Russia's war on Ukraine. 09.05.25
Operational situation
On the Kursk direction, Ukrainian Defense Forces advanced along Chapaeva Street in Tetkino and southeast of the village, attacked near Novyi Put, and hold their positions in Kursk Oblast.
Russian troops advanced to the international border south of Oleshnia.
In Sumy Oblast, Russian troops advanced to the center of Loknia and attempted to advance near Vodolaha, Bilovody, and Loknia.
On the Kharkiv direction, Russian troops attempted to advance on the eastern outskirts of Vovchansk and attacked near Vovchanski Khutory.
On the Kupyansk direction, Russian troops slightly advanced to the northeastern outskirts of Dvorichna, northwest of Makiivka, and attacked near Hlushkivka, Synkivka, Stepova Novoselivka, Zahryzove, Nova Kruhlyakivka, Kopanky, Hrekivka, and in the direction of Olkhivka.
On the Lyman direction, Russian troops advanced to the northwest and west of Nove, attacked near Kolodyazi, in the direction of Ridkodub and Novyi Mir, Torske, and in the direction of Novomykhailivka, Ridkodub, and Zelena Dolyna.
On the Siversk direction, Russian troops attacked near Bilohorivka, Verkhnyokamianske, and Fedorivka.
On the Kramatorsk direction, Russian troops attempted to advance north of Chasiv Yar, engaged in combat at the "Pivnichna" mine, and attacked near Bila Hora, Predtechyne, and Kurdyumivka.
On the Toretsk direction, Ukrainian Defense Forces advanced to Radhospna Street in Druzhba.
Russian troops advanced on the southern outskirts of Nova Poltavka, attempted to advance north of Nova Poltavka, west of Nelipivka, north and to the northern part of Novoolenivka, north of Oleksandropil, on the western outskirts of Leonidivka, attempted to reach the T0504 highway from Pokrovsk to Kostyantynivka near Novoolenivka, and attacked near Toretsk, Dyliivka, Shcherbynivka, Malynivka, Yelyzavetivka, and in the direction of Romanivka.
On the Pokrovsk direction, Russian troops slightly advanced near Novoserhiyivka and attacked near Lysivka, Kotlyne, Zvirove, Udachne, Pokrovsk, Myroliubivka, Hrodivka, and Dachenske
On the Novopavlivka direction, Russian troops captured Troitske, advanced south of Novooleksandrivka, northwest of Rozdolne, and attacked near Kotlyarivka, Nadiivka, Orikhove, Bohdanivka, Konstyantynopil, Bahatyr, Oleksiivka, Rozlyv, Bahatyr. They also attempted to advance northwest of Andriivka and near Odradne.
On the Huliaypole direction, Russian troops advanced to the northwest of Rozdolne, attempted to advance north of Dniproenerhiya and west of Novosilka, and attacked near Vilne Pole, Novopil, Burlatske, and Pryvilne.
Ukrainian Defense Forces carried out drone strikes on Russian positions along the Vilne Pole – Novosilka – Novodarivka line.
On the Orikhiv direction, Russian troops attacked near Stepove, Kamianske, Shcherbaky, and Mala Tokmachka.
On the Prydniprovske direction, Russian troops attacked in certain areas and struck civilian infrastructure.
General conclusion:
The enemy, having unilaterally declared a ceasefire, continuously violates it.
Change in the line of contact (LoC):
There were 193 combat engagements on various fronts.
On the Kharkiv direction, four enemy attacks were repelled in the Vovchansk area.
On the Kupyansk direction, there were four Russian attacks. Ukrainian Defense Forces repelled enemy assaults near Synkivka, Stepova Novoselivka, Nova Kruhlyakivka, and in the direction of Novoosynove.
On the Lyman direction, the enemy attacked 27 times, attempting to advance near the settlements of Nadiya, Novoyehorivka, Ridkodub, Hrekivka, Novomykhailivka, Kolodyazi, Zelena Dolyna, and Torske.
On the Siversk direction, five enemy assault attempts were repelled near Bilohorivka and Fedorivka.
On the Kramatorsk direction, six combat engagements were recorded near Chasiv Yar and Kurdyumivka.
On the Toretsk direction, the enemy carried out nine attacks on Ukrainian Defense Forces positions near Krymske and Toretsk.
On the Pokrovsk direction, 71 Russian assault and offensive actions were stopped in the areas of Oleksandropil, Yelyzavetivka, Hrodivka, Myroliubivka, Dachenske, Zvirove, Kotlyne, Udachne, Novooleksandrivka, Kotlyarivka, Preobrazhenka, and Andriivka.
On the Novopavlivka direction, Ukrainian Defense Forces repelled 28 enemy attacks near Rozlyv, Novosilka, Novopil, Pryvilne, Burlatske, and in the direction of Odradne.
On the Orikhiv direction, three enemy assaults were repelled in the areas of Stepove and Shcherbaky.
On the Prydniprovske direction, the aggressor's units made five unsuccessful attempts to advance.
On the Kursk direction, Ukrainian Defense Forces repelled 19 enemy attacks. The enemy carried out nine airstrikes.
In the Black Sea-Azov naval operational area, the enemy naval group on combat duty consists of:
Black Sea: 4 ships, including 3 cruise missile carriers; the total salvo is 14 cruise missiles.
Mediterranean Sea: 3 ships, including 1 cruise missile carrier; the total salvo is 8 cruise missiles.
Supporting operation:
There were no strikes.
Changes in the enemy disposition:
The 238th Artillery Brigade of the 8th Combined Arms Army is engaged in combat operations near Kleban-Byk. The 33rd and 255th Motorized Rifle Regiments of the 20th Motorized Rifle Division of the 8th Combined Arms Army operates in Novoolenivka.
The 36th Separate Motorized Rifle Brigade and the 200th Artillery Brigade of the 29th Combined Arms Army operate near Bahatyr.
The 3rd BARS (Special Rapid Response Brigade) detachment "Rodina" operates near Kamianske.
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 09.05.25
Personnel - almost 963,270 (+1,300);
Tanks – 10,786 (+4);
Armored combat vehicles – 22,433 (+4);
Artillery systems – 27,588 (+36);
Multiple rocket launchers (MLRS) – 1,380 (+1);
Anti-aircraft warfare systems – 1,157 (+1);
Vehicles and fuel tanks – 47,724 (+120);
Aircraft - 372 (0);
Helicopters – 335 (0);
UAV operational and tactical level – 35,446 (+39);
Intercepted cruise missiles – 3,197 (0)
Boats/ships – 29 (0).
Humanitarian + general:
In Ukraine, April of this year became the deadliest month for civilians since September 2024 due to Russia's widespread use of ballistic missiles, according to the monthly report of the UN Human Rights Monitoring Mission in Ukraine. The UN reported at least 209 deaths and another 1,146 injuries in April.
For the second consecutive day, the Air Force has not recorded the use of Shahed-type strike drones by the enemy; however, Russia continues to terrorize the border areas of Sumy Oblast with guided aerial bombs. Over the past day, the enemy fired around 130 KABs, and by midday on May 9, more than fifty additional aerial bombs were launched. A woman was killed in the Richky community.
Around 6 AM, a resident of Kherson came under attack by a Russian drone. As a result of the dropped munition, the 60-year-old man sustained blast injuries and shrapnel wounds to his legs.
A Russian drone targeted a car carrying civilians in the Zaporizhzhia district. A married couple was injured—a 57-year-old man in critical condition and a 55-year-old woman in moderate condition were hospitalized.
In the afternoon of May 9, Russian forces launched an airstrike on the territory of the Shostka City Territorial Community in Sumy Oblast. An infrastructure facility and vehicles were damaged. A 43-year-old man was injured.
As part of President Zelensky's "Bring Kids Back UA" initiative, nine children were returned from territories temporarily occupied by Russia. Among them is 14-year-old Dmytro, whose home was near a Russian firing position, and the family lived under constant sounds of gunfire. At school, the boy was forced to sing military songs and throw grenades, while some of his classmates were sent to military camps where they were trained by Wagner militants.