Military Situation Update: March 25, 2025, 23:28 UTC
I. Air, Missile, and Drone Activity
Intense Widespread Russian UAV Attacks (Shahed-type): High intensity continues across multiple Oblasts.
Overall Status (approx. 23:25 UTC):
Mykolaiv Oblast: 1 UAV near Pravdino (threat to Korabelnyi district); 4 UAVs past Bereznehuvate towards Novyi Buh.
Kherson Oblast: 4 UAVs in Beryslav district.
Dnipropetrovsk Oblast: 3 UAVs in Kryvyi Rih district; 1 UAV north of Marhanets (N course).
Zaporizhzhia Oblast: 1 new UAV south of Zaporizhzhia city (potential AD work).
Sumy/Kharkiv Oblast (Border): 9 UAVs from Belgorod (Russia) towards Velyka Pysarivka area.
Kharkiv/Poltava Oblast: 1 UAV moving from Poltava to Kharkiv Oblast.
Cherkasy Oblast: 2 UAVs near Smila; 8 UAVs east of Cherkasy; 1 UAV circling north of Cherkasy.
Poltava Oblast: 1 UAV west of Poltava.
Chernihiv Oblast: 6 UAVs near Pryluky (S course).
Previous (approx. 22:51 UTC): UAV also reported on Chernihiv/Kyiv border; Multiple groups moving from Chernihiv & Sumy -> Poltava; Group in Dnipropetrovsk (W course); Multiple groups from Kherson -> Mykolaiv & Dnipropetrovsk; UAV from Poltava -> Cherkasy.
Ongoing/Recent Activity & Impacts:
Kryvyi Rih: Subjected to massive, multi-wave attacks earlier. Ukrainian officials reported significant destruction but no fatalities. Previous UAV threat (22:40 UTC) diverted towards Nikopol (22:44 UTC). Russian sources posted visuals of multiple explosions/fires, claiming numerous 'Geran' hits and weak Ukrainian AD activity. 3 UAVs remain in the district (23:25 UTC).
Zaporizhzhia Oblast: Threat ongoing near the city (23:25 UTC). Anti-drone activity confirmed earlier.
Mykolaiv Oblast: Threat ongoing near Pravdino and Novyi Buh direction (23:25 UTC).
Kherson Oblast: Threat ongoing in Beryslav district (23:25 UTC). 1 new UAV reported near Daryivka towards Kherson/Chornobaivka (22:59 UTC).
UGS Summary (as of 22:00 Local): Reported 764 Russian kamikaze drone attacks for the day.
Ukrainian UAV Activity (Inside Russia):
Belgorod (City): Explosions reported (22:32 UTC). Russian sources claimed air defence activity, alleging one UAV downed.
Russian Tactical Aviation / Guided Bombs (KABs): Activity reported earlier (SE, NE). UGS reported 84 Russian air strikes using 129 KABs across various fronts.
Missile Threats: Missile danger alert issued earlier for Chernihiv Oblast.
Air Defence Activity: Confirmed active over Kryvyi Rih and Zaporizhzhia Oblast earlier. Potential AD activity near Zaporizhzhia city and Mykolaiv (Korabelnyi district) reported (23:25 UTC). Russian sources claim weak AD performance over Kryvyi Rih during recent strikes.
Accidental Russian Munition Drops: ASTRA reports ongoing incidents (35 since start of 2025) of Russian aircraft accidentally dropping ordnance on Russian/occupied territory.
II. Border Situation (Kursk/Belgorod/Sumy)
Popovka (Belgorod Oblast): Ongoing fighting reported earlier (22:00 UTC). Russian source detailed border clash involving RU border guards and alleged UA Special Forces; RU reportedly held position despite casualties, reinforced by MoD units. Artillery fire reported on Popovka where UA forces are present.
Demydovka (Belgorod Oblast): Heavy fighting ongoing earlier. Russian sources claim Ukrainian forces hold some houses but not the village, RU artillery firing on it. Situation described as unchanged since yesterday by one RU source.
Cherkasskoye Porechnoye (Kursk Oblast): Russian report confirms RU control, claimed recaptured approx. two weeks ago. Report details heavy destruction, extensive mining/UXO presence. Context: RU MoD claimed liberation on Mar 23.
Sudzha Area / Pogrebki (Kursk Oblast): Russian sources (Colonelcassad, 23:18 UTC) claim forces of Group "North" are discovering destroyed/abandoned NATO equipment (specifically an M2 Bradley) in Pogrebki after allegedly liberating most of the Sudzha border area.
Krasnoyaruzhsky Direction (Belgorod Oblast): Russian source provides alleged Ukrainian Order of Battle, claiming involvement of multiple brigades and heavy losses inflicted by RU Group "North".
Russian Claims (General):
MoD claimed liberation of Mirnoye (Donetsk) and Malye Shcherbaki (Zaporizhzhia).
MoD claimed routing Ukrainian forces near Kursk border, inflicting >260 casualties in 24 hours.
Claimed capture of Ukrainian soldier (Volodymyr Koval, 129th TerO Bde) near Guyevo (Sudzha area, Kursk Oblast).
TASS (23:03 UTC) cites an alleged eyewitness regarding a Feb 1, 2025, Ukrainian missile strike on an orphanage in Sudzha, claiming >100 people could have been inside and rubble was not cleared (Information dated, potentially related to current Sudzha narrative).
Ukrainian Claims (Kursk Direction - UGS 22:00 Local): Ongoing operations, repelling 28 Russian assaults (3 ongoing). Reports significant RU air (15 strikes/19 KABs) and artillery (208 shellings) attacks on UA positions.
III. Frontline Activity (Based on UGS Report 22:00 Local & Other Sources)
Overall: 183 combat clashes reported by UGS since start of day. High levels of Russian air, drone, and artillery strikes continue.
Kupiansk Direction: 5 Russian assaults repelled (Zahryzove, Petropavlivka). Ukrainian source (Butusov, 23:28 UTC) provided visual confirmation/geolocation of a successful Ukrainian missile strike on March 24 near Kupiansk targeting Russian media personnel ("state propagandists"). Russian sources previously claimed gains near Kamenka/Mala Shapkovka. Video evidence of Lancet destroying UA 2S1 Gvozdika.
Huliaipole Direction: 1 Russian attack near Pryvilne repelled. Airstrikes reported.
Orikhiv Direction (Zaporizhzhia): 9 Russian attempts (near Kaminske, towards Lobkove, Stepove); 6 ongoing. Airstrikes on Mala Tokmachka. Russian MoD claims liberation of Malye Shcherbaki. Russian sources claim advances north of Zherebianky, within Lobkove, and holding most of Stepove. Video evidence shows Ukrainian 128th Mountain Assault Brigade drone operators targeting Russian assault troops in this direction.
Prydniprovsky Direction (Left Bank Kherson): 1 clash reported. Russian airstrikes on Vesele, Oleksandrivka, Dudchany.
IV. Other Significant Military Updates
Casualties: Updated count from the March 24 Russian missile strike on Sumy rises to 106 injured (23 children). No fatalities reported in Kryvyi Rih from recent drone attacks despite major destruction.
SBU Activity: Confirmed detention of an individual in Kryvyi Rih accused of plotting an attack on a TCC under Russian direction.
Equipment/Loss Claims: Russian MoD claims strikes on 148 UA concentration areas, airfields, UAV CPs. Russian source claims Lancet strike destroyed a Leopard tank (Pokrovsk). Ukrainian sources (414th UAV Bde, 128th Mountain Assault Bde) show drone strikes destroying Russian equipment/troops.
Ukrainian Logistics/Support: Volunteer efforts continue, providing tires, medical supplies, thermal imager repair, Starlink/vehicle support to various units.
Internal Russian Matters: General Shamarin (Head of Communications Directorate), accused of bribery, reportedly wants to join the Special Military Operation (TASS, 22:52 UTC).
