Military Situation Update: Ukraine - March 30, 2025, 10:56 UTC
I. Key Developments (Since Mar 30, 09:56 UTC)
Major Russian Claim (Territorial - Pokrovsk Direction): The Russian Ministry of Defence (MoD) and multiple associated sources claim the capture and "liberation" of the settlement Zaporizhzhia (Pokrovsk Raion, Donetsk Oblast, approx. 7km from Dnipropetrovsk Oblast border).
Russian sources (TASS, Poddubny, Kotsnews) assert this capture enables an intensified push towards Bohdanivka, Troitske, and Orekhovo, aiming to reach the Dnipropetrovsk Oblast administrative border.
Video footage purportedly showing artillery/drone strikes during the capture operation has been released by Russian sources (RVvoenkor).
(Claim requires independent verification and assessment of tactical/strategic impact.)
Major Russian Claim (Strike Casualties): The Russian MoD claims a missile strike eliminated up to 170 personnel comprised of Ukrainian Security Service (SBU), Special Operations Forces (SOF), and foreign mercenaries located at a temporary deployment point.
Pokrovsk Direction: Remains the locus of highest combat intensity (UGS reported 93 Russian attacks repelled in past 24h). DeepStateUA map update indicates Russian advances near Oleksandropil. Russian sources (Rybar) maintain assessment of gradual Russian advance towards Dnipropetrovsk border on the Novopavlivsk axis, claiming advances southeast from the claimed capture of Zaporizhzhia village and securing heights west of Solene.
Lyman Direction: DeepStateUA map update indicates Russian advances near Novoho.
Kramatorsk/Toretsk Directions: Russian MoD claims improved tactical situation for its "Yug" Group forces operating near Chasiv Yar, Stupochki, Oleksiyevo-Druzhkivka, Seversk, Konstantinovka, etc.
Ground Combat Updates (Zaporizhzhia Oblast):
Orikhiv Direction: DeepStateUA map update indicates Russian advances near Preobrazhenka.
Ground Combat Updates (Kursk Border Area):
Russian sources (Kotsnews, Colonelcassad) report ongoing fighting within the settlement of Huyevo (Kursk Oblast, RU), claiming RU forces entered from the east after clearing surrounding positions. Civilians reportedly remain.
Russian sources state objective is to clear Huyevo, followed by Hornal and Oleshnia, before potentially advancing into Sumy Oblast.
Ukrainian General Staff (UGS) reported repelling 31 Russian assaults in the Kursk direction over the past 24 hours.
Air & Missile Threat Activity:
Ukrainian Air Force reported renewed Russian tactical aviation activity on the northeastern direction (10:24 UTC), warning of air-launched weapons threat for frontline oblasts.
Air raid alerts ended across Zaporizhzhia Oblast (Zaporizhzhia OVA, 10:34 UTC). General air threat subsided (UA Air Force, 10:34 UTC).
Persistent threat from Russian Guided Aerial Bombs (KABs) noted earlier towards border areas of Donetsk, Zaporizhzhia, and Dnipropetrovsk Oblasts. (UGS reported 153 KABs used across front in past 24h).
Cross-Border Strikes & Actions:
Russian Claim (Bryansk Oblast): Russian regional governor and milbloggers claim a Ukrainian FPV drone attacked an electrical transformer substation in Podyvotye, Sevsky District, causing power disruption. This is framed by RU sources as a violation of alleged cessation of energy infrastructure attacks. (Requires verification.)
Confirmed Ukrainian Strike (Kursk Oblast): ASTRA confirms a Ukrainian KAB strike on March 26 hit a school building used by Russian military personnel in Kondratovka, Belovsky District (approx. 5km from border), resulting in 1 Russian soldier KIA, 1 WIA.
Confirmed Partisan Action (Kherson Oblast): Ukrainian Main Directorate of Intelligence (GUR) confirmed resistance forces destroyed a Russian military truck equipped with an Electronic Warfare (EW) complex (suspected "Lorandit") during the night of March 29. Video/photos released.
Following overnight Shahed strikes, damage reported to the Military Medical Clinical Center (Northern Region). No casualties within the hospital confirmed, but building requires urgent repairs; appeals for building materials issued (Tsaplienko).
Civilian casualties from the broader overnight attack on Kharkiv city stand at 2 KIA, ~30 WIA (reported previously).
Russian MoD Daily Briefing Highlights (Claims):
Confirms claim of Zaporizhzhia village (Donetsk) capture.
Confirms claim of strike killing up to 170 SBU/SOF/Mercenaries.
Claims improved positions/advances for Zapad, Yug, Tsentr, Vostok groups.
Claims inflicting significant personnel/equipment losses on numerous specified Ukrainian brigades across multiple axes.
Claims hits on airfield infrastructure, ammo depots, UAV assembly/storage sites.
Claims downing 78 Ukrainian UAVs and 2 JDAM bombs.
II. Overall Situation Assessment (Based on UGS Morning Report & Recent Updates)
Combat Intensity: Remains HIGH. UGS reported 223 combat engagements across the front line in the 24 hours preceding Mar 30, 05:00 UTC.
Russian Offensive Focus: The Pokrovsk Direction continues to experience the highest concentration of Russian offensive actions. Russian forces maintain pressure along multiple axes, particularly in the East and towards the Dnipropetrovsk border area from Donetsk Oblast south. Activity also noted on Lyman and Orikhiv axes per map updates.
Russian Strike Tempo: Remains high, characterized by extensive use of KABs (153 reported by UGS in 24h prior to morning report), kamikaze drones (2,745 reported), and artillery (>6,000 shells). President Zelenskyy cited 1,310 KABs, >1000 drones, and 9 missiles used by Russia against Ukraine over the past week.
Ukrainian Defensive Operations: Ukrainian forces continue defensive operations across the front, repelling numerous attacks daily. Counter-battery fire, drone operations (FPV strikes documented by 3rd Assault Brigade, Border Guards in Serebryansky Forest), EW, and air defense engagements are ongoing.
Kursk/Sumy Border: Dynamic situation with ongoing fighting within Russian border settlements (Huyevo) and continued Ukrainian operations repelling Russian assaults. Intense Russian shelling impacts Sumy border communities, forcing evacuations.
Humanitarian Impact: Significant civilian casualties and infrastructure damage continue, particularly noted in Kharkiv from recent strikes. Evacuations highlight the severe impact on border communities.
