Russia's war on Ukraine. 08.02.25
Operational situation
On the Kursk direction, Russian forces are attempting to at least temporarily halt the advance of the “Siversk” Operational and Tactical Group (OTG) units southeast of Sudzha, moving along the 38K-028 Sudzha–Oboyan highway and east of Fanaseevka. Ukrainian Defense Forces hold positions near Cherkasskya Konopelka, Fanaseevka, and Ulanok.
Fighting continues on the outskirts of Makhnovka.
On the Kharkiv direction, Russian forces launched an offensive near Vovchansk, and battles are ongoing near Mali Prokhody and Velyki Prokhody.
On the Kupyansk direction, Russian forces advanced northwest of Zahryzove, attacking in the areas of Petropavlivka, Zahryzove, Nova Kruhlyakivka, Zelenyi Hai, Lozova, near Kopanky, Novoyehorivka, Novoserhiyivka, and Hrekivka. They attempted to advance north and northwest of Novomlynsk, Fyholivka, and Dovhenke but were unsuccessful. The enemy managed to move south along the Oskil River towards Kindrashivka. However, attacks north and south of Zakhidne, on the Kupyansk–Dvorichna road, were repelled by Ukrainian Defense Forces. In Dvorichna, the enemy has not yet been able to push Ukrainian units out of the village. Ukrainian Defense Forces continue to control several districts in its northern part. Multiple attempts by small assault groups to advance from Novomlynsk toward Fyholivka ended in failure.
On the Lyman direction, Russian forces attacked toward Nove, Katerynivka, Zelena Dolyna, Novolyubivka, Terny, and Kolodyazi, advancing east of Yampolivka. Near Ivanivka, where advanced units of the 144th Motorized Rifle Division of the 20th Combined Arms Army are active, Russian troops are engaged in fierce battles to expand their bridgehead on the Chornyi Zherebets River, attempting to attack both toward Kolodyazi and along the opposite bank in the direction of Terny–Yampolivka. After capturing Ivanivka and Terny, the enemy has had no significant success but could potentially intensify efforts on the southern and southwestern flanks, putting Ukrainian Defense units in a difficult tactical situation near Yampolivka and Torske. The 3rd Motorized Rifle Division of the 20th Combined Arms Army is trying to expand its bridgehead near Makiivka toward Hrekivka but without success.
On the Siversk direction, Russian forces continued their offensive but made no progress, attacking near Bilohorivka and Verkhnokamianske.
On the Kramatorsk direction, Russian forces captured the “Avangard” stadium and Hospital No. 3 in the center of Chasiv Yar.
On the Toretsk direction, Russian forces advanced along Puzanova Street in the northern part of Toretsk, attacked near Dyliivka. Units of the 109th Separate Rifle Regiment of the 1st Separate Motorized Rifle Brigade of the 51st Combined Arms Army captured Druzhba. The 1st, 9th, and 132nd Separate Motorized Rifle Brigades of the 51st Combined Arms Army and the reconnaissance and assault unit of the “Veterans” Brigade continue fighting for Toretsk and the “Toretska” Mine.
Ukrainian Defense Forces launched an attack on H. Skovoroda Street in the northern part of Toretsk.
On the Pokrovsk direction, Russian forces attacked near Pokrovsk, Zelene Pole, Tarasivka, Myroliubivka, Promin, Vodyane Druhe, Yelyzavetivka, Novotoretske, Lysivka, Zvirove, Pishchane, Novooleksandrivka, Nadiivka, Kotlyarivka, Udachne, Novoserhiyivka, and Uspenivka. The enemy is concentrating near Baranivka before advancing on Tarasivka.
Ukrainian Defense Forces counterattacked in Pishchane, Nadiivka, and Zvirove.
On the Novopavlivka direction, Russian forces attacked near Shevchenkove, Konstyantynopil, Andriivka, and Dachne.
On the Huliaypole direction, Russian forces attacked near Rivnopil, Novyi Komar, and Rozdolne.
General conclusion:
The commander of the 11th Separate Air Assault Brigade was removed from his position due to the defeat in Kursk Oblast. The brigade suffered losses and is currently of limited combat capability.
Russian forces systematically attempt to cross the Oskil River near Dvorichna in groups of two to eight people using rubber boats. They concentrate in wooded areas on the western bank of the river and then launch attacks on nearby villages. Nearly simultaneous attempts to cross the Oskil River both north of Kupyansk by forces of the 6th Combined Arms Army and south by forces of the 1st Tank Army clearly indicate that these units are operating within the framework of a single plan. Certain logistical difficulties in supplying their forward units on the bridgehead near Dvorichna serve as a restraining factor for the enemy. However, the existing level of logistics still allows them not only to hold the bridgehead but also to launch attacks from it in several directions.
On the Pokrovsk direction, the enemy’s "Tsentr (Center)" Operational Grouping is regrouping its forces in preparation for a main strike but continues offensive actions to the south and southwest of Pokrovsk using limited resources. The enemy continues active offensive actions and assault operations in this direction. However, in the last five days, these efforts have yielded virtually no results, although previously, they managed to break through in the northwestern direction and cut off the Mezhova–Pokrovsk road near Kotlyne. The number of attacks this week has decreased compared to the previous week, but the fighting remains intense.
On the Novopavlivka direction, fierce battles are ongoing for the remnants of the Kurakhove bridgehead. The "Tsentr (Center)" Operational Grouping attempts to compress the bridgehead from three sides simultaneously. The 90th Tank Division of the 41st Combined Arms Army and two brigades of the 51st Combined Arms Army attack from the north; the 20th and 150th Motorized Rifle Divisions of the 8th Combined Arms Army under "Yug (South)" Operational Grouping advance from the front/east in the area of Dachne and south of it; the 36th, 39th, and 57th Separate Motorized Rifle Brigades of "Vostok (East)" Operational Grouping attack from the south. In the coming days, the battles for Andriivka will be the focal point of events.
Change in the line of contact (LoC):
There were 123 combat engagements on various fronts.
On the Kharkiv direction, Ukrainian Defense Forces repelled an enemy attack near Vovchansk.
On the Kupyansk direction, there were 10 Russian assaults. Ukrainian Defense Forces repelled offensive actions near Zahryzove and Lozova.
On the Lyman direction, the enemy launched 13 attacks, attempting to advance near Kopanky, Novoyehorivka, Novolyubivka, and Yampolivka.
On the Siversk direction, the enemy attacked 13 times in the areas of Bilohorivka and Verkhnokamianske.
On the Kramatorsk direction, three clashes were recorded near Chasiv Yar and Predtechyne.
On the Toretsk direction, the enemy carried out 10 attacks in the Toretsk area.
On the Pokrovsk direction, the command of the enemy’s "Tsentr (Center)" Operational Grouping is regrouping forces in the direction of its main strike. The enemy continues active offensive and assault operations to the south and southwest of Pokrovsk. Over the past five days, these actions have yielded almost no results, although earlier, the enemy managed to break through in the northwestern direction and cut off the Mezhova–Pokrovsk road near the village of Kotlyne. The number of enemy attacks has decreased this week compared to the previous one, but the fighting remains intense.
On the Novopavlivka direction, the occupiers launched 9 attacks, attempting to break through toward Konstyantynopil.
On the Kursk direction, Ukrainian Defense Forces repelled 28 attacks by Russian invaders. The enemy conducted 61 airstrikes.
In the Black Sea-Azov naval operational area, the enemy naval group on combat duty consists of:
Black Sea: 1 ship, including 1 cruise missile carrier; the total salvo is 4 cruise missiles.
Mediterranean Sea: 6 ships, including 2 cruise missile carriers; the total salvo is 22 cruise missiles.
Supporting operation:
Ukrainian Defense Forces carried out UAV airstrikes on an oil refining station in the Kumylzhensky district of Volgograd Oblast and an oil pumping station in the outskirts of Chortkove, Rostov Oblast.
Changes in the enemy disposition:
The 11th Separate Air Assault Brigade, the 810th Separate Marines Brigade of the Black Sea Fleet, the 40th Separate Marines Brigade of the Pacific Fleet, the 177th Separate Marines Regiment of the Caspian Fleet, the Volunteer Reconnaissance and Assault Brigade "Veterans," and the Volunteer Battalion "Arbat" defend positions in Kursk Oblast.
The 25th Separate Motorized Rifle Brigade of the 6th Combined Arms Army operates near Fyholivka.
The 37th Motorized Rifle Regiment of the 67th Motorized Rifle Division of the 25th Combined Arms Army has moved into the wooded area south of Yampolivka. The 144th Motorized Rifle Division of the 20th Combined Arms Army also operates near Yampolivka.
The 55th Separate Motorized Rifle Brigade of the 41st Combined Arms Army has been replaced by the 15th Separate Motorized Rifle Brigade of the 2nd Combined Arms Army and moved to the second echelon.
To strengthen the combat formations of the 90th Tank Division, the command of the "Tsentr (Center)" Operational Grouping redeployed the 114th Separate Motorized Rifle Brigade of the 51st Combined Arms Army towards the Shevchenko (lower)–Andriivka direction, in addition to the already present 110th Separate Motorized Rifle Brigade.
Possible operation situation developments:
The enemy command's plan for the Southwestern Theater of Military Operations during the winter campaign of 2025 may include an operation to capture Pokrovsk and the final occupation of Toretsk, Chasiv Yar, and Vovchansk. Another possible course of action could be the occupation of Kupyansk or simultaneous actions in several directions.
The command of the enemy’s "Sever (North)" and "Zapad (West)" Operational Groupings will have to address the problem of expanding the bridgehead in the Dvorichna and Novomlynsk area at any cost in the short term. To capture Kupyansk, it will also be necessary to cross the Oskil River south of the city. However, the 1st Tank Army is currently unable to expand its access to the river or organize and conduct a full-scale crossing, as the forces of "Khortytsia" OSG have forced the enemy to fight in this area with a front deployed in three directions simultaneously. The command of the enemy’s "Sever (North)" Operational Grouping will soon attempt to increase its efforts on the bridgehead by deploying several units of the 25th Separate Motorized Rifle Brigade of the 6th Combined Arms Army or the 7th Separate Motorized Rifle Regiment of the 11th Army Corps into battle.
Once the enemy sufficiently expands its bridgeheads on the Chornyi Zherebets River, the 25th Army, with forces of the 67th Motorized Rifle Division and the 164th Separate Motorized Rifle Brigade, will sharply intensify actions toward Torske and Yampolivka. This will mark the second stage of pushing "Khortytsia" OSG out of the bridgehead east of the Chornyi Zherebets River on the Lyman direction. To implement this plan, the command of "Zapad (West)" Operational Grouping will need to expand the bridgehead on the Chornyi Zherebets River to a size sufficient for concentrating an assault grouping and find additional forces and resources.
On the Kramatorsk direction, the "Khortytsia" OSG units will be forced to retreat to the Kostyantynivka area if the enemy reaches the Chervone–Stupochky line and simultaneously launches an offensive northward at the junction of its 41st and 51st Combined Arms Armies from the Novooleksandrivka–Arkhanhelske line, advancing to the Yablunivka–Oleksandro-Kalynove line on the Toretsk direction.
The enemy's military command in the theater of operations will attempt to leverage tactical advantages within and near Toretsk and east of Pokrovsk to eliminate the Ukrainian bridgehead southwest of Toretsk. For this purpose, the intensity of combat operations southwest of Toretsk will be increased.
The further enemy actions on the Novopavlivka direction will aim to prevent the consolidation of "Khortytsia" OSG units in the Rozlyv–Konstyantynopil–Andriivka–Ulakly area. The Russian military command is likely to simultaneously intensify pressure with forces from the 90th Tank Division and increase efforts in the operational zone of "Vostok (East)" Operational Grouping. Troops from the 8th Combined Arms Army (20th and 150th Motorized Rifle Divisions) of the "Yug (South)" Operational Grouping are expected to participate in these actions, with some units likely being redeployed after the withdrawal of the "Khortytsia" OSG from the remaining positions at the Kurakhove bridgehead.
The most likely course of enemy actions in the operational zone of the "Vostok (East)" Operational Grouping may involve the capture of the Novodarivka–Novopil–Zelene Pole–Novosilka area, followed by an attempted breakthrough toward Bahatyr and Komar. To accomplish this, the 57th Separate Motorized Rifle Brigade of the 5th Combined Arms Army and part of the forces of the 34th Separate Motorized Rifle Brigade of the 49th Combined Arms Army (whose main forces operate in Kursk Oblast) will be redeployed from the right flank of the Vostok (East)" Operational Grouping to the operational zone of the 5th Combined Arms Army. The 36th Combined Arms Army will be fully deployed east of the Mokri Yaly River and reinforced with the 40th and 336th Separate Marines Brigades. The 60th Separate Motorized Rifle Brigade of the 5th Combined Arms Army will be moved into reserve and later used to develop the offensive toward Komar and Bahatyr. Securing this initial objective will enable the command of the Vostok (East)" Operational Grouping to create highly favorable conditions for an offensive by the 35th Combined Arms Army on the Huliaypole direction. A breakthrough to Bahatyr and Komar would allow the enemy to achieve operational success across the entire Novopavlivka direction.
The command of the enemy's "Vostok (East)" Operational Grouping will soon continue attacks toward the Donetsk–Zaporizhzhia highway along the Mokri Yaly River and will additionally deploy part of the units from the 60th and 34th Separate Motorized Rifle Brigades into the operation.
Exhausted by losses and intense battles over the past month, the enemy will not be able to quickly pursue "Khortytsia" OSG whose units are retreating from Velyka Novosilka. More and more enemy units are being withdrawn and redeployed to the Pokrovsk direction. Additionally, the enemy will not be able to break through to Zaporizhzhia or Dnipropetrovsk oblasts, as they lack the necessary troops, funds, and resources. The plan to collapse the southern Ukrainian front and advance toward Zaporizhzhia is unfeasible for the same reason.
If the Russian military command plans to prioritize the capture of the "fortress belt" in Donetsk Oblast in the spring and summer of 2025, it will be forced to intensify operational activity on the Toretsk direction in the near future. At the same time, capturing Pokrovsk will remain the primary operational objective of the Russian military command in Donetsk Oblast. Consequently, the redeployment of Eastern Military District troops to the Toretsk or Kramatorsk directions would signify a shift in the operational priorities of the occupying forces.
Russian operational losses from 23.02.22 to 08.02.25
Personnel - almost 847,860 (+1,210);
Tanks 9,981 (+6);
Armored combat vehicles – 20,777 (+22);
Artillery systems – 22,820 (+35);
Multiple rocket launchers (MLRS) – 1,273 (+2);
Anti-aircraft warfare systems – 1,056 (0);
Vehicles and fuel tanks – 36,402 (+95);
Aircraft - 369 (0);
Helicopters – 331 (0);
UAV operational and tactical level – 24,403 (+102);
Intercepted cruise missiles – 3,054 (0)
Boats/ships – 29 (0).
Humanitarian + general:
Since 19:30 on Friday, February 7, Russian forces launched 139 Shahed-type attack drones and various types of imitation drones against Ukraine. As of 09:00 on Saturday, February 8, the confirmed number of downed drones is 67. A total of 71 enemy imitation drones were lost off the radar (without negative consequences). As a result of the enemy attack, Sumy, Poltava, Dnipropetrovsk, and Kyiv Oblasts were affected.
In the morning, Russian forces attacked the Central District of Kherson. Residential homes and warehouses came under fire. A private house caught fire after being hit by an enemy shell. Rescuers managed to pull a mother and child out of the flames; they were taken to the hospital with blast injuries.
Russian forces struck Huliaypole in Zaporizhzhia Oblast with guided bombs (KAB), destroying a family’s home. The father and mother sustained shrapnel wounds and head injuries, while the children suffered concussions.
In the village of Blahovishchenske in the Kherson community, a 55-year-old woman was injured due to Russian shelling.
Throughout February 8, Russian forces attacked Nikopol District in Dnipropetrovsk Oblast 20 times, using heavy artillery and kamikaze drones. A woman was injured, and buildings and vehicles were damaged.
Over the past day, February 7, Russian forces launched 342 strikes on 12 settlements in Zaporizhzhia Oblast.
Fourteen people were evacuated from Udachne, Pokrovsk, Komar, and Kurakhove communities in Donetsk Oblast to Kremenchuk in Poltava Oblast.
Russians are preparing a provocation against the Coordination Headquarters for the Treatment of Prisoners of War. According to Ukraine’s Defense Intelligence, forged documents will be distributed as part of this provocation.
In the temporarily occupied city of Mariupol, schoolchildren are forced to write letters of gratitude to Russian soldiers by February 23, the date Russia celebrates "Defender of the Fatherland Day." It is emphasized that such actions are part of a propaganda campaign aimed at ideological indoctrination of children.