Military Situation Update: Ukraine - April 1, 2025, 06:45 UTC
(Incorporating updates from 05:46 UTC to 06:45 UTC)
I. Strike Activity & Air Defense
Confirmed Air Defense Success (Zaporizhzhia): Ukrainian Air Force confirmed the successful interception of two Russian Kh-59/69 guided aviation missiles launched from tactical aircraft towards the Zaporizhzhia direction around 21:00 UTC on March 31. (UA Air Force, Operatyvnyi ZSU, RBC-Ukraina, Tsaplienko)
Shahed Attack Lull: The absence of Shahed drone attacks overnight (Mar 31 - Apr 1) is noted as the first such instance in 2025. Previous significant pauses occurred on Dec 10 and Oct 14, 2024, potentially linked to weather or successful Ukrainian strikes on drone depots/launch sites. Russian strikes with other means (missiles, artillery, KABs) continued. (ASTRA, RBC-Ukraina, Tsaplienko)
II. Ground Operations & Territorial Claims
A. Border Areas (Kursk, Belgorod, Bryansk)
Basovka Area (Kursk - RU CLAIM): Russian forces claim to have repelled a Ukrainian counter-attack near Basovka. (TASS)
(Previously Reported) Russian VDV acknowledged receiving drone aid in Kursk Oblast via the "Dva Mayora" channel. RU СК opened a terrorism case regarding a previously reported drone strike on a tractorist in Kursk Oblast. (Dva Mayora, TASS)
B. Eastern Front
Lyman Direction:
RU CLAIM (Significant Advance): Russian sources claim forces advanced more than 2.5 km west from Novoliubivka towards Katerynivka, expanding the zone of control. Positional fighting reported near Krasnyi Lyman; claimed Ukrainian shelling of RU position west of Zherebets River. Geolocated point provided near Novoliubivka. (Slivorychnyi Kapriz)
RU CLAIM (Advance): Russian sources (Marochko via TASS) claim RU forces advanced approximately 1 km into Ukrainian defenses near Novoie (Donetsk Oblast) after consolidating near Ivanivka and regrouping over the last few days.
Chasiv Yar Area (Kramatorsk Direction):
RU Counter-Drone Tactics: Russian forces reportedly employ static anti-drone nets suspended on poles (approx. 6m high) and specialized "drone-trawler" UAVs equipped with nets to capture Ukrainian drones, particularly targeting those disrupting logistics up to 20km behind lines. Captured drones allegedly exploited for intelligence and repurposed. (Operatsiya Z / RVvoenkor)
Pokrovsk Direction:No significant updates based on new information.
Donetsk Oblast (General):
UA Drone Operations Claim: Ukrainian drone unit "Ochi ta Zhalo" (Eyes and Sting) under "Madyar" claims 357 unique enemy targets hit and 112 Russian personnel killed in the Donbas operational area between March 29-31. (BUTUSOV PLUS / Madyar)
RU Equipment Loss: Ukrainian forces (35th Marine Bde, "Leleka" unit) documented the destruction/disablement of a Russian T-90M tank, reportedly entangled in barbed wire. (BUTUSOV PLUS)
C. Southern Front
Prydniprovsky Direction (Left Bank Kherson):
RU CLAIM: Russian sources claim continued Ukrainian attempts to occupy positions near the Antonivsky Bridge area, potentially for regrouping and crossing the Dnipro. Claim Russian 18th Army UAV operators are destroying Ukrainian infantry involved in these attempts. (Dnevnik Desantnika)
D. Occupied Territories (General)
RU CLAIM (Weapons Cache): Russian Rosgvardia reportedly discovered a cache containing a Belgian-made FN MAG machine gun (marked as manufactured in 2024) in a destroyed building within occupied Donetsk Oblast (DNR). (TASS)
III. Casualty & Loss Claims
Civilian Casualties (Occupied Donetsk - RU Claim Update): Russian sources increased the claimed number of wounded from the alleged Ukrainian drone attack on a bus in Horlivka to 15 civilians WIA (previously 14). (TASS, WarGonzo)
Civilian Casualties (Russian Consolidated Claim Mar 24-30):Reiteration: Russian official sources claim 118 civilians affected by Ukrainian strikes on Russian/occupied territory (14 KIA, 104 WIA, incl. 3 minors). Claim 4 Russian media personnel KIA, 5 WIA. Claimed >=1785 munitions fired by Ukraine. (Basurin/Miroshnik via TASS)
Equipment Losses (Russian): Confirmed loss/damage to one T-90M tank in Donetsk Oblast (BUTUSOV PLUS). Claimed loss of FN MAG MG found in cache (RU claim).
Equipment Losses (Ukrainian): RU claims destruction of UA infantry near Antonivsky Bridge (Kherson). RU claims capture of UA drones near Chasiv Yar (Donetsk).
Personnel Losses (Russian - UA Claim): UA drone unit "Ochi ta Zhalo" claims 112 RU KIA in Donbas (Mar 29-31). (BUTUSOV PLUS / Madyar)
IV. Infrastructure & Local Conditions
Kherson City: Electric transport resumed operation following earlier power issues. (RBC-Ukraina)
Horlivka (Occupied Donetsk - RU Claim): Power outages reported in Nizhny Khutor and Shakhty im. Lenina settlements following alleged Ukrainian strike on bus. (WarGonzo)
V. Political & Information Environment
Russian Conscription & Mobilization in Occupied Areas:
Russia commenced its spring conscription drive (Apr 1 - Jul 15), aiming to draft 160,000 conscripts (an increase from recent years) aged 18-30. (Sever.Realii)
Ukrainian MFA Protest: Ukraine's Ministry of Foreign Affairs issued a formal protest against the forced mobilization of Ukrainian citizens residing in temporarily occupied territories into the Russian armed forces as part of this conscription drive, labeling it illegal and a violation of international law. (Operatyvnyi ZSU)
Ukrainian Recruitment: General Staff reported continued high interest in recruitment centers: 1,523 new applicants last week (total 48,406 applications), 9,765 candidates processing. 49 centers operational. 21% of candidates are women, with highest rates in Chernivtsi, Khmelnytskyi, Vinnytsia Oblasts. Centers provide consultations only; no summonses issued on-site. (UA General Staff, Operatyvnyi ZSU)
International Visits: Lithuanian Foreign Minister Kęstutis Budrys arrived in Kyiv to express Lithuania's unwavering support for Ukraine. (RBC-Ukraina)
Russian Internal Politics: Russian figure Viktor Medvedchuk reappeared in media, echoing Kremlin proposals, drawing criticism from pro-war channels. (Rybar)
Russian Information Operations:
RU sources claim Ukrainian forces view journalists as legitimate targets due to the "strategic danger" of reporting truth about the conflict. (TASS)
RU sources promote narratives of RU military successes and valor (e.g., awarding medals, nurse profile). (MoD Russia, Colonelcassad)
RU sources publicize discovery of Western weapons (Belgian MG) in occupied areas. (TASS)
VI. Technological Notes
Claimed UA Anti-Drone Tactic: Ukrainian sources (STERNENKO) described a purported tactic involving using a small device near Russian "Molniya" reconnaissance UAVs to detect the operator crew's location via a vulnerability. This detection allegedly allows a second drone team to target the operators in their dugouts. Claimed successful downings attributed to this method. (STERNENKO)
RU Counter-Drone Tactics: Reported use of static netting suspended on poles and specialized drone-trawlers equipped with nets near Chasiv Yar to physically intercept and capture Ukrainian UAVs. Captured drones reportedly exploited for intelligence and repurposed. (Operatsiya Z / RVvoenkor)
RU Weapons Systems: Footage released showing ZALA Lancet loitering munitions targeting claimed Israeli-made RADA RPS-42 / ieMHR radar systems used by Ukrainian forces. Claims Lancets are effective against these systems due to composite materials and navigation making them difficult for the radars to detect. (Colonelcassad / ZalaAero)
Foreign Weapons Identification: Belgian FN MAG machine gun (reportedly manufactured 2024) claimed found by RU Rosgvardia in occupied Donetsk Oblast. (TASS)
