Military Situation Update: Ukraine - April 5, 2025, 16:00 UTC
I. Overall Strategic Situation
Combat Intensity: Remains HIGH. The Ukrainian General Staff (UGS) reported 112 combat engagements across the frontlines since the beginning of the day (as of 16:00 UTC, Apr 5). Russian forces persist in attempts to breach Ukrainian defenses despite significant losses.
Russian Offensive Focus: The Pokrovsk axis experiences the highest number of Russian assaults. Significant pressure continues on the Lyman, Toretsk, Novopavlivsk, and Kursk border directions. Sustained efforts are also noted towards Chasiv Yar.
Ukrainian Defensive Posture: Ukrainian forces maintain active defense, repelling the majority of Russian attacks across multiple axes and conducting counter-battery fire and drone operations to disrupt Russian advances and logistics. Retaliatory strikes for the Kryvyi Rih attack were reported by the 77th Airmobile and 129th TRO Brigades.
Air & Missile Threats: Persistent threat from Russian tactical aviation (KABs), artillery, MLRS, kamikaze drones, and missiles targeting frontline positions, rear areas, and civilian infrastructure. Air threat warnings remain active for several southern and eastern oblasts.
Potential Strategic Developments: President Zelenskyy reported progress following meetings with UK and French Chiefs of Defence Staff regarding details for the potential deployment of a partner security contingent to Ukraine.
II. Key Frontline Developments (Based on UGS 16:00 UTC Report & Supporting Intel)
Kursk Border Area / Northern Ukraine:
Intensity: High. UGS reported 6 Russian attacks repelled and 4 ongoing in Kursk Oblast.
Russian Activity: Heavy cross-border shelling reported into Chernihiv (Khrynivka) and Sumy Oblasts (Seredyna-Buda, Baranivka, Kucherivka, Popivka, Porozok, Chuykivka, Prokhody, Hrabovske, Petrushivka, Mykhailivka, Mar’ine). UGS recorded 195 Russian artillery attacks (incl. 10 MLRS) and 6 air strikes (14 KABs) targeting Ukrainian positions and border settlements on this axis. KAB strikes hit Petrushivka, Prokhody, Krasnopillya, Velyka Pysarivka, and Bratenytsia (Sumy Oblast).
Previous Claims: Russian sources previously claimed offensive actions near Hornal, Huyevo, Oleshnia (Kursk) and capture of Basovka (Sumy). A Russian source claimed destruction of a booby-trapped Ukrainian flag dropped by drone on the Sudzha border checkpoint roof.
Kharkiv Axis:
UGS reported 1 Russian attack repelled near Kamianka.
Russian air strikes targeted Kozacha Lopan and Slatyne.
Kupyansk Axis:
5 Russian attacks initiated near Petropavlivka, Zahryzove, and Nova Kruhlyakivka. UGS reports 3 repelled, 2 ongoing.
Russian MoD previously claimed tactical improvements.
Lyman Axis:
Intensity: High. 16 Russian attacks recorded by UGS near Novoyehorivka, Novolyubivka, Hrekivka, Nove, Katerynivka, and towards Zelena Dolyna. 2 engagements ongoing.
Russian MoD previously claimed tactical improvements.
Siversk Axis:
UGS reported 2 Russian attacks repelled and 1 ongoing near Bilohorivka and Verkhnokamyanske.
Kramatorsk Axis (incl. Chasiv Yar):
UGS reported 3 Russian attacks repelled near Chasiv Yar and Hryhorivka. Sustained Russian pressure towards Chasiv Yar continues.
Toretsk Axis:
Intensity: High. UGS reported 9 Russian assaults repelled and 3 ongoing near Kurdyumivka, Toretsk city, Dachne, Leonidivka, and Druzhba.
Pokrovsk Axis:
Intensity:Highest. UGS reported 46 Russian attempts to dislodge Ukrainian forces since the morning near Kotlyarivka, Valentynivka, Oleksandropil, Tarasivka, Lysivka, Shevchenko, Kotlyne, Udachne, Uspenivka, Novooleksandrivka, and Bohdanivka. 39 attacks have been repelled.
Russian MoD previously claimed advances into Ukrainian defenses.
Novopavlivsk Axis / South Donetsk (incl. Vremivka Salient):
UGS reported 4 Russian attacks ongoing near Rozlyv and Burlatske; 1 previous attempt was stopped.
Russian sources (Voin DV, TASS) previously claimed territorial gains near Rozlyv (~5 sq km), Bohatyr (advance of 1km, control 1x1km area), and Novodarivka (control 0.5x1.5km area). Claims included strikes on UA reinforcements and foiled evacuations.
Huliaipole Axis:
UGS reported 1 Russian attack repelled near Rivnopil.
Russian air strike hit Komyshuvakha.
Orikhiv Axis (Zaporizhzhia):
UGS reported 4 Russian attacks successfully stopped near Stepove, Mali Shcherbaky, and towards Mala Tokmachka and Novoandriivka.
Russian MoD previously claimed taking more advantageous lines.
Air Strikes: KABs used extensively on Sumy border (14), Kharkiv Oblast (Kozacha Lopan, Slatyne), and Huliaipole axis (Komyshuvakha). Overall high aviation activity (previous 24h report: 107 strikes, 171 KABs).
Artillery/MLRS: Extremely high levels reported on Kursk border (195 attacks, 10 MLRS - UGS 16:00). Previous 24h total across front: 6353 attacks, 105 MLRS (UGS morning report).
Missiles: Notably, the Apr 4 attack on Kryvyi Rih involved an Iskander-M ballistic missile with a cluster warhead, causing significant civilian casualties (UGS: 18 KIA incl. 9 children, 72 WIA). Multiple videos document the aftermath.
Drones (Shahed): Overnight Apr 4-5, Russia launched 92 Shahed-type UAVs. UA Air Force reported 51 shot down, 31 locationally lost. Impact zones included Sumy, Dnipropetrovsk, Kyiv, Zhytomyr Oblasts. Total UAV attacks in previous 24h: 2737 (UGS morning report).
Claimed Targets (RU MoD - Apr 5 morning): Military airfield infrastructure, depots, UAV assembly, troop concentrations, claimed destruction of explosives facility (Zaporizhzhia city), 5 UA light aircraft (Dnipropetrovsk airport).
Ukrainian Strikes & Air Defence:
Deep Strikes: Confirmed strikes on Saransk "Optical Fiber Systems" plant (Mordovia) and Chapayevsk "Promsintez" explosives plant (Samara) in previous days. Video emerged allegedly showing another daytime aircraft attack on the Saransk facility (Apr 5).
Tactical Strikes: Ongoing drone operations reported. Recent videos show strikes on RU SAU 2S5 "Giatsint-S", Tigr vehicle, trucks, POL depot (East); RU personnel on motorcycles (Kurakhove direction). Retaliatory artillery/drone strikes conducted for Kryvyi Rih attack (77th Airmobile, 129th TRO).
Drone Combat: Russian sources claimed destruction of a Ukrainian heavy hexacopter ("Baba Yaga") via ramming by an FPV drone over Bryansk Oblast (Apr 5).
Information Warfare: The Ukrainian General Staff strongly refutes Russian MoD claims that Ukraine violated agreements by targeting Russian energy infrastructure, stating these are disinformation attempts to distract from Russian attacks on Ukrainian civilians and infrastructure, citing the Kryvyi Rih attack as a prime example. Ukraine maintains it targets only military objectives.
