Military Situation Update: Ukraine - April 6, 2025, 05:00 UTC
I. Executive Summary & Major Developments
Large-Scale Overnight Air Assault: Russia executed a significant combined air attack targeting Kyiv and its agglomeration, the Uman district (Cherkasy Oblast), and Starokostiantyniv (Khmelnytskyi Oblast). Weapon systems employed included Kh-101 and Kalibr cruise missiles, Iskander-M/KN-23 ballistic missiles, and Shahed/Gerbera-type UAVs. Air alerts have concluded across Ukraine.
Kyiv Attack Aftermath: The ballistic missile component inflicted considerable damage and casualties in Kyiv.
Damage: Confirmed fires and damage to non-residential buildings in Darnytskyi, Obolonskyi, and Solomianskyi districts. Includes a partial collapse of a 5-story business center (Obolonskyi), fires at a furniture workshop spreading to a warehouse (Obolonskyi), destruction of a non-residential building and ignition of 3 cars (Darnytskyi), and 8 additional vehicles damaged (Darnytskyi). Emergency response operations are ongoing. Visual confirmation of a large crater (Obolonskyi). Russian sources claim industrial/warehouse targets were hit.
Kupyansk Residential Strike: A Russian Guided Air Bomb (KAB) struck the 9th floor of a residential high-rise building in Kupyansk.
Damage: Resultant fire spread across multiple balconies (2nd-7th floors) and four apartments (100 sq m area). Partial damage to the struck building and window damage in three adjacent buildings.
Mykolaiv Drone Attack: Overnight Shahed attack resulted in falling debris causing fires in two private houses (extinguished) and damage to 13 private houses and one vehicle. 4 civilians injured.
Kryvyi Rih Attack Update (Apr 4 Incident): Casualty figures updated: 75 individuals sought medical assistance (1 additional since last reports), 37 remain hospitalized, with 19 in serious condition (including 4 children). National Day of Mourning observed (Apr 6).
Ground Combat Intensity: Remains HIGH. Significant ground engagements persist, particularly focused on the Pokrovsk, Lyman, Toretsk, and Kursk/Sumy border directions. (Previous day: 152 combat engagements reported by UGS).
Russian Offensive Posture: The Pokrovsk axis continues as the main direction of effort. Sustained pressure is applied on the Lyman, Toretsk, and Kursk/Sumy border axes.
Russian sources claim advances near Pokrovsk, Toretsk (specifically south: capture of Aleksandropol and Panteleimonivka, fighting near Tarasivka/Zelene Pole), Lyman (near Makiivka/Ivanivka/Nove), Orikhiv (capture of Lobkove), and within Kursk Oblast border areas.
Fighting continues near Popovka and Demidovka (Belgorod border). Russian sources claim successful strikes on UA personnel/equipment (incl. Bradley IFV) near Demidovka.
Russian forces maintain presence in Ukrainian border settlements (Kursk Oblast side) and conduct cross-border artillery/air strikes into Sumy Oblast.
Ukrainian Defensive Operations: Successfully engaged ballistic and cruise missiles over Kyiv overnight. Maintain active defense posture along the front, utilizing FPV drones, counter-battery fire, and fortifications. Monitoring persistent KAB threats.
Regional Allied Activity: Polish and Allied air assets were active over Poland during the Russian long-range aviation strikes on Ukraine.
Information Environment: Russian sources frame overnight strikes as targeting industrial/military objectives, downplaying civilian impact. Ukrainian sources emphasize civilian casualties and damage to residential/non-residential structures from RU strikes (Kyiv, Kupyansk, Mykolaiv, Kryvyi Rih aftermath). UGS reports significant daily Russian losses (+1330 personnel claimed Apr 6).
II. Air, Missile & Drone Activity
Overnight Combined Attack (Resolved):
Ballistic Missiles: Intense multi-wave attack on Kyiv (~01:57-02:15 UTC; potentially later waves ~05:00-05:15 UTC per war_monitor) from Bryansk/Voronezh Oblasts (RU). Air defenses engaged. Confirmed impacts, damage, 3 injuries.
Cruise Missiles: Kh-101 (Tu-95MS bombers, likely Caspian Sea area) and Kalibr (Naval assets, likely Novorossiysk area). Targeted Kyiv, Uman district (Cherkasy), and potentially Starokostiantyniv. Threat subsided after ~03:21 UTC (Nikolaevskiy Vanyok) or later (~05:38-06:20 UTC per war_monitor).
Shahed/Gerbera Drones: Active overnight, concluded ~04:12 UTC. Targeted areas including Mykolaiv (4 injured, damage).
Ongoing Threats (as of 05:00 UTC):
Guided Air Bombs (KABs): Persistent threat for frontline oblasts. Confirmed repeat launches towards Zaporizhzhia Oblast (~03:39 UTC) and the strike on Kupyansk (~03:05 UTC).
Tactical Aviation: Activity poses threat primarily to eastern/northeastern regions.
Recent Impacts & Damage (Summary):
Kyiv: Ballistic missile impacts caused significant damage (partial building collapse, fires) in Darnytskyi, Obolonskyi, Solomianskyi districts; 3 civilians injured.
Uman District (Cherkasy Obl.): Targeted by cruise missiles; impact details pending.
Zaporizhzhia Oblast: Ongoing KAB threat. OVA reports 449 total RU strikes (Air, UAV, MLRS, Arty) on 9 settlements in past 24h; 1 house damaged, no casualties reported from these specific incidents.
Nikopol District (Dnipropetrovsk Obl.): Continued overnight artillery and kamikaze drone attacks on Nikopol city & Marhanets community. Damage to 7 apartment buildings, infrastructure, shop, car, garage. No casualties reported from these specific attacks.
Russian Air Defense Claims: RU MoD claims 11 Ukrainian UAVs destroyed overnight over Rostov (8), Kursk (2), and Belgorod (1) Oblasts.
III. Frontline Situation Overview (Selected Axes - Highlights)
Kursk/Sumy Border: High intensity. RU forces maintain presence in UA border settlements within Kursk Oblast, conduct cross-border attacks into Sumy Oblast. RU claims advances towards Huyevo/Oleshnia.
Belgorod/Kharkiv Border: Fighting persists near Popovka and Demidovka (Belgorod Oblast). RU sources claim strikes near Demidovka.
Kupyansk Axis: Confirmed KAB strike on Kupyansk city (2 injured). RU sources claim advances along a wide front; also claim expansion of Oskil River west bank positions north of Dvorichna and fighting within Kamianka.
Lyman Axis: High intensity. RU claims expanding control near Makiivka/Ivanivka/Nove and advances near Novoliubivka/Nevske.
Kramatorsk Axis (Chasiv Yar): Lower ground assault intensity reported recently. RU claims destruction of UA mortar near Chasiv Yar. RU assessment (Marochko) emphasizes strategic importance of Chasiv Yar heights for Ukraine.
Toretsk Axis: High intensity. RU forces reportedly shifted focus south of Toretsk city, claiming capture of Aleksandropol and Panteleimonivka, with ongoing fighting near Tarasivka and Zelene Pole (Dva Mayora). DeepState previously confirmed RU advance within Toretsk city.
Pokrovsk Axis:Highest Intensity. RU sources report fighting in Lysovka. Persistent RU claims of advances towards Novoolexandrivka, west of Troitske, near Bohdanivka. ISW previously reported RU advance near Pokrovsk.
Novopavlivsk / South Donetsk Axis: Moderate intensity. RU sources report fighting near Volne Pole, Vesele, Razliv. RU claims FPV strike on UA tent/personnel. RU sources claim fighting for Andriivka (north of Kostiantynopil).
Orikhiv Axis (Zaporizhzhia): Moderate intensity ground clashes. Repeat KAB launches towards the oblast. RU sources claim capture of Lobkove and attacks near Kamyanske. High volume of shelling/drone attacks reported by OVA.
Prydniprovsky Axis (Kherson - Left Bank): Low intensity ground assaults reported repelled. RU sources claim increased FAB (KAB) strikes by Russian Aerospace Forces.
IV. Naval Situation
(No significant changes reported since Apr 4 update)
Black Sea / Azov Sea: No Russian warships reported deployed (as of Apr 4 AM).
Partisan Activity Claim: ATESH group claims destruction of railway transformer cabinet near Kemerovo, Russia, allegedly impacting ammunition transport.
OSINT Reporting Note: Nikolaevskiy Vanyok channel stated temporary suspension of publishing interception/shoot-down reports due to concerns about ground-level reporting accuracy, pending potential UA Air Force process improvements.
