Russia’s war on Ukraine. 12.10.25
Operational situation
On the Northern Slobozhansky direction, Russian troops attacked near Kindrativka, Varachyne, Oleksiivka. Units of the Combined Regiment of the Aerospace Forces of the Russian Federation Armed Forces try to deblock the units of the Airborne Troops of the Russian Federation Armed Forces in the Bezsalivka area.
Ukrainian Defense Forces counterattacked near Oleksiivka.
On the Southern Slobozhansky direction, Russian troops tried to advance west of Synelnykove, on the left bank of the Vovcha River in Vovchansk, near Tykhe, on the Milove – Khatnie line, in the direction of Dovhenke, near Odradne, and attacked near Vovchansk and Vovchanski Khutory.
On the Kupyansk direction, Russian troops tried to advance near Kucherivka and Petropavlivka, and attacked near Kupyansk, Kamyanka, Dvorichna, in the direction of Kolodyazne, Bolohivka, near Zakhidne, in the direction of Kutkivka, near Petropavlivka, Pishchane, Stepova Novoselivka, in the direction of Kurylivka, near Bohuslavka, Nova Kruhlyakivka, Kopanky, Olhivka.
On the Lyman direction, Russian troops tried to advance in the center of Zarichne, east of Yampil, and attacked in the direction of Lyman, near Novoselivka, Drobyševo, Serednie, Derylove, Shandryholove, Karpivka, Ridkodub, Novyi Myr, in the direction of Stavky, near Torske.
On the Sloviansk direction, Russian troops attacked near Siversk, Dronivka, Serebrianka, Hryhorivka, Vyimka, Kuzmynivka.
On the Kostyantynivka direction, Russian troops attacked in the direction of Virolyubivka, near Predtechyne, Toretsk, Oleksandro-Shultyne, Shcherbynivka, Kleban-Byk, Pleshchiivka, in the direction of Berestky, near Rusyn Yar, Poltavka, Volodymyrivka.
On the Pokrovsk direction, Russian troops advanced south of Shakhove, southeast of Krasnyi Lyman, in the center of Balahan, on the northern outskirts of Udachne, tried to advance southeast of Hryshyne, fought for Kozatske, and attacked near Kucheriv Yar, Nove Shakhove, Zapovidne, Zatyshok, Pokrovsk, Rodynske, Krasnyi Lyman, Novoekonomichne, Myroliubivka, Myrnohrad, Lysivka, Novoukrainka, Chunyshyne, Zvirove, Kotlyne, Molodetske.
Troops of the 1st National Guard Corps repelled a large enemy assault in the Ocheretyne – Shakhove direction. A group of up to 20 enemy servicemen advanced to Volodymyrivka.
On the Oleksandrivka direction, Russian troops advanced southeast of Stepove, east of Oleksiivka, tried to advance east of Novopavlivka, and attacked near Horikhove, Tovste, Filiya, Zelenyi Hai, Andriivka-Klevtsove, Sichneve, Sosnivka, Verbove, Stepove, Berezove, in the direction of Orestopil.
Ukrainian Defense Forces counterattacked on the Novomykolaivka – Orikhove – Dachne line, near Oleksiivka.
On the Huliaypole direction, Russian troops advanced north and south of Novohryhorivka, to the western outskirts of Okhotnyche, to the southeastern outskirts of Poltavka, and attacked near Malynivka, Uspenivka, Novovasylivske.
On the Orikhiv direction, Russian troops attacked near Mala Tokmachka, Novodanylivka, Stepove, Kamianske, Stepnohirsk, Plavni, Prymorske.
General conclusion:
In the Dobropillya area, the enemy introduced part of its naval infantry formations into the operation in the Poltavka – Volodymyrivka and Novotoretske – Volodymyrivka directions. In the near future, the enemy command on the adjacent flank of the 51st and 8th Combined Arms Armies will attempt to fully push Ukrainian Defense Forces out of the Sofiivka – Volodymyrivka – Pankivka – Shakhove area.
Change in the line of contact (LoC):
There were 203 combat engagements on various fronts.
On the Northern Slobozhansky and Kursk directions, 4 combat engagements took place.
On the Southern Slobozhansky direction, 23 combat engagements took place in the areas of Vovchansk, Odradne, Zapadne, Kutkivka, and in the direction of Obukhivka, Bolohivka, Dvorichanske, and Kolodyazne.
On the Kupyansk direction, 15 attacks by the occupiers took place. Ukrainian Defense Forces repelled the enemy’s assault actions in the areas of Kupyansk, Petropavlivka, Bohuslavka, Nova Kruhlyakivka, and Stepova Novoselivka.
On the Lyman direction, the enemy attacked 14 times, trying to advance near Shandryholove, Derylove, Kolodyazi, Kopanky, Karpivka, Serednie, Drobysheve, Torske, and in the direction of Lyman.
On the Sloviansk direction, the enemy carried out 6 attacks in the areas of Yampil, Serebrianka, Vyimka, and Dronivka.
On the Kostyantynivka direction, the enemy carried out 21 attacks in the areas of Oleksandro-Shultyne, Shcherbynivka, Pleshchiivka, Rusyn Yar, and Poltavka.
On the Pokrovsk direction, 58 aggressor offensive actions were stopped in the areas of Volodymyrivka, Novomykolayivka, Novopavlivka, Zatyshok, Boykivka, Fedorivka, Shakhove, Sukhetske, Myrnohrad, Chervonyi Lyman, Myroliubivka, Novoekonomichne, Zvirove, Kotlyne, Udachne, Molodetske, Filiya, and in the direction of the settlement of Pokrovsk.
On the Oleksandrivka direction, Ukrainian Defense Forces repelled 36 attacks near Malynivka, Poltavka, Oleksandrohrad, Pavlivka, Zelenyi Hai, Sichneve, Sosnivka, Novohryhorivka, and in the direction of Orestopil.
On the Orikhiv direction, the invading troops attacked 6 times near Kamianske, Stepnohirsk, Stepove, and toward Prymorske.
Supporting operation:
Ukrainian Defense Forces launched UAV strikes on the Bashneft-UNPZ plant in Ufa, Bashkortostan, the Luch Combined Heat and Power Plant in Belgorod, an electrical substation in Vygonichi village in Bryansk Oblast, and objects in Donetsk.
Changes in the enemy disposition:
The 20th Radiation, Chemical, and Biological Protection Brigade of the Leningrad Military District operates in the border zone of Kursk Oblast.
The 164th Separate Motorized Rifle Brigade of the 25th Combined Arms Army strikes Ukrainian logistics near Hryhorivka.
The 33rd Motorized Rifle Regiment of the 20th Motorized Rifle Division of the 8th Combined Arms Army operates near Toretsk, the 80th Separate Reconnaissance Battalion of the 51st Combined Arms Army strikes Ukrainian positions near Bilytske, the “Maksym Kryvonos Battalion” (”Russian Volunteer Corps”), and the 56th Separate SOF Battalion of the 51st Combined Arms Army operate near Pokrovsk.
The 305th Artillery Brigade of the 5th Combined Arms Army operates in the Huliaypole direction, the 1198th Motorized Rifle Regiment of the 35th Combined Arms Army operates near Huliaypole.
The 7th Air Assault Division, the 70th Motorized Rifle Regiment of the 42nd Motorized Rifle Division of the 58th Combined Arms Army, and the 33rd BARS Detachment conduct reconnaissance on the Orikhiv direction.
Possible operation situation developments:
According to the assessment of the Main Intelligence Directorate of the Ukrainian Defense Ministry, the enemy will not be able to achieve the goal of the so-called special military operation to capture the entire Donetsk Oblast by the end of 2025. Provided current dynamics of combat operations are maintained, the enemy will be able to capture Pokrovsk, Kostyantynivka, Druzhkivka, and Kupyansk no earlier than the end of the year and reach the close approaches to Zaporizhzhia and the Sloviansk-Kramatorsk agglomeration by early winter.
The command of the enemy’s “Sever (North)” Operational Grouping, in cooperation with the right flank of the “Zapad (West)” Operational Grouping, will expand its bridgehead northeast of Velykyi Burluk in the Southern Slobozhansky direction and will try to capture Khatnie.
On the Kupyansk direction, the forward units of the 6th Combined Arms Army will try to bypass Kupyansk as deeply as possible, primarily from the west and northwest in the direction of Radkivka – Myrne, in the general direction of the Chuhuiv – Kupyansk highway and take control of the Mala Shapkivka – Velyka Shapkivka – Kindrashivka – Tyshchenkivka area. Holding the Petropavlivka – Pishchane – Kolisnykivka – Kivsharivka area by the 11th Army Corps of Ukrainian Defense Forces, while not critical, depends on the outcome of the battles in the Kupyansk area, therefore even the loss of Kupyansk will not lead to the loss of logistics for the tactical group of the Defense Forces operating east of the Oskil River.
On the Lyman direction, the command of the “Zapad (West)” Operational Grouping will try to create conditions for the further capture of Lyman, for which the Operational Grouping’s troops will push into the area of Yarova – Novoselivka – Drobysheve – Pryshyb and block Lyman from the northwest, cutting all main routes that do not cross the Siverskyi Donets River. The enemy will try to completely push the Defense Forces units out of the area where the Chornyi Zherebets River flows into the Siverskyi Donets River and occupy Yampil. The ability of the “Khortytsia” Operational-Strategic Grouping to hold the Novoselivka – Stavky line is acquiring important operational significance. The enemy tries to solve two main operational tasks—to capture Lyman and the adjacent territory on the northern bank of the Siverskyi Donets River and to reach the river on the widest possible front, which will expand the variability of the enemy’s further actions in the Sloviansk direction.
Russian troops will try to cut off the H20 Kostyantynivka – Sloviansk highway. For this purpose, they will attack in the directions of Oleksiyevo-Druzhkivka and Druzhkivka, complicating the logistics of the 19th Combined Arms Corps of the Defense Forces in Kostyantynivka, thereby contributing to the capture of the “fortress belt.” The enemy command prepares an offensive on Kostyantynivka and Druzhkivka, which involves delivering concentric strikes simultaneously from the northeast, from the direction of Chasiv Yar, from the southeast, from the direction of Toretsk and the Kleban-Byk reservoir, and from the southwest, from the Poltavka – Novoolenivka line.
In the Dobropillya area, troops of the 51st Combined Arms Army will try to completely push Ukrainian Defense Forces out of the Sofiivka – Volodymyrivka – Pankivka – Shakhove area. The simultaneous activation of the offensive of the troops of the 2nd Combined Arms Army of the “Tsentr (Center)” Operational Grouping in the areas of Zvirove, Troyanda, and in the direction of Chunyshyne – Novopavlivka indicates the enemy command’s intention to adhere to its plan for the Pokrovsk offensive operation going forward. The enemy will assault Pokrovsk with the main forces of the 2nd Combined Arms Army.
On the Oleksandrivka direction, the “Vostok (East)” Operational Grouping will be forced to stretch the front, aiming to straighten its line in the northern direction, accelerating the advance of its left flank. The 5th Combined Arms Army will attack on a wide front in the directions of Komyshuvakha – Ternove and Zaporizhzhia – Berezove, in addition to continuing to fight for Novoivanivka and Novomykolayivka, while attempting to advance north of Olhivske.
On the Orikhiv direction, the “Dnepr” Operational Grouping will continue a local offensive operation, attempting 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.
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 23.02.22 to 12.10.25
Personnel - almost 1,122 810 (+1,240);
Tanks – 11,248 (+1);
Armored combat vehicles ‒ 23,345 (0);
Artillery systems – 33,578 (+10);
Multiple rocket launchers (MLRS) – 1,518 (0);
Anti-aircraft warfare systems – 1,225 (0);
Vehicles and fuel tanks – 63,934 (+87);
Aircraft - 427 (0);
Helicopters – 346 (0);
UAV operational and tactical level – 69,010 (+244);
Intercepted cruise and other missiles – 3,859 (0);
Boats/ships – 29 (0).
Humanitarian + general:
According to President Zelenskyy, Russia launched over 3,100 drones, 92 missiles, and about 1,360 guided aerial bombs at Ukraine last week.
On the night of October 12, Russian troops attacked with 118 UAVs and a Kh-31 guided missile. Ukrainian Air Defense Forces shot down or suppressed 113 drones. Hits from one missile and 15 UAVs were recorded in 10 settlements. As of 9 AM, there were no reports of falling fragments; the attack continued.
On the night of October 12, Russian troops attacked Ukraine’s energy and gas transportation infrastructure, damaging energy objects in Donetsk, Odesa, and Chernihiv Oblasts, the Ministry of Energy reported.
On the night of October 12, Russian UAVs attacked Chuhuiv in Kharkiv Oblast. One of the strikes hit a building of an educational institution, which sustained significant damage. One woman was injured. A residential building nearby was also damaged.
On the morning of October 12, due to targeted Russian strikes on the energy infrastructure, Donetsk Oblast was left without electricity. Specialists have already started repairs, but the timeline for restoring power supply is not yet known.
On the night of October 12, Russian UAVs attacked Bilhorod-Dnistrovskyi in Odesa Oblast, damaging critical infrastructure objects. Electricity and water supply are temporarily absent in several parts of the city. Specialists expect water supply to be restored around 12:30 PM.
During the day, Russian troops struck the energy infrastructure of Kyiv Oblast. Two employees of the DTEK company were injured as a result of the attack on a substation in Boryspil District.
During the day on October 12, Russian troops attacked Chernihiv with UAVs, as a result of which five people were injured, one of them in serious condition. Two explosions were heard in the city; the air raid alarm in Chernihiv District lasted over seven hours.
On October 12, 2025, the Russian Federation Armed Forces shelled the city of Kupiansk. A 49-year-old woman was killed. A 63-year-old man was injured. A private household was damaged.
During the day on October 12, the Russians attacked Kharkiv with guided aerial bombs; impacts were recorded in the Nemyshlianskyi and Slobidskyi Districts, and one man was injured.
On October 12, 2025, around 4:00 PM, the enemy attacked a private household with a UAV in Yunakivka community, Sumy District. As a result of the occupiers’ attack, a 50-year-old man and a 45-year-old woman, who arrived from Sumy to feed the dogs, were injured.
During the day on October 12, the Russian Federation Armed Forces attacked Korabelnyi District of Kherson with a UAV. Two local residents were injured as a result of the attack. Previously, three more civilian men were injured as a result of drone attacks in Kherson.
In Dnipropetrovsk Oblast on October 12, two people were killed and three more were injured as a result of enemy attacks.