Military Situation Update: March 26, 2025, 10:58 UTC
I. Overall Assessment
High-Intensity Russian Offensives: Concentrated along Pokrovsk, Chasiv Yar, and Orikhiv (Zaporizhzhia) axes, utilizing manpower, drones, Guided Aerial Bombs (KABs), and artillery. Significant activity also noted along the Kursk/Belgorod border and in the South Donetsk direction.
Conflicting Russian Statements on Energy Strikes:
Kremlin Spokesperson Peskov claimed (Mar 26) a continued moratorium on striking Ukrainian energy facilities.
Russian MoD later accused (Mar 26) Ukraine of striking Russian energy infrastructure (Crimea, Bryansk, Kursk), alleging Kyiv aims to disrupt potential RU-US agreements. This follows recent large-scale RU drone attacks (Mar 25/26) on non-energy targets in Ukraine and a reported strike in Kramatorsk (Mar 26).
Ukrainian Active Defense: Focus on countering ground assaults, drone warfare (offensive/defensive), EW, and counter-battery fire. Efforts to supply frontline units ongoing.
Reported Russian Advances: Incremental gains claimed by RU sources, particularly near the border (Kazachya Loknya, potentially near Huyevo/Psel River) and in the South Donetsk direction (near Razliv, Volne Pole).
II. Air, Missile, and Drone Activity
Recent Russian Strikes:
Overnight (Mar 25/26): Large-scale drone attack (117 assets, mostly Shahed); Ukraine reported 56 intercepts. Impacts on non-energy infrastructure in Kryvyi Rih, Okhtyrka, Cherkasy Oblast.
Kramatorsk (Mar 26): Drone strike damaged a multi-story building; no casualties initially reported (RBC-Ukraine).
Russian MoD Claims (Mar 26):
Accused Ukraine of striking Russian energy targets: Glevbovskoye gas storage (Crimea, 2 UAVs claimed intercepted); power facilities in Bryansk and Kursk Oblasts (claiming >4000 consumers lost power in Khomutovsky district, Kursk). Framed as Kyiv undermining RU-US talks.
Persistent Russian Activity: High tempo of air/artillery/drone strikes across frontlines. KAB use confirmed (Sumy, Kharkiv Oblasts - UA OTU Kharkiv report).
Ukrainian Drone/EW Activity:
Offensive: Continued strikes on RU logistics/personnel reported (e.g., 65th Mech Brigade, 414th "Birds of Magyar"). Woman injured by RU drone in Kherson city (ASTRA, Mar 26).
Defensive: 28th Mech Brigade claimed downing 3 RU recon UAVs (Zala, Supercam) (Sternenko, Mar 26). OTU "Kharkiv" claimed 44 RU UAVs downed/damaged in 24h. Mobile fire groups of Kherson Brigade (AFU South) reported downing 5 Shaheds overnight (Mar 25/26).
Development/Supply: Zaporizhzhia OVA confirmed delivery of 330+ drones, EW systems to 4 brigades. RU sources report potential new multi-role UA naval drone (MBEK/"Katran"?), possibly UK-linked (Poddubny).
Older Reports (Mar 23-24):
Massive drone attack reported on Kyiv and multiple other regions (Mar 24).
Significant casualties reported in Sumy from an attack, including children (Zelenskyy, Mar 24).
High combat intensity reported across fronts (UA General Staff, Mar 23). Pokrovsk direction highlighted as most intense (50 RU attack attempts claimed). Extremely high numbers of RU airstrikes (59), KABs (74), drone attacks (1041), and shellings (4792) reported in 24h period (UA General Staff, Mar 23).
III. Border Situation (Kursk/Belgorod/Sumy/Kharkiv)
Overall: Intense positional fighting, heavy artillery/drone exchanges, claimed cross-border incursions/repulsions.
Kursk Oblast / Sumy Oblast Border:
RU MoD claims capture of Kazachya Loknya (near Sudzha) by 155th Naval Infantry & 150th Motor Rifle Reg. (Sever Group) (Mar 26).
RU sources claim advances near Huyevo (Sumy border) and possible Psel River crossing by 177th Naval Infantry Reg. (Dva Mayora, Mar 26).
Belgorod Oblast (RU Claims/Reports):
Intense fighting near Demidovka; unspecified "results achieved" claimed (Arkhangel Spetsnaza, Mar 26).
Multiple UA border breach attempts claimed repelled near Krasnoyaruzhsky district (Mar 26). One involved an IMR vehicle claimed destroyed before reaching fortifications (Alex Parker, Dva Mayora, Kotsnews). Another towards Popovka involved 4 vehicles (2 IMR, 2 BMP), all claimed destroyed by mines/FPV drones (Arkhangel Spetsnaza, Mar 26).
Death of RU Channel One journalist Prokofieva near Demidovka confirmed; operator Volkov seriously injured.
Kharkiv Sector (UA OTU Report - Mar 26, 09:00):
Situation complex. 4 RU ground assaults repelled near Vovchansk, Tykhe, towards Kamyanka (past 24h).
Reports of intense RU assault on Sudzha, targeting supply routes (Yunakivka-Sudzha road under fire control), potential encirclement risk (~10,000 UA troops claimed at risk) (Mar 23). Use of fiber-optic drones reported.
Multiple bridges near Sudzha claimed destroyed by RU forces (Mar 23).
Claimed destruction of UA convoy near Sudzha (Mar 23).
Claimed destruction of UA command post (95th Air Assault Brigade) in Sumy Oblast (Mar 23).
IV. Frontline Activity
Overall: High intensity. Russian focus remains Pokrovsk, Chasiv Yar, Orikhiv.
Pokrovsk Direction: Highest intensity persists. RU forces maintain pressure. UA SSO (144th Center) claimed capture of 9 RU soldiers via drone (Mar 25/26). Older reports indicated extremely high combat intensity (Mar 23).
South Donetsk Direction (RU Claims - Mar 26):
RU sources claim increased activity after Kostyantynivka capture (near Vuhledar). Claim pressure on Razliv, control over forest belt SE of Razliv, arty strikes on UA positions in Razliv and Bogatyr.
Claim RU advance from Privolnoye towards Volne Pole, forcing UA withdrawal. Claimed FPV strike destroyed UA truck moving towards the front from Zaporizhzhia area.
RU MoD reports use of 2S4 Tyulpan heavy mortars by 36th CAA (Vostok Group) in this direction, targeting fortifications/buildings.
Orikhiv Direction (Zaporizhzhia): Continued RU attempts to advance. Zaporizhzhia OVA confirms drone/EW deliveries to UA brigades.
Kherson Direction (Left Bank): Primarily artillery/drone exchanges. Woman injured by RU drone in Kherson city (Mar 26).
Lyman Direction: RU forces reportedly attempted to advance near Novolyubovka (Mar 23). UA claimed repelling 11 attacks (Mar 23). UA 60th Mech Brigade drone operators active (Mar 26).
Other Older Reports (Mar 23-24):
Kupyansk: RU attacks near Zahryzove, Petropavlivka, Bohuslavka (Mar 23). RU claim liberation of Dvurechnaya (Mar 23).
Siversk: RU attacks near Bilohorivka, Ivano-Darivka, Verkhnokamyanske repelled (Mar 23).
Kramatorsk: RU attacks near Orikhovo-Vasylivka, Chasiv Yar repelled (Mar 23).
Toretsk: High number of RU attacks reported (17), claimed repelled (Mar 23).
Novopavlivske: RU attacks near Kostyantynopil, Rozlyv (Mar 23). RU claim advances near Novopavlovskoe/Bogatyrskoe (Mar 23).
Huliaipole: RU attacks near Novopole, Novosilka repelled (Mar 23).
V. Other Significant Updates
Personnel/Casualties/POWs:
UA SSO claimed capture of 9 RU soldiers near Pokrovsk (Mar 25/26).
Zelenskyy mentions Azov/Mariupol defenders still in RU captivity (Mar 26).
RU journalist Prokofieva confirmed killed near Demidovka (Belgorod); operator Volkov seriously injured. Funeral announced for previously killed RU journalist Fedorchak. SK RF opens terror case into Prokofieva's death.
RU court sentences 23 alleged Azov members.
Video released of RU soldier "Silver" describing injury near Avdiivka (WarGonzo, Mar 26).
Internal Ukrainian Issues:
Zelenskyy addresses National Guard on anniversary, highlights role, equipment, drone usage, POW issue.
Reports on April pension/tariff changes.
Ministry of Defence reports contracts worth nearly 130 bln UAH signed with 12 manufacturers in 2025, mentions "Weapon of Victory" long-term contracting program (DeepState, Mar 26).
Russian Internal/Military:
An-12 transport plane accident (landing gear failure) at Novy Urengoy airport; 1 hospitalized (Mar 26).
Mishustin reports to Duma on economy, veteran support (including for Kursk ops), digital migrant profiles, anti-fraud platform. States Putin in constant contact regarding support for troops. Claims real incomes rose 8.4% (record).
Peskov briefing (Mar 26): Claims energy strike moratorium active; intensive/constructive US contacts; notes Kyiv's "inability to negotiate"; confirms Cuban President invited for May 9.
Reports of reduced contract signing bonus in Rostov Oblast (Mobilization RU).
Arrest reported in Krasnodar for online criticism of FSB/"SVO" (ASTRA).
Lukoil reportedly suffered hacker attack, critical infrastructure unaffected (Roskomnadzor via TASS, Mar 26).
Diplomatic/Support/Geopolitical:
RU MoD/Sources accuse Kyiv of undermining RU-US talks via energy strikes (Mar 26). UA sources dismiss MoD claims as provocation (Mar 26).
Peskov confirms ongoing RU-US contacts (Mar 26).
Lavrov claims RU discussing Nord Stream resumption with US (Tsaplienko, Mar 26).
Head of UA MoD speaks on details of negotiations with US (ceasefire at sea/air, energy, POWs, child return, monitoring) (Operatyvno ZSU, Mar 26).
Cuban President invited to Moscow for May 9 (TASS, Mar 26).
Moldova: Detention of Gagauzia head Yevgenia Gutsul reported (Rybarn Mar 26); RU MFA spokesperson Zakharova links it to upcoming elections and pressure on pro-RU figures (TASS, Mar 26). Gagauz parliament demands release, threatens protests, calls for international investigation (TASS, Mar 26).
Houthi claims of attacking US warships (incl. USS Harry Truman) and targets near Tel Aviv (Colonelcassad, Mar 26).
US reported deploying B-2 bombers to Diego Garcia (Operatyvno ZSU, Mar 26).
Information Domain:
Contradictory RU narratives on energy strikes (Peskov vs. MoD).
RU MoD/milbloggers emphasize alleged continued UA attacks on RU energy infrastructure, framing it as violation/sabotage of potential agreements.
RU MoD officially claims Kazachya Loknya capture. RU sources claim further border area advances.
RU sources detail repelled UA border breach attempts in Belgorod (Krasnoyaruzhsky, Popovka), highlighting use of IMR vehicles.
RU sources continue highlighting journalist casualties in border areas.
Zelenskyy's NGU speech emphasizes their role, POW issue.
Reports highlight new UA naval drone capabilities (Katran).
Discussion/claims regarding Zaluzhnyi's alleged remarks on NATO Article 5 and incidents in Romania/Poland (RVvoenkor, Mar 26).
Continued commentary on alleged RU sabotage attempt using gas pipeline near Sudzha (Mar 23).
Reports of RU suppressing dissent (Krasnodar arrest, Yekaterinburg protest against Sudzha pipe exhibition) (ASTRA, Mar 26).
