Military Situation Update: March 26, 2025, 13:58 UTC
I. Air, Missile, and Drone Activity
Ballistic Missile Threat (NEW):
Threat declared from the North (13:46 UTC). Target reported heading towards Sumy Oblast (13:46 UTC).
Threat declared from the South (13:56 UTC).
Russian Drone Development: Russian engineers claim development of "Sifa" FPV drone designed for anti-UAV (incl. "Baba Yaga") and anti-helicopter roles, featuring autonomous targeting and EW resistance (RU Source: Basurin). Speed claimed: 225 km/h, flight time 5 min, payload 0.7 kg.
Ukrainian Drone Strike Claims (SBU): SBU claims destruction of 1700+ tanks, 3000+ AFVs, 250 AD systems, 550 EW systems using FPV drones since Feb 2022. Claimed operational depth up to 120km+.
Ukrainian Drone Operations (Kharkiv): 57th Motorized Brigade reported drone strikes on 5 RU personnel, 2 cars, 1 robotic system, 3 AFVs in the Kharkiv direction.
II. Border Situation (Kursk/Belgorod/Sumy/Kharkiv)
Kursk/Sumy Border (RU MoD Claims):
RU MoD repeats claims of neutralizing AFU formations in Kursk Oblast, targeting multiple Ukrainian brigades (mechanized, air assault, marine, presidential, territorial defense) near Gogolevka, Gornal, Guyevo, Oleshnya.
Aviation/Artillery strikes claimed on AFU positions in numerous settlements across the Sumy border region (including Basovka, Belovody, Loknya, Miropolye, Yunakovka).
Claimed >230 AFU casualties, destruction of tank, APC, AFV, vehicles, EW station, UAV CP, ammo depot in past 24h (Mar 26). Cumulative claims (>70,190 troops, 402 tanks, etc.) remain highly likely inflated.
Belgorod Border (RU Claims):
Renewed Ukrainian attempt to breach near Popovka (Krasnoyaruzhsky district) allegedly occurred in the morning (Mar 26), using an engineering vehicle for mine clearing. Claimed destruction of the vehicle by Akhmat forces (Apty Alaudinov via ASTRA).
Heavy fighting ongoing in Demidovka (RU claim UA holding village but suffering heavy losses, RU making gains). Village contested for 8 days.
Alleged Ukrainian attempt to breach in Grayvoronsky district claimed repelled after 24h fight (RU source: Sladkov via ASTRA). Fire reported in Kozinka (Grayvoronsky district) previously.
RU sources report ongoing fighting and UA probing attacks despite dense fog in Belgorod Oblast (Arkhangel Spetsnaza).
Captured Documents (RU Claim): Russian sources claim capture of Ukrainian personnel documents, maps, and foreign vehicle license plates (LT, PL) from UA positions, potentially in the border area (Dnevnik Desantnika).
III. Frontline Activity
South Donetsk Direction (RU Claims - Voin DV):
Continued Russian advances claimed in Shakhtarsk and Vremivka sectors.
Shakhtarsk: Claimed 1.5 km advance near Razliv, capturing a forest belt, height, and 2 strongpoints. UA assaults near Razliv and Vesele claimed repelled (>17 UA casualties).
Vremivka: Claimed 500m advance near Novosilka, capturing two forest belts and a height. UA assault near Volne Pole claimed repelled.
Artillery/strikes claimed on UA positions/rotations near Bohatyr, Oleksiivka, Fedorivka, Chervone, Vesele. Claimed destruction of 2 2S1 SPGs and a mortar.
Konstantinovka/Toretsk Direction (RU Claims - RVvoenkor):
Claimed full capture and clearing of Panteleimonivka (SW of Toretsk) by 68th Tank Regiment after several days of fighting.
Claimed entry into and capture of a significant part of Aleksandropol (Rozivka) by 68th Tank Regiment; ongoing clearing operations against remaining UA positions. Ukrainian sources reportedly acknowledged RU presence on northern outskirts.
Pokrovsk Direction: Russian POW captured (Roman Kuznetsov, 4th Mot. Rifle Bde) reportedly states joining for money, mentions heavy losses and poor reconnaissance (Butusov Plus).
IV. Diplomatic, Political, and Economic
EU Sanctions Stance: EU reiterates stance (via Reuters, FT) that full Russian withdrawal is a key condition for sanctions removal, potentially complicating ceasefire talks linked to sanctions relief. EU rejects Russian demand for ceasefire in exchange for sanctions relief (Operativnyi ZSU).
NATO Coordination: NATO reportedly taking control of arms supply coordination via NSATU structure (RU source: Poddubny, citing Polish MoD).
Finland Troop Deployment: Finnish President Stubb clarifies no current plan for Finnish troops in Ukraine for ceasefire monitoring, but keeps option open for future internationally mandated peace operations (RBC-Ukraine).
US-Russia ZNPP Control: Russia denies considering joint US-Russia control over Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant (Novak via TASS).
Russian Energy Infrastructure: Russia assessing damage to Sudzha Gas Metering Station (GIS); restoration time depends on future energy agreements with Europe (Novak via TASS). Restoration of Kropotkinskaya Oil Pumping Station (NPS) ongoing, timeline unclear (Novak via TASS).
Ukraine Energy Needs: Ukraine anticipates record gas imports from Europe (up to 5bn cubic meters by Apr 2026) due to depleted reserves, partly attributed to Russian strikes on production facilities (Bloomberg via Rybar). Rybar notes this increases costs for EU supporters and suggests further RU strikes on gas infrastructure are possible if "energy truce" fails.
Moldova/Gagauzia: Head of Gagauzia (pro-Russian politician Eugenia Gutul) detained in Chisinau (Mar 25), drawing condemnation from Russia and Moldovan opposition. Situation reflects internal Moldovan political tensions regarding EU integration vs. pro-Russian sentiment (WarGonzo).
Russian Internal:
Founder of major agricultural holding "Rusagro" Vadim Moshkovich detained, searches in offices (Colonelcassad, TASS). Accused of large-scale fraud.
LDPR leader Slutsky calls for more state support (financial, psychological) for families of soldiers involved in the "SVO" (Starshe Eddy).
V. Information Domain & Other
Energy Strike Moratorium: Ukrainian General Staff denies Russian MoD claims of Ukraine violating the energy strike moratorium on Mar 25-26 with UAV strikes in Kursk, Bryansk, or Crimea (GenStaff, RBC-Ukraine, Operativnyi ZSU).
War Crimes: Ukraine issues notice of suspicion to RU soldier for alleged killing of two civilians in Katyuzhanka (Kyiv Oblast) in Feb 2022 (Prosecutor General's Office).
Casualties/POWs:
Russian court sentences 23 alleged Azov members to 13-23 years (Colonelcassad).
RU recruitment drive for BARS-22 "Tigr" unit (155th Naval Infantry) highlights financial incentives (WarGonzo).
Reported death of Russian Paralympic athlete Alexander Rabotnitsky (diagnosed intellectual disability) after signing military contract, potentially due to financial hardship/debts (Mobilizatsiya).
Ukrainian Logistics/Support:
Fundraising appeal for two Land Rover Defenders for National Guard drone unit "Condor" (RBC-Ukraine).
Fundraising concert/auction planned (Mar 28) for off-road vehicles for 3rd Assault Brigade (Shtirlits).
Field medical care observed with portable X-ray equipment near Kharkiv front (OTU Kharkiv).
Russian Propaganda Narratives:
RU MoD/sources continue emphasizing high claimed UA losses in Kursk direction.
Highlighting alleged mistreatment/negligence in UA forces leading to soldier death (Colonelcassad).
Russian SVR alleges EU planning centralized anti-Russian propaganda campaign to justify defense spending (Poddubny).
