Russia's war on Ukraine. 08.05.25
Operational situation
On the Kursk direction, Ukrainian Defense Forces advanced south of Tetkino, capturing up to two streets in the southern part of the town, securing their positions, repelling attacks by the 56th Air Assault Regiment of the 7th Air Assault Division of the enemy, clearing mines in the area, and creating passages through the enemy's minefields.
Russian forces repeled local attacks by Ukrainian Defense Forces in the areas of Tetkino and Novyi Put.
In Sumy Oblast, enemy sabotage and reconnaissance groups attempted to cross the international border. UAV units from the 98th Airborne Division operate in the region.
On the Kharkiv direction, Russian forces advanced near the machine-building plant in the center of Vovchansk and attacked near Vovchansk and Vovchanski Khutory.
On the Kupyansk direction, Russian forces attempted to advance west of Kamyanka, attacking near Petropavlivka, Hlushkivka, Zahryzove, Nova Kruhlyakivka, Kopanky, Nadiya, Zelenyi Hai, Hrekivka, and towards Olkhivka.
On the Lyman direction, Russian forces engaged in battles for Lypove, consolidated positions northeast of Ridkodub, try to advanced south of Nove, near Kolodyazi, northwest of Torske, and attacked near Novyi Mir, Yampolivka, and Zelena Dolyna.
On the Siversk direction, Russian forces advanced near Hryhorivka and within the village itself, northeast of Ivano-Dariivka, in Verkhnyokamianske, seized a chalk quarry south of Bilohorivka, and attacked near Bilohorivka.
On the Kramatorsk direction, Russian forces advanced to the "Pivnichna" mine north of Chasiv Yar, attempted to push northeast of Stupochky, and attacked near Bila Hora and Kurdyumivka.
On the Toretsk direction, Russian forces captured Novooleksandrivka, continued fighting for Oleksandropil, advanced south of the village, and north and northeast of Novooleksandrivka. The enemy attacked near Toretsk, Dyliivka, Dachne, Druzhba, Shcherbynivka, Nova Poltavka, and Kalynove.
Ukrainian Defense Forces counterattacked near Novooleksandrivka.
On the Pokrovsk direction, Russian forces continued fighting in Myroliubivka, try to advance near the pond south of the village, and attacked near Malynivka, Promin, Lysivka, Shevchenkove, Dachne, Zvirove, Kotlyne, and Udachne.
On the Novopavlivka direction, Russian forces advanced on the eastern outskirts of Novoserhiyivka and the eastern outskirts of Troitske, attempted to push south of Novooleksandrivka, near Preobrazhenka, in the center of Orikhove, north of Troitske, in Bahatyr, southeast of Odradne, and attacked in the direction of Novopavlivka, Kotlyarivka, Nadiivka, Sribne, Bohdanivka, Andriivka, Oleksiivka, and Konstyantynopil.
Ukrainian Defense Forces hold positions in Uspenivka and the western part of Novooleksandrivka, counterattacking near Bahatyr.
On the Huliaypole direction, Russian forces advanced east of Novopil, attempted to push west of Novosilka, and attacked near Shevchenkove, Vilne Pole, Pryvilne, and Rivnopil.
On the Orikhiv direction, Russian forces attacked near Mala Tokmachka, Novodanylivka, Mali Shcherbaky, Kamianske, and towards Novoandriivka, counterattacking near Stepove and Shcherbaky.
Ukrainian Defense Forces struck with HIMARS rockets at the concentration area of the 70th Motorized Rifle Regiment of the 42nd Motorized Rifle Division of the 58th Combined Arms Army near Myrne.
General conclusion:
On the Siversk direction, the enemy has intensified its offensive towards Hryhorivka, Verkhnyokamianske, Ivano-Dariivka, Vyimka, and Pereyizne.
On the Toretsk direction, Russian forces use about 150 FPV drones per day, which patrol near logistical routes in the areas of Oleksandropil, Nova Poltavka, and Novoolenivka. In order to increase the flight range of FPV drones with fiber-optic cable channels, they deploy them directly from forward positions.
On the Pokrovsk direction, Russian forces are increasing the use of unmanned aerial vehicles and attacking targets in the rear of Ukrainian Defense Forces at distances of up to 20 km from the front line.
Change in the line of contact (LoC):
There were 196 combat engagements on various fronts.
On the Kharkiv direction, the aggressor launched 11 assaults on Defense Forces' positions near Vovchansk, Vovchanski Khutory, and Kamyanka.
On the Kupyansk direction, there were 6 enemy attacks. Ukrainian Defense Forces repelled assault actions in the areas of Hlushkivka, Nova Kruhlyakivka, and Zahryzove.
On the Lyman direction, the enemy attacked 24 times, attempting to advance near Kopanky, Hrekivka, Kolodyazi, and towards Ridkodub, Novyi Mir, and Olhivka.
On the Siversk direction, the enemy conducted 6 attacks near Verkhnyokamianske and Bilohorivka.
On the Kramatorsk direction, there were 10 combat clashes in the areas of Bila Hora, Chasiv Yar, and Predtechyne.
On the Toretsk direction, the enemy carried out 13 attacks near Shcherbynivka, Toretsk, and towards Dyliivka.
On the Pokrovsk direction, 61 enemy offensive actions were stopped in the areas of Yelyzavetivka, Pokrovsk, Troitske, Malynivka, Lysivka, Kotlyne, Zvirove, Udachne, Novoserhiyivka, Novooleksandrivka, Nadiivka, Bohdanivka, Andriivka, and towards Bahatyr, Romanivka, Oleksiivka, Nova Poltavka, and Kotlyarivka.
On the Novopavlivka direction, Ukrainian Defense Forces repelled 32 attacks near Konstyantynopil, Novosilka, Vilne Pole, and towards Novopil, Bahatyr, and Odradne.
On the Huliaypole direction, the enemy made a failed attempt to advance towards Vysoke.
On the Orikhiv direction, 7 enemy attacks were successfully repelled in the areas of Stepove, Kamianske, and Shcherbaky.
On the Prydniprovske direction, the enemy made one unsuccessful attempt to advance.
On the Kursk direction, Ukrainian Defense Forces repelled 19 enemy attacks. The enemy carried out 7 airstrikes.
In the Black Sea-Azov naval operational area, the enemy naval group on combat duty consists of:
Mediterranean Sea: 3 ships, including 1 cruise missile carrier; the total salvo is 8 cruise missiles.
Supporting operation:
Ukrainian Defense Forces struck the defense enterprise "Bazalt" in Krasnoarmeysk, Moscow Oblast, and on the "Shaikovka" airfield in Kaluga Oblast.
Changes in the enemy disposition:
The Sheikh Mansur Volunteer Battalion operates Near Stroivka, located northeast of Kupyansk near the international border.
Units of the 4th Tank Division of the 1st Tank Army operate near Raihorodka and Kopanky.
Possible operation situation developments:
The plan for the enemy's spring-summer offensive campaign in the Southwestern Theater of Operations may be as follows: a simultaneous breakthrough towards Kostyantynivka and Druzhkivka from the south and southeast (from the direction of Toretsk and Vozdvyzhenka), as well as from the northeast (from the direction of Chasiv Yar), followed by an advance towards Kramatorsk from the south while simultaneously advancing towards Slovyansk with the forces of the 20th and 25th Combined Arms Armies of the "Zapad (West)" Operational Grouping through Lyman. Russian forces may attempt to advance near Kupyansk, Lyman, Novopavlivka, or toward the city of Zaporizhzhia. The Pokrovsk direction is viewed by Ukraine’s military-political leadership as the absolute priority for the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation. Additionally, Russian forces intend to create a buffer zone in the north of Sumy Oblast and pose a threat to the city of Sumy in the coming months.
The enemy will maintain its offensive in northern Sumy Oblast to establish a buffer zone along the Yunakivka – Khrapivshchyna – Radkivka – Mohrytsya line, extending along the Psel River. The command of the "Sever (North)" Operational Grouping is focusing on seizing control of the Bilovody – Loknia – Yunakivka – Yablunivka sector, as well as the eastern portion of the forested area west of Mohrytsya. Their objective is to push forward to the Velyka Rybytsya – Myropillya line along the Psel River. The enemy is also attempting to break through towards Vorozhba and Bilopillya to disrupt the Sumy – Novhorod-Siverskyi supply route.
On the Kupyansk direction, the command of the enemy's "Zapad (West)" Operational Grouping intends to encircle the tactical group of "Khortytsia" OSG which is defending along the Novoyehorivka – Hrekivka line. To achieve this, they plan to advance with the 144th Motorized Rifle Division from the bridgehead near Nove towards the heights near the village of Cherneshchyna, and with the 4th Tank Division advancing in converging directions: Raihorodka – Cherneshchyna and Pershotravneve – Kopanky.
On the Lyman direction, the forces of the "Zapad (West)" Operational Grouping will advance towards Karlivka and Drobysheve, aiming to reach the Karlivka – Shandryholove – Drobysheve line while simultaneously advancing near Torske to approach Lyman from the east. The 25th Combined Arms Army will attempt to break through the communication lines of the "Khortytsia" OSG tactical group, which is defending in the Dibrova – Yampil direction and in the area of the Serebriansk Forest. The enemy will attempt to advance on both banks of the Chornyi Zherebets River, moving towards the general directions of Yampolivka – Torske and Ivanivka – Zarichne. The main grouping of the army will operate on its right flank, attempting to break through from the north to the Lyman – Kreminna road in the Zarichne – Torske section, while simultaneously tying down the "Khortytsia" OSG forces in the center and on the left flank of the operational zone with frontal engagements.
On the Siversk direction, the command of the enemy's "Yug (South)" Operational Grouping will attempt to eliminate the Siversk salient held by "Khortytsia" OSG and break through towards the Sloviansk – Kramatorsk agglomeration and to Kostyantynivka, delivering its main strike in the area of Chasiv Yar. The 3rd Combined Arms Army of the enemy will try to break through to Kostyantynivka from Chasiv Yar, but it is unlikely to achieve its operational goals without reinforcements, such as the return of the 106th Airborne Division from the Kursk direction or strategic reserves. The 3rd Army will attempt to advance to the northern bank of the Siverskyi Donets River between Yampil and Hryhorivka and from the southeast towards Siversk. The command of the "Yug" Operational Grouping is also concentrating forces in the areas of Soledar, Rozdolivka, and Zaliznyanske to strike from the south along the Bakhmutka River towards Siversk. The offensive may begin with the advance of the forward units of the 127th and 6th Separate Motorized Rifle Brigades of the 3rd Army towards Siversk from the east and southeast. The immediate objective for the enemy is to capture Pereyizne and Fedorivka, with the subsequent goal of advancing to the Zvanivka – Vyimka line.
On the Kramatorsk direction, the command of the enemy’s “Yug (South)” Operational Grouping and the 3rd Army, in particular, may soon change the direction of their main strike and shift it to the north of Chasiv Yar, launching an offensive on both sides of the Bakhmut–Sloviansk road along the Orikhovo-Vasylivka–Minkivka and Blahodatne–Pryvillya directions, which would allow them to break through to the forward approaches of Sloviansk directly from the southeast and create a real threat to the “Siversk” Operational Tactical Grouping (OTG) of Ukrainian Defense Forces by executing a deep flanking maneuver on its right flank. If the enemy manages to achieve operational surprise in these directions and advance to tactical depth, the situation in the Kolodyazi–Hryhorivka sector on the Lyman direction could radically deteriorate for the “Khortytsia” OSG.
The command of the enemy’s “Yug (South)” Operational Grouping will continue its offensive on the Toretsk direction with two tactical groups — one in the Toretsk area (main group), and another in the Vozdvyzhenka area (group on a secondary direction). The first group will attempt a breakthrough toward Pleshchiivka, bypassing the Kleban-Byk reservoir from the east; the second will push toward the Novoolenivka area, bypassing the reservoir from the west along the Pokrovsk–Bakhmut highway. The enemy will attempt to outflank the prepared “Khortytsia” OSG defenses from the east, along lines based on a cascade of small reservoirs and ponds along the Bychok River, generally in the Toretsk–Kostyantynivka direction, aiming to reach the intermediate line Pleshchiivka–Bila Hora. Its forward units will attempt to advance through Shcherbynivka toward Pleshchiivka and along the Dachne–Dyliivka railway. In the near future, the enemy will focus on seizing Shcherbynivka and Novospaske. If unsuccessful, the main axis of the attack may shift to the zone of the 20th Motorized Rifle Division near Vozdvyzhenka, or the enemy may focus on dismantling the “Khortytsia” OSG’s defenses along the Siverskyi Donets–Donbas canal, advancing from south to north.
The operational plan of the 8th Combined Arms Army on the Kostyantynivka direction is to envelop the tactical group of the "Khortytsia" OSG, which is defending south of Kostyantynivka between Oleksandropil and Tarasivka from the flanks. The enemy aims to encircle and destroy this group or, if unable to do so, force it to withdraw from the area south of Kostyantynivka in a northwestern direction under the threat of encirclement. The ultimate goal of these actions is a two-pronged breakthrough from the southwest and southeast toward the area of Stepanivka – Berestok – Pleshchiivka – Yablunivka, followed by a simultaneous assault on Kostyantynivka from this area and from the direction of Chasiv Yar.
Russian operational losses from 23.02.22 to 08.05.25
Personnel - almost 961,970 (+1,200);
Tanks – 10,782 (+2);
Armored combat vehicles – 22,429 (+10);
Artillery systems – 27,552 (+50);
Multiple rocket launchers (MLRS) – 1,379 (+1);
Anti-aircraft warfare systems – 1,156 (+1);
Vehicles and fuel tanks – 47,604 (+120);
Aircraft - 372 (0);
Helicopters – 335 (0);
UAV operational and tactical level – 35,407 (+141);
Intercepted cruise missiles – 3,197 (0)
Boats/ships – 29 (0).
Humanitarian + general:
The Ukrainian Air Force reported that since the beginning of May 8, as of 8:00 AM, no missile strikes or use of strike UAVs have been recorded in Ukraine's airspace. However, during the night, the enemy intensified tactical aviation strikes using guided aerial bombs on Sumy Oblast. Later, the Sumy Oblast Prosecutor's Office reported that as a result of the attacks, one person was killed and two others were injured.
The Russian occupying army continued its attacks along the entire front line on May 8, thereby making a mockery of its own statements about the introduction of a "ceasefire," said Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andriy Sybiha.
On May 8, around 7:05 AM, Russian forces struck a civilian "Renault Sandero" car with an FPV drone while it was traveling on a road near the village of Velyki Prokhody in Kharkiv Raion. Three women aged 18, 30, and 58 were injured.
On May 7 at 10:50 PM, Russian forces attacked Kostiantynivka using a "FAB-250" bomb with a UMPK module, hitting a multi-story residential building. At least 13 civilians were injured, and one person is likely trapped under the rubble.
On May 8, 2025, around 5:00 PM, a Russian UAV attacked the village of Ponyativka in Kherson Oblast, resulting in the death of a woman due to the dropping of explosives.
In the evening of May 8, the Russian army launched a missile, which was shot down by air defense in the Myrhorod Raion of Poltava Oblast. Several private houses were damaged, but there were no casualties.
Ukrainian law enforcement is investigating the executions of 268 Ukrainian prisoners of war by Russian occupiers. Of those, 208 were executed on the battlefield, and 59 were executed in the Olenivka colony, according to Yuriy Bielousov, head of the Department for Combating Crimes Committed in Conditions of Armed Conflict at the Prosecutor General's Office.
On May 8, President Volodymyr Zelensky submitted a draft law on the military ombudsman to the Verkhovna Rada. The bill was marked as urgent by Zelensky and registered under number 13266.
According to a survey conducted by the Razumkov Center's sociological service in cooperation with the Kyiv Security Forum from April 24 to May 4, 2025, 17.1% of Ukrainians fully trust President Zelensky, and 42.7% rather trust him. At the same time, 13.7% do not trust him at all, and 19.4% rather do not trust him among those surveyed.