region through decisive operations," it said. Russian troops deliver 10 precision strikes on Ukrainian military sites over week Russian troops delivered one massive and nine combined strikes by precision-guided weapons and unmanned aerial vehicles on Ukrainian military-industrial facilities, logistics centers and cruise missile launch sites over the week, the ministry reported. "On August 15-21, 2026, the Russian Armed Forces delivered one massive and nine combined strikes by precision-guided weapons and long-range unmanned aerial vehicles, hitting enterprises of Ukraine’s military-industrial sector, logistics centers, fuel and energy and transport infrastructure facilities used by the Ukrainian army, workshops producing ground robotic platforms, unmanned aerial vehicles, uncrewed boats and their components, sites for preparing and launching Flamingo long-range cruise missiles, ammunition, fuel and materiel depots, and also temporary deployment areas of Ukrainian armed formations and foreign mercenaries," the ministry said. Russian forces strike two Ukrainian patrol boats, 12 ships with military cargo over week Russian forces struck two patrol boats, 12 sea vessels and infrastructure facilities of Ukraine’s ports involved in the Ukrainian army’s supplies over the week, the ministry reported. "In addition, the strikes targeted infrastructure facilities of Ukraine’s ports used for unloading and storing military cargo, and also fuel and lubricants intended for the needs of the Ukrainian army. Throughout the week, two patrol boats of the Ukrainian Navy, and also 12 sea vessels involved in the Ukrainian army’s supplies, among them 10 dry cargo ships and two tankers were hit," the ministry said. Russia’s Battlegroup North inflicts 1,550 casualties on Ukrainian army in week Russia’s Battlegroup North inflicted roughly 1,550 casualties on Ukrainian troops and destroyed 11 enemy armored combat vehicles in its areas of responsibility over the week, the ministry reported. During the past week, Battlegroup North units "inflicted losses on manpower and equipment of six mechanized brigades, two motorized infantry brigades, two airmobile brigades, a missile/artillery brigade, two assault regiments of the Ukrainian army, two territorial defense brigades, a National Guard brigade and a border guard detachment of Ukraine’s Border Guard Service," the ministry said. The Ukrainian army lost an estimated 1,550 personnel, 11 armored combat vehicles, 69 motor vehicles, three artillery guns and nine electronic warfare and counterbattery radar stations in those frontline areas over the week, it specified. Russia’s Battlegroup West inflicts over 1,490 casualties on Ukrainian army in week Russia’s Battlegroup West inflicted more than 1,490 casualties on Ukrainian troops and destroyed an enemy tank and 16 armored combat vehicles in its area of responsibility over the week, the ministry reported. "Over the week, Battlegroup West units gained better lines and positions and inflicted losses on formations of five mechanized brigades, an airmobile brigade, an assault brigade, a mountain assault brigade, an assault regiment of the Ukrainian army, a presidential brigade, two marine infantry brigades, four territorial defense brigades and a border guard detachment of Ukraine’s Border Guard Service," the ministry said. Overall, the Ukrainian army lost more than 1,490 personnel, a tank, 16 armored combat vehicles, among them six NATO-produced armored vehicles, 106 motor vehicles, a Grad multiple rocket launcher, 15 field artillery guns and nine electronic warfare stations in the responsibility area of Russia’s Battlegroup West over the week, it specified. Russia’s Battlegroup South inflicts over 1,660 casualties on Ukrainian army in week Russia’s Battlegroup South inflicted more than 1,660 casualties on Ukrainian troops and destroyed 31 enemy armored combat vehicles in its area of responsibility over the week, the ministry reported. Over the past week, Battlegroup South units "inflicted losses on manpower and equipment of four mechanized brigades, two airmobile brigades, two mountain assault brigades, an assault regiment of the Ukrainian army and a territorial defense brigade," the ministry said. Overall, the Ukrainian army lost more than 1,660 personnel, 31 armored combat vehicles, including 17 Western-made armored vehicles, 171 motor vehicles and 22 field artillery guns in the responsibility area of Russia’s Battlegroup South over the week, it specified. Russia’s Battlegroup Center inflicts over 2,550 casualties on Ukrainian army in week Russia’s Battlegroup Center inflicted more than 2,550 casualties on Ukrainian troops and destroyed 24 enemy armored combat vehicles in its area of responsibility over the week, the ministry reported. Over the past week, Battlegroup Center units "inflicted losses on formations of three mechanized brigades, a jaeger brigade, an assault brigade, three assault regiments of the Ukrainian army, two marine infantry brigades and four National Guard brigades," the ministry said. The Ukrainian army lost more than 2,550 personnel, 24 armored combat vehicles and 55 motor vehicles in that frontline area over the week, it specified. In addition, Russian forces destroyed a Czech-made Vampire multiple rocket launcher, two Grad multiple rocket launchers, six field artillery guns and eight electronic warfare stations of the Ukrainian army over the week, it said. Russia’s Battlegroup East inflicts over 2,340 casualties on Ukrainian army in week Russia’s Battlegroup East inflicted more than 2,340 casualties on Ukrainian troops and destroyed two enemy tanks and 15 armored combat vehicles in its area of responsibility over the week, the ministry reported. During the week, Battlegroup East units "inflicted losses on manpower and equipment of two assault brigades, three air assault brigades, three assault regiments of the Ukrainian army and a marine infantry brigade," the ministry said. The Ukrainian army lost more than 2,340 personnel, two tanks, 15 armored combat vehicles, 54 motor vehicles, four field artillery guns and seven electronic warfare stations in that frontline area over the week, it specified. Russia’s Battlegroup Dnepr eliminates over 260 Ukrainian troops in week Russia’s Battlegroup Dnepr eliminated more than 260 Ukrainian troops and destroyed an enemy armored combat vehicle in its area of responsibility over the week, the ministry reported. "Battlegroup Dnepr units inflicted losses on manpower and equipment of three mechanized brigades, a mountain assault brigade, an assault regiment of the Ukrainian army and a marine infantry brigade," the ministry said. "Over the week, more than 260 [Ukrainian] military personnel, an armored combat vehicle, 130 motor vehicles, two field artillery guns, two uncrewed boats and 13 electronic warfare and counterbattery radar stations were destroyed," it said. Russia’s Aerospace Forces shoot down Ukrainian MiG-29 fighter jet over week Russia’s Aerospace Forces shot down a Ukrainian MiG-29 fighter jet over the week, the ministry reported. "The Russian Aerospace Forces shot down a Ukrainian Air Force MiG-29 aircraft," the ministry said. Russian air defenses intercept 8,477 Ukrainian UAVs, 26 cruise missiles in week Russian air defense forces intercepted and destroyed 8,477 Ukrainian unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) and 26 Flamingo cruise missiles over the past week, the ministry reported. "Air defense capabilities shot down 70 guided aerial bombs, 17 rockets of the US-made HIMARS and Czech-made Vampire multiple launch rocket systems, 26 Flamingo long-range cruise missiles and 8,477 fixed-wing unmanned aerial vehicles," the ministry said. Russia’s Black Sea Fleet destroys two Ukrainian naval drones over week Russia’s Black Sea Fleet destroyed two Ukrainian naval drones in Black Sea waters over the week, the ministry reported. "The Black Sea Fleet’s forces destroyed two uncrewed surface vessels of the Ukrainian Navy in Black Sea waters," the ministry said. Tally of Ukrainian army’s losses Overall, the Russian Armed Forces have destroyed 674 Ukrainian combat aircraft, 284 helicopters, 215,648 unmanned aerial vehicles, 669 surface-to-air missile systems, 30,672 tanks and other armored combat vehicles, 1,774 multiple rocket launchers, 36,224 field artillery guns and mortars and 69,823 special military motor vehicles since the start of the special military operation, the ministry reported. 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