Vyacheslav Abroskin / facebook.com

"Losses among Russian military personnel have been confirmed. Seven killed in action (KIA) and 12 wounded in action (WIA) during fights near Mayorsk and Maryinka were brought to Donetsk on December 25," the intelligence department said.

In addition, the Defense Ministry informs that leader of the Donetsk People's Republic (DPR) terrorist organization Alexander Zakharchenko and de facto secretary of the so-called DPR Security Council Alexander Khodakovsky reportedly left for Moscow on December 26 to receive further instructions from their Kremlin supervisors.