Military Situation Update: Ukraine - April 10, 2025, 13:59 UTC
I. Overall Strategic Situation & Major Developments
Combat Intensity: Remains High across multiple fronts. 85 combat clashes reported since the start of the day (UGS 16:00 UTC). The most intense fighting persists on the Pokrovsk (27 attacks), Toretsk (16 attacks), Lyman (8 attacks), and Kursk/Sumy Border (6 attacks repelled by UA forces within Kursk Oblast) axes.
Russian Offensive Objectives: Russian forces continue operations aimed at occupying Donetsk and Luhansk Oblasts, parts of Kherson and Zaporizhzhia Oblasts, and expanding control in the Kharkiv/Sumy border regions (Syrskyi assessment, Apr 9; WarGonzo claim, Apr 7). Offensive pressure is maintained through heavy use of Guided Air Bombs (KABs), artillery, FPV drones, and ground assaults.
Dnipro Missile Strike:
A confirmed Russian missile strike occurred in Dnipro city around 13:06 UTC. A large fire and destruction were reported at a civilian facility, described by one source as a factory producing household/hygiene goods (Tsaplienko, 13:54 UTC).
Casualties:One civilian male (42) confirmed Killed. At least three civilians injured (Lysak/Dnipro ODA, 13:49, 13:42 UTC; ASTRA, 13:56 UTC; RBC-Ukraina, 13:52 UTC).
Multiple sources reported a large smoke plume visible following the strike, preceded by ballistic missile threat warnings (Operativnyi ZSU, Tsaplienko, RBC-Ukraina, RVvoenkor, Voenkor Kotenok, Colonelcassad).
Russian Strikes in Donetsk Oblast (Claims): Russian sources (Dnevnik Desantnika, 13:20 UTC) claim multiple strikes today targeted:
Druzhkivka: Alleged repair base for 5th Mech Bde in tram depot (claiming equipment/vehicles damaged, 3 KIA, 4 WIA).
Sloviansk: Alleged repair company location of 63rd Bde (claiming repair box hit, spare parts destroyed).
Sergeevka: Alleged rotation point for SBU officers/foreign instructors (claiming building destroyed). Requires Verification.
Kursk/Sumy Border Situation:
Basivka / Loknya (Sumy): Ukrainian 36th Marine Brigade reports destroying Russian infantry groups in northern Basivka. Russian forces are reportedly accumulating in Basivka, attempting consolidation. Further RU attempts towards Loknya are anticipated (DeepState, 13:00 UTC). Russian source (Basurin, 13:05 UTC) claims RU forces are pushing towards Yunakivka and struck a UA logistics hub there.
Zhuravka (Sumy): Control status remains contested. Russian MoD/RVvoenkor (Apr 10 morning/12:58 UTC) claim capture, supported by video. Another RU source (Dnevnik Desantnika, 12:08 UTC) stated it was not fully liberated. UGS (16:00 UTC) reports UA forces repelled 6 RU attacks in Kursk Oblast today. Russian source (Basurin, 13:05 UTC) claims RU pushed UA out of Zhuravka.
Oleshnia / Hornal (Kursk): Intense fighting ongoing (UGS Apr 9). Russian sources claim a missile strike targeted a concentration area of the UA 80th Air Assault Brigade and UAV control points near Oleshnia, alleging up to 45 UA personnel losses (Colonelcassad, 12:36 UTC). Russian source (Basurin, 13:05 UTC) claims RU forces struck 6 UA brigades near Hornal/Oleshnia. Requires verification. TASS (13:57 UTC) shared MoD video claiming a missile strike on UA forces in the Kursk border area.
Konstantynivka Direction (Donetsk Oblast - RU Claims): Russian sources (Colonelcassad citing Don_Partizan, 13:03 UTC) claim ongoing successful RU offensive operations with advances:
Near Arkhangelske towards Kalynove (up to 2 km), with assaults commencing on southern Kalynove outskirts.
West of Alexandropol towards Zelene Pillya.
Near Valentynivka (200m westward).
North-east of Druzhba (up to 500m).
Fighting ongoing N/NW of Toretsk, near Chasiv Yar, and Stupochky without significant changes reported. RU claims require verification.
Chinese Nationals Involvement: President Zelenskyy confirmed investigation into captured Chinese nationals fighting for Russia (captured Donetsk Oblast). Characterized as a systematic Russian recruitment effort, potentially operating within China. Stressed need to prevent Russia expanding war capabilities via such means. Video of captured Chinese national interrogation released (Zelenskiy, 13:47 UTC; RBC-Ukraina, 13:55 UTC). Chinese MFA previously reiterated stance against citizens participating (RBC-Ukraina, 12:45 UTC). Russian milblogger frames issue as pressure on potential Trump administration (Kotsnews, 13:24 UTC).
Reported Destruction of Ukrainian Ammo Production: Russian sources (RVvoenkor citing Le Monde / UA TDF commander Serbin, 13:38 UTC) claim Ukraine's primary ammunition production facilities (Zirka powder plant, Impuls detonator plant) in Shostka, Sumy Oblast, were destroyed by Russian strikes throughout 2024, including a major ballistic missile attack on Dec 31, 2024. This claim, if verified, represents a significant blow to Ukrainian domestic defense production capacity.
New Russian Drone Tactic: Ukrainian authorities (MoI, Centre for Countering Disinformation, DSNS, Kyiv City Military Admin) issued public warnings about Russian forces employing UAVs to scatter small explosive devices, potentially with delayed fuses. Images of the devices (recovered in Kyiv) provided. Threat considered nationwide (RBC-Ukraina, 13:35 UTC
