Military Situation Update: Ukraine - March 30, 2025, 06:26 UTC

I. Overall Situation & Combat Intensity

• Combat Intensity: High. 223 combat engagements reported across the front over the past 24 hours (Ukrainian General Staff - UGS, Mar 30, 05:00 UTC).
• Russian Strikes (Past 24h - UGS): 1 missile strike, 91 aviation strikes (using 153 KABs), deployment of 2,745 kamikaze drones, and over 6,000 shelling attacks (184 from MLRS).
• Primary Russian Focus: The Pokrovsk Direction continues to see the highest intensity, with 93 Russian offensive actions repelled by Ukrainian forces (UGS, Mar 30 morning).
• Other Active Fronts (Attacks Past 24h - UGS): Lyman (23), Toretsk (19), Novopavlivsk (15), Kramatorsk (13), Huliaipole (9), Kupyansk (6), Kharkiv (4), Siversk (3), Orikhiv (2), Prydniprovsky (2).
• Southern Front Activity (Past 24h - SDF South): ~260 Russian shelling incidents (~1120 rounds), 340 kamikaze drone strikes, >230 UAV munition drops, 8 KAB strikes, ~44 NAR strikes reported.
• Russian Offensive Assessment: Independent analysis (ISW, Mar 30) notes recent intensified Russian offensive operations on several axes but judges they have not achieved tactically significant successes.
• Ukrainian Actions (Past 24h - UGS): Ukrainian aviation, rocket troops, and artillery targeted 5 Russian personnel/equipment concentration areas and 1 command post.
• Northern Border: No signs of Russian offensive group formation detected in the Volyn and Polissia directions (UGS).
• Civilian Impact (Major Attacks): Significant casualties reported in Kharkiv (2 KIA, 30 WIA incl. 5 children after overnight drone attack) and Kryvyi Rih (9 WIA after ballistic missile strike).

II. Air, Missile, Drone & Naval Activity

• Overnight Attack Summary (Mar 29 20:00 - Mar 30 09:00 UTC - UA Air Force - UPDATED):
  • Launch Details: Russia launched 1 Ballistic Missile (from Rostov Oblast) and 111 UAVs (Shahed and imitator types) from Millerovo, Kursk, Bryansk, Primorsko-Akhtarsk (Russia), and Chauda (Crimea).
  • Air Defense Results: 65 Shahed/other type UAVs confirmed destroyed across North, South, East, and Central Ukraine. 35 imitator drones were locationally lost (reportedly without causing negative consequences). (Note: Previous report listed 65 imitators lost, this clarifies 35 lost out of a total 111 launches including Shaheds and imitators).
  • Impacted Oblasts: Kharkiv, Sumy, Odesa, Donetsk.
• Threat Status (Updates as of 06:26 UTC):
  • NEW RU Tactical Aviation: Active on the northeastern direction; threat of air-launched weapons for frontline oblasts (UA Air Force, 06:10 UTC).
  • NEW RU UAVs: Detected over Sumy and Kharkiv Oblasts; potential Air Defense activity ongoing (UA Air Force, 06:17 UTC).
  • Ballistic Missile Threat: Concluded (UA Air Force, 05:01 UTC).
  • KABs: Persistent threat, especially along the front. 153 KABs used across Ukraine by Russia in the last day (UGS).
  • Kamikaze Drones: High level of activity. 2,745 deployed across Ukraine by Russia in the last day (UGS).
  • Naval: 2 Russian Kalibr carriers active in the Black Sea (potential salvo: 8 missiles); none in Azov Sea (UA Navy).
• Recent Strikes & Interceptions:
  • Kharkiv (Mar 29/30 Attacks - UPDATED): Mass Shahed/missile attack caused significant damage. UGS confirmed hit on Military Hospital; military personnel among casualties (ASTRA/UGS). Casualties (Syniehubov/ASTRA, Mar 30): 2 civilians KIA (70yo F, 67yo M), 30 civilians WIA (incl. 5 children aged 5-17), 1 civilian with acute stress reaction across multiple impact sites (private house, market area, road, garages). Extensive damage reported to homes, commercial properties, market, vehicles, garages, hangars, SТО in Kharkiv city and Chuhuiv. (Previous report cited 2 KIA, 23 WIA).
  • Kryvyi Rih (Dnipropetrovsk Oblast): Struck by Russian ballistic missile targeting a residential area. 9 civilians WIA, 3 hospitalized (SDF South, Mar 30).
  • Nikopol (Dnipropetrovsk Oblast): Struck by Grad MLRS overnight Mar 29/30. Damage to enterprise and educational facility. No casualties reported (Lysak/Vilkul, Mar 30).
  • Kharkiv Oblast (Other - Past 24h - Syniehubov): Damage reported from shelling/strikes in Tsyrkuny, Kupyansk (homes burned), Slatyne (KAB strike, house damaged, 12yo child stress reaction), Borova (house destroyed, man 75yo WIA), Solonytsivka (Shahed debris damaged house).
  • Ukrainian Air Defense (Previous / Ongoing): Downed 2 enemy UAVs over Dnipropetrovsk Oblast overnight Mar 29/30 (PvK Skhid). Total 111 Russian operational-tactical UAVs neutralized in the past day (UGS, Mar 30 morning).
  • Russian Claims (UA UAV Interceptions - Overnight Mar 29-30): Claimed destruction of 6 Ukrainian UAVs (3 Belgorod, 2 Bryansk, 1 Saratov Oblast) (RU MoD).
• Russian Claims / Information Operations:
  • Claim (Dnevnik Desantnika, Mar 30): Allegation via "Mykolaiv underground coordinator" that Ukrainian forces hide HIMARS launchers at energy infrastructure facilities in Odesa Oblast and launch attacks from there, implying these sites are legitimate targets. (Potential justification for strikes on energy infrastructure).

III. Border Operations (Kursk/Sumy/Belgorod)

• Ukrainian Actions (Kursk Zone): Defense Forces stopped 31 Russian attacks in the past day (UGS). Operations on Russian territory continue.
• Russian Activity (Kursk Zone): Conducted 18 air strikes (23 KABs) and 265 shelling attacks against Ukrainian positions/settlements near the border (UGS).
• NEW Popovka Area (Belgorod Oblast - RU CLAIM): RU 34th Brigade claims engaging UA forces near Popovka outskirts, destroying supporting UA mortars/artillery. Claims RU drones support assault troops by hitting UA mortar positions, and RU recon directs air strikes (RVvoenkor, Mar 30).
• Russian Claims (Kursk):
  • Maintain control of MAPP Sudzha checkpoint.
  • Claim Ukrainian forces suffered dozens of equipment losses NW of Sudzha (TASS, Mar 30).
  • Commander Alaudinov alleges discovery of evidence indicating torture and killing of civilians by Ukrainian forces in the Sudzha area (TASS, Mar 30 / Zona SVO, Mar 30). (Serious allegation, requires verification, high likelihood of information warfare).
• Kharkiv/Sumy Border: UGS reports repelling 4 RU attacks near Vovchansk and towards Kamyanka (Kharkiv).

IV. Frontline Developments by Direction (UGS Morning Report, Mar 30 & Other Sources)

• Kharkiv: 4 RU attacks stopped (Vovchansk, Kamyanka area) (UGS).
• Kupyansk: 6 RU assaults repelled (Pishchane, Petropavlivka, Zagryzove area) (UGS).
  • RU CLAIM (RVvoenkor/TASS, Mar 30): Claim destruction of a US-supplied M777 howitzer by FPV drone near Shiykivka.
• Lyman: 23 RU attacks repelled (near Nadiia, Yampilivka, Kolodiazi, Torske; towards Nove, Olhivka, Novomykhailivka) (UGS). Terny situation remains critical.
• Siversk: 3 RU attacks repelled (near Ivano-Darivka, Pereizne) (UGS).
  • NEW Failed RU Assault: Ukrainian sources report repelling a desperate Russian assault using light vehicles (quads, buggies, motorcycles, cars) with minimal armor support. OTU "Luhansk" claims 109 Russian personnel KIA/WIA in this specific engagement (Butusov Plus, Mar 30).
• Kramatorsk (Chasiv Yar): 13 engagements (near Mayske, Oleksandro-Shultyne, Predtechyne, Bila Hora, Chasiv Yar, Stupochky, Kurdiumivka) (UGS). RU sources claim repelling a UA attack near Chasiv Yar.
• Toretsk: 19 RU attacks repelled (near Krymske, Toretsk; towards Dyliivka) (UGS). RU previously claimed capture of Oleksandropil and Panteleimonivka.
• Pokrovsk: HIGHEST INTENSITY. 93 RU offensive actions stopped (multiple settlements including Novotoretske, Panteleimonivka, Oleksandropil, Udachne, Uspenivka, Novooleksandrivka, towards Kotlyarivka) (UGS).
  • RU CLAIM (RVvoenkor, Mar 30): RU forces ("Center" Group) claim breaking into Novooleksandrivka after pushing UA from Uspenivka, currently storming the settlement. (Significant claimed advance, unverified).
• Novopavlivsk: 15 RU attacks stopped (near Kostyantynopil, Skudne; towards Rozlyv) (UGS).
• Huliaipole: 9 RU attacks repelled (near Pryvilne, Novosilka; towards Novopil) (UGS / SDF South). RU airstrikes reported on Huliaipole, Novopil, Zelene Pole (SDF South).
• Orikhiv (Zaporizhzhia): 2 RU attacks repelled (near Kam'yanske, Lobkove) (UGS / SDF South). RU sources (RVvoenkor, Mar 30) claim UA soldiers surrendered near Luhove.
• Prydniprovsky (Left Bank Kherson): 2 unsuccessful RU assaults towards Sadove and Prydniprovske (UGS / SDF South).
  • NEW RU Claims (Drone Strikes): Russian sources claim overnight drone strikes destroyed 1 UA mortar, 1 UAV launch point with crew (2 personnel), and 1 vehicle in the Kherson direction (Colonelcassad/Dnepro_Rub, Mar 30).

V. Reported Losses & Casualties

• Russian Losses (UGS Claim, Past 24h):
  • Personnel: +1510 (Total ~914,000)
  • Tanks: +14
  • AFVs: +20
  • Artillery Systems: +56
  • MLRS: +2
  • UAV OTR: +111
  • Vehicles & Fuel Tanks: +130
• Civilian Casualties (Recent Major Attacks - UPDATED):
  • Kharkiv (Attacks Mar 29/30): 2 KIA (70yo F, 67yo M), 30 WIA (incl. 5 children aged 5-17), 1 stress reaction reported across multiple city impact sites. Military hospital confirmed hit, military personnel among casualties. Damage extensive. (Syniehubov/ASTRA/UGS, Mar 30).
  • Kharkiv Oblast (Other, Mar 29): 1 child (12yo) stress reaction in Slatyne (KAB strike); 1 man (75yo) WIA in Borova (shelling). (Syniehubov, Mar 30).
  • Kryvyi Rih (Ballistic Strike, Mar 29/30): 9 civilians WIA, 3 hospitalized. (SDF South, Mar 30).
  • Dnipro (Attack Mar 28/29 - Previous Update): 4 civilians KIA, 28 WIA. (Lysak/Dnipropetrovsk ODA, Mar 30).
  • Nikopol (Attack Mar 29/30): No civilian casualties reported. (Lysak/Vilkul, Mar 30).