Russia's war on Ukraine. 13.08.25
Operational situation
On the Northern Slobozhansky direction, Ukrainian Defense Forces control Novokostyantynivka and counterattacked near Sumy, Oleksiivka, Andriivka, Kindrativka, Yunakivka, and Yablunivka.
Russian troops attacked near Sumy, Oleksiivka, Andriivka, Kindrativka, and Yunakivka. The 119th Airborne Regiment of the 106th Airborne Division and the 83rd Separate Air Assault Brigade were transferred to Yunakivka to unblock units of the 104th, 234th, and 237th Airborne Assault Regiments of the 76th Airborne Assault Division. The “Sever (North)” Operational Grouping command stopped attempts to unblock the 51st Airborne Regiment of the 106th Airborne Division near Sadky.
On the Southern Slobozhansky direction, Russian troops advanced south of Milove, tried to advance to Velykyi Burluk, and west of Synelnykove, where they struck the railway station, and attacked near Vovchansk on the southern bank of the Vovcha river.
Ukrainian Defense Forces counterattacked near Milove.
On the Kupyansk direction, the 12th Tank Regiment of the 4th Tank Division of the 1st Tank Army captured Zelenyi Hay. Russian troops attacked near Kupyansk, Myrove, Sobolivka, Kindrashivka, Holubivka, Dvorichna, Petropavlivka, Stepova Novoselivka, Kivsharivka, Borova, Nova Kruhlyakivka, Kruhlyakivka, Bohuslavka, Zahryzove, Hrekivka, and Druzhelyubivka, and tried to advance southwest of Zelenyi Hay.
Ukrainian Defense Forces counterattacked near Radkivka.
On the Lyman direction, Russian troops advanced in the Serebriansk Forest, attacked near Serednie, Shandryholove, Karpivka, Ridkodub, Stavky, Kolodyazi, Myrne, Torske, Dibrova, and Zarichne, and in the Yampil direction.
Ukrainian Defense Forces counterattack near Kolodyazi.
On the Siversk direction, Russian troops attacked Siversk, and near Hryhorivka, Serebrianka, and Vyimka.
On the Kramatorsk direction, Russian troops attacked near Mykolaivka, Stupochky, Oleksandro-Shultyne, and Bila Hora.
On the Toretsk direction, Russian troops advanced west of Katerynivka and west of Poltavka, and attacked near Toretsk, Dyliivka, Nelipivka, Kleban-Byk, Popiv Yar, Yablunivka, Rusyn Yar, Stepanivka, and Shcherbynivka.
Ukrainian Defense Forces counterattacked within Katerynivka.
On the Pokrovsk direction, several small enemy groups, bypassing the positions of Ukrainian Defense Forces, attempted to advance in the Zolotyi Kolodyaz direction. In addition, taking advantage of the landscape's features, enemy reconnaissance and sabotage groups infiltrated Vesele, Vilne, Rubizhne, and Kucheriv Yar. Some of the groups were already destroyed, and the rest are being destroyed. The depth of the front breakthrough north of Pokrovsk is about 18 km. Ukrainian Defense Forces have a few days to localize the breakthrough before the enemy transfers heavy mechanized units and drone units there.
Russian troops advanced in the eastern part of Rodynske, in the center of Udachne, tried to advance southeast of Rodynske, east of Chervonyi Lyman, southeast of Svitlo, to the southern part of Shevchenkove, northwest of Novooleksandrivka, and northwest of Leontovychi, and attacked near Volodymyrivka, Kolodyazi, Zapovidne, Nove Shakhove, Dorizhne, Sukhetske, Kucheriv Yar, Novoekonomichne, Promin, Lysivka, Zvirove, and Udachne.
On the Novopavlivka direction, Russian troops attacked near Horikhove, Dachne, Novoukrainka, Tovste, Myrne, Piddubne, Andriivka-Klevtsove, Zelenyi Hay, Ivanivka, Voskresenka, Oleksandrohrad, Maliivka, and Vilne Pole, and in the direction of Filiya, Komyshuvakha, and Novoivanivka.
On the Huliaypole direction, Russian troops attacked near Poltavka, Olhivske, and Malynivka.
On the Orikhiv direction, the 210th Assault Regiment of Ukrainian Defense Forces cleared the southern outskirts of Stepnohirsk of the enemy's 7th Air Assault Division assault groups, which were trying to consolidate there. Ukrainian Defense Forces counterattacked near Mala Tokmachka.
Russian troops attacked in the Novodanylivka direction, and near Mala Tokmachka, Nesteryanka, Kamianske, Stepnohirsk, and Plavni.
General conclusion:
On the Southern Slobozhansky direction, Russian troops have changed tactics and no longer conduct assaults using tanks, infantry fighting vehicles, and armored personnel carriers, instead attacking with small assault groups on foot, in buggies, on motorcycles, or all-terrain vehicles, and using Supercam and FPV reconnaissance drones to strike Ukrainian logistical routes.
On the Kupyansk direction, Russian troops constantly shell logistical routes, exhausting the Ukrainian defense with attacks by small infantry groups, trying to encircle or destabilize Ukrainian forces in this area.
On the Kramatorsk direction, Russian troops have intensified attacks in the Kramatorsk direction. The main tactical goal of the Russian military command is to reach the rear of the Ukrainian troops and consolidate there. The enemy uses Lancet drones to strike Ukrainian logistics.
Russian troops finish the formation of a "fire sack" (kill zone) near Kleban-Byk. The occupiers advance near Yablunivka in groups of 2-3 servicemen on motorcycles and on foot. Ukrainian Defense Forces have one last logistical route left along the H20 Donetsk-Kostyantynivka highway.
The enemy has identified both weak points in the combat formations of Ukrainian Defense Forces in the area of Zolotyi Kolodyaz, and problems with coordination with the units defending in the area of Koptieve. The enemy broke through in the Razyne area behind the river Kazenny Torets and developed the offensive to Rodynske, where it was stopped. The enemy consolidates in the Hektova Balka area. The combat zone has expanded significantly around the penetration area due to the activity of reconnaissance and sabotage groups. This has worsened the organization and logistics of Ukrainian Defense Forces units. Conclusions from the assessment of the operational situation show that fighting is already taking place on the last line of defense before Dnipropetrovsk Oblast, and in the long term, the territories of Donetsk Oblast controlled by the Government of Ukraine will be under threat of occupation.
The enemy's refusal to carry out air attacks deep into the territory of Ukraine, although temporary, will free up a significant number of strike drones, which can be used both to strike targets in the tactical depth and to strike logistics targets in the operational and near strategic rear at a depth of 100-150 km.
The Ministry of Defense and the Federal Penitentiary Service of the Russian Federation consider the issue of returning prisoners from the front, as the need for them has disappeared due to stable contract recruitment. The effectiveness of units formed from prisoners ("Storm-V" detachments), compared to units of professional servicemen, is significantly lower. The continued use of such formations leads to disciplinary collapse and unjustified personnel losses without tactical achievements. The disbandment of several "Storm" detachments is noted.
Change in the line of contact (LoC):
There were 165 combat engagements on various fronts.
On the Northern Slobozhansky and Kursk directions, 17 combat engagements took place. The enemy carried out 17 air strikes.
On the Southern Slobozhansky direction, the enemy carried out 3 offensive actions in the areas of Vovchanski Khutory, Kamyanka, and Krasne Pershe.
On the Kupyansk direction, 8 attacks by the occupiers took place. Ukrainian Defense Forces repelled the enemy's assault actions in the directions of Kindrashivka, Moskovka, Kupiansk, Bohuslavka, and Nova Kruhlyakivka.
On the Lyman direction, the enemy attacked 23 times, tried to advance in the areas of Hrekivka, Myrne, Zarichne, Karpivka, Torske, Dibrova, and towards Shandryholove and Serebrianka.
On the Siversk direction, 8 enemy attacks were repelled. The occupier's units tried to advance in the areas of Hryhorivka and Vyimka.
On the Kramatorsk direction, 3 combat engagements were recorded in the areas of Oleksandro-Shultyne and Stupochky.
On the Toretsk direction, the enemy carried out 6 attacks in the areas of Nelipivka, Shcherbynivka, Rusyn Yar, and Yablunivka.
On the Pokrovsk direction, 47 assault and offensive actions by the aggressor were stopped in the areas of Popiv Yar, Mayak, Rubizhne, Volodymyrivka, Kolodyazi, Nykanorivka, Kotlyne, Nove Shakhove, Novoekonomichne, Zvirove, Udachne, Lysivka, and also in the directions of Pokrovsk, Zolotyi Kolodyaz, Rodynske, and Promin.
On the Novopavlivka direction, Ukrainian Defense Forces repelled 28 enemy attacks in the areas of Dachne, Shevchenko, Novoukrainka, Zirka, Vilne Pole, Oleksandrohrad, Tolstoy, Myrne, Maliivka, Olhivske, Voskresenka, and Andriivka-Klevtsove.
On the Huliaypole direction, 2 enemy attacks in the Poltavka direction were successfully stopped.
On the Orikhiv direction, the enemy attacked twice in the Kamianske area and in the Novoandriivka direction.
On the Prydniprovske direction, the aggressor carried out 6 offensive actions in the direction of Prydniprovske, Antonivka, and Hola Prystan — Ukrainian Defense Forces successfully repelled all enemy attacks.
Supporting operation:
Ukrainian Defense Forces carried out UAV strikes on the Volgograd Oil Refinery, the oil refinery in Slavyansk-na-Kubani, and the linear production and dispatch station "Unecha" of the "Druzhba" oil pipeline in Bryansk Oblast.
Changes in the enemy disposition:
The 106th Airborne Division, 83rd Separate Air Assault Brigade, and 155th Separate Marines Brigade strike Ukrainian troops in Sumy Oblast.
The 352nd Motorized Rifle Regiment of the 11th Army Corps operates near Stepova Novoselivka.
The 85th Separate Motorized Rifle Brigade of the 3rd Combined Arms Army operates near Fedorivka.
The 27th Artillery Regiment of the 6th Motorized Rifle Division of the 3rd Army Corps and the "Rubikon" Center for Advanced Drone Technologies strike Ukrainian positions near Kostyantynivka. The "O. Nevsky" volunteer reconnaissance and assault brigade strikes Ukrainian positions in the Kramatorsk-Druzhkivka direction.
The 103rd Motorized Rifle Regiment of the 150th Motorized Rifle Division of the 8th Combined Arms Army operates near Kleban-Byk, and the 68th Tank Regiment of the division operates near Katerynivka.
The 24th Separate SOF Brigade continues to strike Ukrainian troops on the Pokrovsk direction.
The 14th Separate SOF Brigade strikes Ukrainian forces near Maliivka.
The 38th Separate Motorized Rifle Brigade of the 35th Combined Arms Army strikes Ukrainian troops in Zaporizhzhia Oblast. The 16th Separate SOF Brigade operates in the Vremivka direction. The 3rd Motorized Rifle Battalion of the 64th Separate Motorized Rifle Brigade of the 35th Combined Arms Army strikes Ukrainian positions near Dorozhnyanka.
The 7th Air Assault Division strikes Ukrainian positions near Kamianske and Plavni, and operates near Stepnohirsk. The 4th Air Base of the 58th Combined Arms Army strikes Ukrainian positions near Mala Tokmachka.
Possible operation situation developments:
According to the estimates 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. The new operational task of the enemy grouping in the theater of military operations is to advance to Dnipropetrovsk Oblast and create a buffer zone 10 km deep. Provided current dynamics of combat operations are maintained, the enemy will be able to capture Pokrovsk by autumn, Kostyantynivka and Kupyansk by the end of the year, and reach the close approaches to Zaporizhzhia and the Sloviansk-Kramatorsk agglomeration by early winter.
On the Northern Slobozhansky direction, the enemy’s “Sever (North)” Operational Grouping is trying to reach the Mala Korchakivka – Nova Sich – Maryinka – Sadky line.
The command of the enemy's "Sever (North)" Operational Grouping in cooperation with the right flank of “Zapad (West)” Operational Grouping in the Southern Slobozhansky direction, will attempt to expand its bridgehead northeast of Velykyi Burluk and capture Khatnie before attacking the city. For this purpose, the troops will have to force the Velykyi Burluk River on the Shevchenkove – Mykhailivka – Velykyi Burluk line. The Vovchansk – Velykyi Burluk – Dvorichna line can become a powerful defensive line within Russia's buffer zone in northern Kharkiv Oblast in the medium- and long-term perspective.
On the Kupyansk direction, the enemy will break through from the north and northeast to the P07 Kharkiv-Chuhuiv-Kupiansk highway, attacking in the directions of Radkivka-Kovalivka and Radkivka-Myrne. The enemy will consolidate on the northern outskirts of Kupiansk and will try to paralyze the logistical support of the Defense Forces defending in the city itself and to the east of it. The command of the enemy's “Zapad (West)” Operational Grouping will try to envelop as deeply as possible from the north the entire Kupyansk defense area of the “Khortytsia” OSG.
On the Lyman direction, the troops of the 3rd Army Corps of Ukrainian Defense Forces will soon be forced to leave their positions in the Serebriansk Forest and withdraw behind the Chornyi Zherebets river. Ukrainian units will withdraw towards Yampil and will try to stop the enemy along the Chornyi Zherebets river. The 25th Combined Arms Army will try to completely eliminate the bridgehead of Ukrainian Defense Forces on the northern bank of the Siverskyi Donets river in the area of the Serebriansk Forest.
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. The 3rd Combined Arms Army will try to break through to the northern bank of the Siverskyi Donets River between Yampil and Hryhorivka, and from the southeast – toward Siversk. In the near future, the enemy will try to capture Pereyizne and attack Zvanivka along the eastern bank of the Bakhmutka River, trying to break through to Siversk from the south.
On the Toretsk direction, the troops of the 19th Army Corps of Ukrainian Defense Forces will have to leave the Shcherbynivka-Novospaske-Katerynivka-Kleban Byk area, retreat south of the Kleban Byk reservoir, and try to stop the advance of the enemy's 3rd and 8th Combined Arms Armies on the Pleshchiivka – Oleksandro-Shultyne line and go on the defensive in the area of Dovha Balka – Illinivka – Berestok – Stepanivka.
Russian forces will attack in the direction of Oleksiyevo-Druzhkivka and Druzhkivka to complicate the logistics of Ukrainian Defense Forces in Kostyantynivka, thereby facilitating the capture of the "fortress belt". Russian forces may also try to advance northwest of Chasiv Yar in the direction of Kramatorsk and Sloviansk, transferring part of the troops to attack along the E40 Bakhmut – Sloviansk highway for this purpose, thereby creating conditions for an assault on the "fortress belt" from the northeast.
On the Pokrovsk direction, the enemy will develop its success in the area northeast of the Pokrovsk-Myrnohrad agglomeration in the operational zone of the 51st Combined Arms Army. Russian forces will advance from the southwest and northeast in an effort to envelop Pokrovsk and disrupt the logistical routes of the 9th Army Corps of the Ukrainian Defense Forces. The 51st Combined Arms Army will continue to bypass the Pokrovsk-Myrnohrad agglomeration from the north and northeast and will try to advance as deeply as possible to Dobropillya, which will sharply worsen the prospects for the defense of not only Dobropillya and Pokrovsk, but also Druzhkivka and Kostyantynivka. The enemy, advancing from the east, attempts to attack Dobropillya and Bilozersk. However, their stretched-out combat formations make this difficult. It's likely the enemy will instead try to push between Bilozersk and Dobropillya and advance toward Hryshyne. This move would cut off supply lines from Pokrovsk and Myrnohrad, allowing them to take control of the Kostyantynivka-Druzhkivka-Kramatorsk-Sloviansk area.
On the Novopavlivka direction, the command of the enemy's “Vostok (East)” Operational Grouping in the operational zones of the 36th and 29th Combined Arms Armies will try to capture the area between the Vovcha and Mokri Yaly rivers and Vorona and Vovcha rivers and reach the borders of the Dnipropetrovsk Oblast in the Ivanivka-Temyrivka section.
The command of "Vostok (East)" Operational Grouping can begin an offensive operation in the western direction through Dnipropetrovsk and Zaporizhzhia Oblasts, using highway H15 Kurakhove – Zaporizhzhia, forcing the Khaychur, Solona, Verkhnya Tersa, and Vovcha rivers, crossing highways T0408 Preobrazhenka – Novomykolayivka and T0401 Pokrovsk – Huliaypole, seizing several cities the size of Chasiv Yar, which could become a significant problem for the aggressor.
Russian operational losses from 23.02.22 to 13.08.25
Personnel - almost 1,066 110 (+890);
Tanks – 11,099 (+1);
Armored combat vehicles ‒ 23,127 (+8);
Artillery systems – 31,429 (+23);
Multiple rocket launchers (MLRS) – 1,465 (+1);
Anti-aircraft warfare systems – 1,207 (+2);
Vehicles and fuel tanks – 58,265 (+46);
Aircraft - 421 (0);
Helicopters – 340 (0);
UAV operational and tactical level – 50,8523 (+99);
Intercepted cruise and other missiles – 3,558 (+2);
Boats/ships – 29 (0).
Humanitarian + general:
On the night of August 13, Russian troops attacked Ukraine with 49 Shahed-type strike drones and decoy drones, as well as two Iskander-M/KN-23 ballistic missiles, striking Donetsk, Sumy, Chernihiv, and Poltava Oblasts; air defense destroyed or suppressed 34 targets, including both missiles and 32 drones, while 17 drones hit 15 locations.
On the morning of August 13, Russian troops shelled Chornobaivka in Kherson Oblast, destroying a residential building; a woman born in 1964 died under the rubble, and four more people were wounded.
In the Beryslav district of Kherson Oblast, a Russian drone hit a passenger car, killing one person and wounding another woman; a strike on an ambulance also caused a fire.
In Donetsk Oblast, an enemy drone hit a car with three people, which drove into a ditch: two men were rescued by police, and the third was unblocked by rescuers and handed over to medics.
Since the beginning of the full-scale war, 87 Russian servicemen have been charged with committing sexual violence in the occupied territories of Kyiv, Chernihiv, Kherson, Kharkiv, and Mykolaiv Oblasts, as well as in the Russian Federation. 45 indictments against 58 people have been sent to court, and 12 absentee verdicts have been handed down against 19 accused: twelve were sentenced to 12 years in prison, two to 10 and 11 years, and five more to 15 years.
In Donetsk Oblast, a decision was made on the forced evacuation of families with children from several settlements of the Bilozersk and Dobropillya communities, located near the line of contact, where about 1,150 children currently live.