Russia’s war on Ukraine. 06.12.25
Operational situation
On the Northern Slobozhansky direction, Russian forces attacked near Varachyne.
Ukrainian Defense Forces counterattacked near Oleksiivka and south of Yunakivka.
On the Southern Slobozhansky direction, Ukrainian Defense Forces struck enemy positions in western Lyman and counterattacked in Vilcha.
Russian forces attacked near Vilcha, Vovchansk, Prylypky, Lyman, Synelnykove, toward Izbytske, near Milove, Khatnie, and Odradne.
On the Kupyansk direction, Ukrainian Defense Forces advanced in the center of Kupyansk and counterattacked on the western outskirts of the city.
Russian forces attacked near Kupyansk, Pishchane, Stepova Novoselivka, Hlushkivka, Hrekivka, Novoyehorivka, Novovodyane, toward Novoplatonivka, and attempted to advance south of Bohuslavka.
On the Lyman direction, Ukrainian Defense Forces hold Novoselivka and Stavky.
Russian forces attacked near Drobysheve, Derylove, Shandryholove, toward Oleksandrivka, near Kolodyazi and Zarichne.
On the Sloviansk direction, Russian forces captured Serebrianka, advanced north, east and southeast of Siversk, east of Dronivka, northwest of Vyimka, east of Zvanivka, and attacked near and inside Siversk, near Dronivka, Yampil, toward Ozerne and Zakytne, near Fedorivka and Vasyukivka.
Ukrainian Defense Forces hold positions in the eastern part of Siversk and counterattacked along the Siverskyi Donets River near Dibrova and Bruskivka.
On the Kostyantynivka direction, Russian forces fought for Klynovе and Bezimiane, attacked near and inside Kostyantynivka, near Virolyubivka, Chasiv Yar, Novomarkove, Oleksandro-Shultyne, Ivanopillya, Pleshchiivka, Kleban-Byk, Shcherbynivka, Yablunivka, toward Berestok, near Rusyn Yar, toward Mykolaypillya, near Sofiivka and Volodymyrivka, and toward Torske.
Ukrainian Defense Forces hold positions in the southern and southeastern parts of Kostyantynivka.
On the Pokrovsk direction, Russian forces advanced north and southeast of Myrnohrad, broke into positions in the northwestern part of Pokrovsk, attempted to advance north of Pokrovsk, in central Novopidhorodnie, advanced south of Zapovidne, and attacked near Shakhove, Novе Shakhove, Dorizhne, toward Vilne, near and inside Pokrovsk, near Hryshyne, Rodynske, Krasnyi Lyman, Svitle, Novoekonomichne, near and within Myrnohrad, near Novopavlivka, Shevchenkove, Kotlyne, Udachne, Serhiyske, and toward the west of Pokrovsk.
Ukrainian Defense Forces hold positions in the north and center of Pokrovsk.
On the Oleksandrivka direction, Ukrainian Defense Forces advanced along highway T0420 Novopavlivka–Slovyanka in the center of Novopavlivka, cleared Novopavlivka, pushed the enemy from positions on the western bank of the Solena River in Novopavlivka, and struck a training area near Dokuchaievsk.
Russian forces attacked near Novoserhiyivka, Dachne, Zelenyi Hai, Yalta, Oleksandrohrad, Sosnivka, Stepove, Verbove, Vyshneve, Pavlivka, Pryvilne, Rybne, Krasnohorske, and toward Andriivka.
On the Huliaypole Direction, Ukrainian Defense Forces struck Russian positions east of Varvarivka.
Russian forces attacked near Huliaypole, Dobropillya, toward Varvarivka, Pryluky, Solodke, and Zatyshshya.
On the Orikhiv direction, Russian forces captured about 75% of Prymorske and Stepnohirsk and attacked near Stepove.
Ukrainian Defense Forces hold positions in eastern Mala Tokmachka and counterattacked near Prymorske.
On the Prydniprovske Direction, Russian forces shelled Prydniprovske and Sadove.
General conclusion:
Russian forces intensify assaults on the Sloviansk–Lyman direction, deploying mercenaries, including those from unspecified African countries.
The 88th Separate Motorized Rifle Brigade of the 3rd Combined Arms Army has once again committed a war crime by executing a Ukrainian prisoner of war in Sviato-Pokrovske. The enemy strengthens its offensive and infiltrates toward Siversk.
Russian forces attempt to disrupt tactical and operational logistics on the Pokrovsk direction using UAVs. Ukrainian Defense Forces retain the ability to supply and rotate units on the Pokrovsk–Myrnohrad bridgehead. Enemy success against Ukrainian logistics within a 50-kilometre zone around Pokrovsk will affect Ukrainian logistics in the areas of Kramatorsk, Kostyantynivka, and Novopavlivka.
Russian forces have not encircled Ukrainian forces in Myrnohrad as of 5 December and avoid fighting inside the city. The situation in the city is difficult; the enemy works to disrupt withdrawal routes and logistics of Ukrainian Defense Forces with artillery and UAV strikes.
Change in the line of contact (LoC), directions of attacks and counterattacks:
There were 184 combat engagements on various fronts.
On the Northern Slobozhansky and Kursk directions, Ukrainian Defense Forces repelled a Russian attack.
On the Southern Slobozhansky direction, 10 combat engagements took place in the areas of Vovchansk, Prylypky, Odradne, and toward Izbytske and Lyman.
On the Kupyansk Direction, 5 Russian attacks were recorded. Ukrainian Defense Forces repelled enemy assault actions in the areas of Stepova Novoselivka, Pishchane, and toward Hlushkivka.
On the Lyman direction, the enemy attacked 19 times, attempting to advance near Novovodyane, Novoyehorivka, Zarichne, Derylove, and Kolodyazi.
On the Sloviansk direction, the aggressor attacked near Dronivka, Serebrianka, and toward Siversk. A total of 8 combat engagements took place.
On the Kostyantynivka direction, the enemy carried out 29 attacks in the areas of Novomarkove, Vasyukivka, Oleksandro-Shultyne, Shcherbynivka, Kleban-Byk, Pleshchiivka, Yablunivka, and Rusyn Yar.
On the Pokrovsk direction, 51 enemy attacks were stopped in the areas of Maiak, Volodymyrivka, Rodynske, Chervonyi Lyman, Myrnohrad, Pokrovsk, Kotlyne, Udachne, Novoserhiyivka, Molodetske, Kotlyarivka, Yalta, and Dachne.
On the Oleksandrivka direction, Ukrainian Defense Forces repelled 14 enemy assault actions in the areas of Oleksandrohrad, Sosnivka, Yehorivka, Pryvilne, Rybne, and Krasnohirske.
On the Huliaypole Direction, 7 combat engagements were recorded in the areas of Solodke, Dobropillya, and Huliaypole.
On the Orikhiv direction, 4 combat engagements took place. The enemy attempted to advance near Stepnohirsk and toward Prymorske.
On the Prydniprovske direction, Ukrainian Defense Forces repelled 6 enemy attacks.
Supporting operation:
Ukrainian Defense Forces hit the Ryazan Refinery with UAV strikes.
Ukrainian Defense Intelligence units struck the Novofedorivka airbase, hitting a Su-24 bomber, 39N6 “Kasta-2E2” radar, Orion reconnaissance UAV, two Podlet radars, the railway depot north of Feodosiya, and a cargo train.
Changes in the enemy disposition:
The 119th Airborne Regiment of the 106th Airborne Division operates in Yunakivka, and the 137th Airborne Regiment of the division as well as assault units of the 1st Consolidated Rifle Regiment of the Aerospace Forces of the Russian Armed Forces operate on the Sumy direction.
The 144th Motorized Rifle Division of the 20th Combined Arms Army and the 73rd Artillery Brigade of the 25th Combined Arms Army operate on the Lyman direction.
The 1442nd Motorized Rifle Regiment of the 6th Motorized Rifle Division and the 72nd Separate Motorized Rifle Brigade of the 3rd Army Corps attack south and southeast of Kostyantynivka.
The 80th Separate Reconnaissance Battalion of the 51st Combined Arms Army attacks Ukrainian logistics in Myrnohrad.
The 114th Motorized Rifle Regiment of the 127th Motorized Rifle Division of the 5th Combined Arms Army operates north and east of Huliaypole, and the 38th Separate Motorized Rifle Brigade of the 35th Combined Arms Army and the 57th Separate Motorized Rifle Brigade of the 5th Combined Arms Army operate east of Huliaypole.
The 291st Motorized Rifle Regiment of the 42nd Motorized Rifle Division of the 58th Combined Arms Army strikes Ukrainian forces in the center of Mala Tokmachka.
Possible operation situation developments:
The Defense Intelligence Directorate of Ukraine’s Defense Ministry assesses that while the enemy is unlikely to capture all of Donetsk Oblast by the spring of 2026, it may reach the outskirts of Zaporizhzhia and the Sloviansk–Kramatorsk agglomeration by early winter. Additionally, if current fighting continues at the same pace, the enemy could possibly take control of Pokrovsk, Kostyantynivka, Druzhkivka, and Kupyansk no earlier than year’s end.
On the Southern Slobozhanske Direction, the enemy will attempt to reach the Vovchansk – Staryi Saltiv road near Tsehelne and the highway to Rubizhne to disrupt the Ukrainian Defense Forces’ formations in the southern part of Vovchansk, significantly complicate their defense due to the considerable flank threat. The main forces of the 6th Combined Arms Army will advance from the Vovchansk–Bilyi Kolodyaz direction and from the bridgehead on the Oskil through Hryhorivka toward converging directions on Velykyi Burluk, pushing Ukrainian Defense Forces from all territory east of the Siverskyi Donets.
On the Lyman direction, the troops of the enemy’s 20th Combined Arms Army will advance toward Shandryholove–Novoselivka and Zelena Dolyna–Drobysheve and will push into the Novoselivka–Drobysheve–Pryshyb–Yarova area, while simultaneously expanding its tactical bridgehead on the Nitrius River near the village of Serednie, in order to block Lyman from the northwest and cut all communications running along the Siverskyi Donets River toward Izium. The enemy may attempt an immediate crossing of the Siverskyi Donets in the Zakytne–Dronivka area, which will complicate the further defense of Siversk.
The enemy’s “Yug (South)” Operational Grouping will attack in the directions of Oleksiyevo-Druzhkivka and Druzhkivka, attempting to cut the H20 highway Kostyantynivka–Sloviansk, which will complicate the logistics of the Ukrainian Defense Forces’ 19th Army Corps in Kostyantynivka. The enemy will deliver concentric strikes simultaneously from Chasiv Yar, Toretsk, the Kleban-Byk Reservoir, and from the Poltavka–Yablunivka line.
The command of the “Tsentr (Center)” Operational Grouping in order to prevent the withdrawal of elements of the 7th Rapid Reaction Corps of the Air Assault Forces of the Ukrainian Defense Forces from the Pokrovsk–Myrnohrad bridgehead, will make efforts to achieve a deeper envelopment of the western flank of the Pokrovsk defense area, attacking northward from the Udachne–Kotlyne line and attempting to break through to Hryshyne. The withdrawal of elements of Ukrainian Defense Forces from Myrnohrad toward the Dobropillya area could affect the overall situation on the 51st Combined Arms Army bridgehead west of the Kazennyi Torets River. To prevent a deterioration of the situation there, the enemy would hastily organize and conduct counterattacks in the areas of Ivanivka and Nove Shakhove.
On the Oleksandrivka direction, the troops of the enemy’s “Vostok (East)” Operational Grouping will attempt to envelop the Huliaypole defensive area of Ukrainian Defense Forces from the north and block its main lines of communication. The troops of the 36th Combined Arms Army and elements of the right flank of the 5th Combined Arms Army will be breaking through toward Pokrovske from the southeast. The enemy will attempt to reach the Khaychur River and the Huliaypole–Pokrovske road on the Dobropillya–Varvarivka section.
Enemy forces of the “Vostok (East)” Operational Grouping on the Huliaypole Direction will bypass the Huliaypole defensive area from the north, breaking through on the Dobropillya–Varvarivka section, or will break through toward Pokrovske in Dnipropetrovsk Oblast from the south and southeast. At any moment, to exploit success, the 76th Air Assault Division or the 90th Tank Division of the 41st Combined Arms Army may be committed to the operation from the Oleksandrivka Direction. The enemy is capable of creating an operational breakthrough toward Novomykolayivka and of bypassing the Orikhiv defensive area from the north. Russian military command on the Southwestern Theater of Military Operations will attempt to collapse the defense of the Armed Forces of Ukraine to the southeast of Zaporizhzhia and break through to its approaches. To achieve this, it will simultaneously advance toward Zaporizhzhia both from the east, from Donetsk along the Donetsk–Zaporizhzhia highway, and from the south.
On the Orikhiv direction, the “Dnepr” Operational Grouping will attempt to break through along the left bank of the Dnipro River from the Plavni – Kamianske line toward Stepnohirsk and from the Stepove – Mali Shcherbaky line in the northern direction aiming to reach close approaches to the city of Zaporizhzhia.
On the Prydniprovske direction, the command of the enemy’s “Dnepr” Operational Grouping will continue trying to take control of most of the island zone in the Dnipro delta in the direction of Kherson, will try to create a tactical bridgehead on the right bank, and to eliminate the tactical bridgeheads of the 30th Marine Corps of Ukrainian Defense Forces in the area of the automobile and railway bridges near Antonivka.
Russian operational losses from 24.02.22 to 06.12.25
Personnel - almost 1,179 790 (+1,180);
Tanks – 11,398 (+2);
Armored combat vehicles ‒ 23,688 (+2);
Artillery systems – 34,874 (+31);
Multiple rocket launchers (MLRS) – 1,560 (+2);
Anti-aircraft warfare systems – 1,253 (0);
Vehicles and fuel tanks – 69,037 (+130);
Aircraft - 431 (+1);
Helicopters – 347 (0);
UAV operational and tactical level – 87,387 (+487);
Intercepted cruise and other missiles – 4,024 (0);
Boats/ships – 29 (0).
Humanitarian + general:
On the night of 6 December, Russian invaders launched a combined attack on Ukraine’s critical infrastructure using 704 air attack means, including 51 missiles (3 Kinzhal missiles, 34 cruise missiles, and 14 ballistic missiles) and 653 UAVs of various types. As of 10:00, Ukrainian air defense had shot down and suppressed 615 aerial targets, including 585 enemy UAVs, 29 cruise missiles, and 1 ballistic missile. Missile and 60 strike UAV impacts were recorded at 29 locations, while the attack was still ongoing.
On the night of 6 December, Russian invaders carried out a massive missile-UAV strike on electricity generation, distribution, and transmission facilities in Kyiv, Chernihiv, Lviv, Odesa, Zaporizhzhia, Dnipropetrovsk, Mykolaiv, and Kharkiv Oblasts. Nuclear power plants were forced to reduce generation capacity. In all regions of Ukraine, hourly blackout schedules were applied on 6 December. Limitation schedules for industrial consumers and businesses continue to operate in all regions. As a result of the attack, the volume of planned consumption limitation measures had to be increased. Significant limitations will also remain in effect on 7 December.
For the sixth time in the last two months, the Russian army attacked DTEK thermal power plants in various regions of Ukraine. The company’s press service reported that this attack seriously damaged plant equipment. It is noted that since the beginning of the full-scale invasion, DTEK thermal power plants have been attacked more than 210 times.
In the southern region of Ukraine, Russian forces shelled the warehouse of one of the two largest pharmaceutical distributors, BaDM. This is not the first incident, as warehouses had been previously destroyed in November and October. The number of casualties and assessment of damages are currently unknown.
On the night of 6 December, the Fastiv, Vyshhorod, and Bucha districts of Kyiv Oblast experienced a combined Russian missile-UAV attack that injured at least three people. Among other targets, the Russians struck the railway hub station in Fastiv. The station was destroyed, the motor-vehicle depot and rolling stock were damaged. In other districts, residential and non-residential buildings were affected.
During the night, the enemy carried out a massive attack on Dnipropetrovsk Oblast. Air defense neutralized 40 enemy UAVs over the region. The attack caused fires: in Dnipro, a private house caught fire; in the Zelenodolsk community of Kryvyi Rih, infrastructure was damaged; in Pavlohrad, a garage and utility structure burned. In addition, Russians struck Nikopol Oblast, directing heavy artillery and FPV drones at the Myrivska, Pokrovska, Marganetska communities and Nikopol, where an 11-year-old boy was injured; three houses, utility buildings, and a power line were also damaged in the area.
On 6 December, at about 12:20, in the Krasnopil community of Sumy district, the enemy attacked a civilian car with a UAV. Two men, aged 53 and 65, were injured.
IAEA Director General Rafael Grossi reported that the Zaporizhzhia NPP (ZNPP) temporarily lost all external power for the first time since the beginning of Russia’s full-scale invasion, remaining in a full blackout for half an hour overnight.
The protective screen of the Chernobyl NPP, built to contain radioactive materials after the 1986 disaster, can no longer perform its main safety function due to UAV damage that occurred in February. During inspection, the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) found that the structure lost its ability to contain radioactive materials. However, IAEA Director General Rafael Grossi noted that no permanent damage to its supporting structures or monitoring systems was detected. Although some repairs have already been carried out, comprehensive restoration is required to prevent further deterioration and ensure long-term nuclear safety.
The Moldovan State Enterprise Moldelectrica appealed to Romania for emergency assistance. As a result of Russian attacks on Ukraine’s power system in the region bordering the Republic of Moldova, a large energy hub was shut down, causing intersystem transmission lines to operate at the limit of capacity. The appeal to Romania is a precautionary measure to ensure the stable and safe operation of Moldova’s national power system and to prevent overloads and potential blackouts.