Kursk UAV Strike & Aftermath: A large-scale Ukrainian UAV attack targeted Kursk city overnight (Apr 14/15). Russian sources report 1 civilian KIA (85F) and 9 WIA, with damage to multiple apartment buildings and 11 ambulances at the Regional Ambulance Station garage. The Russian MoD claims 115 Ukrainian UAVs were intercepted overnight, with 109 over Kursk Oblast. Russian sources frame the attack as targeting civilian infrastructure to incite panic.
Ground Combat Intensity & Key Axes:
- Overall: High intensity persists, with 99 combat clashes reported by Ukrainian General Staff (GSh ZSU) in the past 24 hours (as of 08:00 local / 05:00 UTC Apr 15).
- Pokrovsk Axis: Remains the most intense sector with 28 Russian assaults repelled near settlements including Sukha Balka, Yelyzavetivka, and Udachne (GSh ZSU).
- Lyman Axis: High activity with 20 Russian attacks repelled near Nadiia, Torske, Bilohorivka, and others (GSh ZSU). Russian sources (TASS citing Marochko, Rybar) maintain claims of a breakthrough near Yampolivka and advances.
- Orikhiv Axis: Ukrainian Southern Defense Forces report repelling 7 Russian assaults (up from 3 reported earlier by GSh ZSU) near Stepove, Lobkove, and Mali Shcherbaky.
- Kursk/Belgorod Border: 17 clashes reported on the Kursk axis (GSh ZSU). Russian sources claim a Ukrainian ground assault attempt with armor was repelled between Popovka/Demydovka (Belgorod Oblast) early Apr 15 (Colonelcassad, Dva Mayora). RU claims persist regarding Ukrainian forces occupying the Hornal monastery (Kursk) and refusing surrender (Dnevnik Desantnika, TASS). Ukrainian forces downed 5 Shahed UAVs over Sumy Oblast (Sumy OVA).
- Toretsk Axis: 11 Russian attacks conducted near Ozarianivka and Toretsk (GSh ZSU).
Russian Strike Activity & Threats (Southern Focus):
- Overall (Past 24h - GSh ZSU): 1 missile strike, 119 aviation strikes (191 KABs), 3275 kamikaze drones, 6590 shelling incidents reported across Ukraine.
- Southern Axis (Past 24h - UA Southern Defense Forces): Reports indicate intense Russian drone usage: approx. 700 kamikaze drone strikes and over 350 munition drops from UAVs (>450 munitions total). Additionally, 13 KABs, 88 unguided rockets (NARs), and over 270 shelling incidents (>1100 munitions) were recorded impacting Mykolaiv, Kherson, Zaporizhzhia, and Dnipropetrovsk Oblasts.
- Ongoing Shahed Threat (as of 05:45 UTC): Attack UAV threat declared for Poltava (04:58 UTC) and Dnipro city (05:01 UTC). Previous threats were active across multiple central and eastern oblasts.
- KAB Threat: Persists for frontline regions, particularly Kharkiv and Sumy Oblasts.
Civilian Impact (Past 24h - Selected Reports):
- Kursk, Russia: 1 KIA, 9 WIA from Ukrainian UAV attack (RU sources).
- Zaporizhzhia Oblast: 1 civilian KIA (UA OVA / Southern Defense Forces).
- Kherson Oblast: 8 civilians WIA, including 1 child (UA Southern Defense Forces).
- Dnipropetrovsk Oblast (Nikopol): 1 civilian WIA (78F from kamikaze drone) (UA OVA / Southern Defense Forces).
Capabilities & Other Notes:
- Russian EW: Russian military sources actively highlight Electronic Warfare (EW) capabilities, coinciding with the designated EW Specialist Day (Apr 15).
- Ukrainian Strikes (Past 24h - GSh ZSU): Reported hitting 5 RU personnel/equipment areas, 2 AD systems, 4 command posts, 8 artillery systems, 3 Radar/EW stations, and 2 other targets.
- Russian Air Recon (South): Ukrainian Southern Defense Forces note increased Russian air reconnaissance activity coinciding with improved weather, claiming 24 reconnaissance UAVs downed in the southern sector over the past day.
- Naval: No Russian warships reported in the Black or Azov Seas; 3 missile carriers (26 Kalibr potential) remain in the Mediterranean (UA Navy).
- Claimed Russian Losses (Past 24h - GSh ZSU): +1180 personnel, +7 tanks, +20 AFVs, +68 artillery systems, +2 MLRS, +2 AD systems, +147 UAVs, +210 vehicles/fuel tanks.
