By INTEL-DROP  - September 20, 2023

The Russian military has repelled another wave of Ukrainian attacks across the frontline, according to the September 20 briefing of the Russian Ministry of Defense.

In the Donetsk direction, the Russian Yug Group of Forces repelled five attacks by the 3rd Assault Brigade, the 53rd and 110th mechanized brigades of Kyiv forces close to Kleshcheyevka, Veseloye, and Khimik.

The ministry said that up to 175 Ukrainian troops, one tank, one armored fighting vehicle, and three pickup trucks were neutralized. One American-made M777 towed howitzer, one Polish-made Krab self-propelled howitzer, and one D-30 towed howitzer were also destroyed by counter-battery fire.

And in the Zaporizhzhia direction, three attacks by Ukraine’s 71st Jaeger Brigade were repelled by Russian forces close to Verbovoye. A gathering of manpower and equipment of the 116th Mechanised Brigade was also targeted near Charivnoye.

Up to 35 Ukrainian troops, two armored fighting vehicles, and two motor vehicles were eliminated, according to the ministry. One U.S.-made M109 self-propelled howitzer, one Akatsiya self-propelled howitzer, two D-30, and one D-20 towed howitzers were also destroyed.

In the Krasny Liman direction, the Russian Tsentr Group of Forces repelled two attacks by the 63rd and 67th mechanized brigades near Chervonaya Dibrova.

The group also targeted several gatherings of the 63rd Mechanised Brigade, the 12th Special Forces Brigade, and the 5th Brigade of the Ukrainian National Guard close to Torskoye and in the Serebryansky forestry.

Around 70 Ukrainian troops were killed or wounded during the fighting in this direction, the ministry said, adding that two armored fighting vehicles, two pickup trucks, and one D-30 towed howitzers were neutralized.

In the South Donetsk direction, the Russian Vostok Group of Forces repelled an attack by Ukraine’s 110th Territorial Defence Brigade close to Priyutnoye.

The group’s aviation and artillery also targeted gatherings of the 79th Air Assault and 72nd Mechanised Brigades near Novomikhailovka and Vladimirovka. Moreover, a sabotage and reconnaissance group from the 38th Marines Brigade was targeted near Novodonetskoye.

Up to 135 Ukrainian troops were killed or wounded, according to the ministry. Two pickup trucks and one Msta-B towed howitzer were also destroyed.

In the Kupyansk direction, the aviation and artillery of the Zapad Group of Forces targeted gatherings of the 14th, 32nd mechanized, and 25th airborne brigades close to Zagoruikovka, Ivanovka, Rozovka and Berestovoye.

More than 65 Ukrainian troops, two motor vehicles, and one American-made M1097 Avenger air defense system were neutralized in the strikes, the ministry said. One American-made M109 self-propelled howitzer, two American-made M777 towed howitzer and one D-20 towed howitzer were also destroyed by counter-battery fire.

In addition, an ammunition depot of Ukraine’s 120th Territorial Defence Brigade was targeted and destroyed close to Gatishche.

Meanwhile in the Kherson direction, four sabotage and reconnaissance groups of the Ukrianian special operations forces were neutralized close to Kazatskoye as well as near the islands of Alyoshkinsky and Pereyaslavskyi.

Over 60 Ukrainian troops, one armored fighting vehicle and four motor vehicles were neutralized during the fighting in this direction. Two American-made M777 towed howitzers and one D-30 towed howitzer were also hit.

The Russian MoD also provided the following details during its briefing:

Operational-Tactical and Army aviation, Missile Troops and Artillery of the Russian Groups of Forces have engaged AFU manpower and hardware in 126 areas during the day.

In addition, the command and observation post of a battalion of the 72nd Mechanised Brigade (AFU) near Ugledar (Donetsk People’s Republic) and the temporary deployment area of the 35th Marines Brigade (AFU) near Petropavlovka (Donetsk People’s Republic) were hit.

Fighter jets of the Russian Aerospace Forces intercepted one Su-24m bomber of the Ukrainian Air Force close to Novovladimirovka (Nikolayev region).

A Ukrainian MiG-29 fighter jet has been hit by a drone strike at the Dolgintsevo airfield (Dnepropetrovsk region).

Air defense and electronic warfare systems and small arms fire intercepted four Storm Shadow long-range cruise missiles and five HIMARS and Smerch MLRS projectiles.

Moreover, 42 Ukrainian unmanned aerial vehicles were downed close to Nagornoye, Gorlovka, Mikhailovka (Donetsk People’s Republic), Belogorovka, Karamzinovka, Volcheyarovka (Lugansk People’s Republic), Novogorovka, Novoye and Mirnoye (Zaporozhye region), Podstepnoye and Kozachyi Lageru (Kherson region).

In total, 475 airplanes and 249 helicopters, 6,945 unmanned aerial vehicles, 438 air defense missile systems, 12,009 tanks and other armored fighting vehicles, 1,152 combat vehicles equipped with MLRS, 6,462 field artillery cannons and mortars, as well as 13,262 units of special military equipment have been destroyed during the special military operation.

In addition, Russian news sources released videos showing recent strikes with Lancet loitering munitions and FPV suicide drones which destroyed or damaged two Turkish-made Kirpi mine-resistance ambush-protected vehicles, a speedboat and what appears to be a D-30 towed howitzer of Kiev forces.

With a few weeks left before weather conditions begin to deteriorate, Ukraine’s counteroffensive appears to be approaching complete failure. Kyiv forces have been attempting to break through Russian defenses for more than three months with nearly no success.

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