Russia's war on Ukraine. 17.07.25
Operational situation
On the Northern Slobozhansky direction, Ukrainian Defense Forces attacked Glushkovo, Tetkino, Novyi Put, advanced in the western part of Kindrativka, and counterattacked Yunakivka, Yablunivka, Sadky, and Zapsillya.
Russian troops are attempting to advance near Ryzhivka and Bezsalivka, and attacked near Kindrativka, Yunakivka, and Varachyne. Enemy forces and assets suffered significant losses in personnel and, in essence, lost the ability for effective attacking/assault actions. The 11th and 83rd Separate Air Assault Brigades, operating in the Yablunivka – Varachyne direction, reinforced by a battalion of the 1443rd Motorized Rifle Regiment, attempt to get behind Ukrainian units that broke through to Novomykolayivka and east of Oleksiivka. So far, the enemy has not managed to push back Ukrainian Defense Forces units and restore their position in this sector. In the offensive zone of the 76th Air Assault Division, reinforced by units of the 810th Separate Marine Brigade and the 106th Airborne Division, fierce battles for Yunakivka continue between the Snagost River and the Loknia – Sadky farmstead direction. The enemy seeks to capture the village and advance south from positions west of it.
On the Southern Slobozhansky direction, Russian troops advanced to the Oil Refinery north of Vovchansk, into the forest northwest of Vovchansk, attempted to advance near Dehtyarne, from Milove to Khatnie, to Petropavlivka, near Krasne Pershe, Stroyivka, Synkivka, Stepova Novoselivka, Pishchane, Bolokhivka, and continued attacks near Tykhe, Prylypky, in the Velykyi Burluk direction. The 128th Separate Motorized Rifle Brigade of the 44th Army Corps unsuccessfully attempted to advance within the Vovchansk oil extraction plant. In the Milove - Ambarne direction, the enemy, using assault groups of the 45th Separate Special Purpose Brigade and the 23rd Combined Rifle Battalion, tried to break through to Ambarne and advanced only 200 meters. An unidentified enemy unit unsuccessfully tried to break through into Ukrainian territory from the territory of the Russian Federation in the direction of the border village of Bolokhivka.
Ukrainian Defense Forces counterattacked near Prylypky and Vovchansk.
On the Kupyansk direction, Russian troops advanced southwest of Hrekivka, and attacked near Zahryzove, Nadiia, Hrekivka, Novoyehorivka, and in the Cherneshchyna direction.
On the Lyman direction, Russian troops advanced southeast of Karpivka, attempted to advance near Zelena Dolyna, and attacked in the direction of Novyi Myr, Shandryholove, near Zelena Dolyna, Karpivka, Hlushchenkove, Kolodyazi, Torske, and Serebriansk Forest.
On the Siversk direction, Russian troops attempted to advance south of Hryhorivka, south of Novoselivka, west of Ivano-Dariivka, and conducted assaults near Serebrianka and Vyiimka. The 6th and 127th Separate Motorized Rifle Brigades of the 3rd Combined Arms Army unsuccessfully continue battles for Hryhorivka and are attempting to develop an offensive in the Verkhnyokamianske – Siversk direction south of the Siversk – Lysychansk road.
South of Hryhorivka, Ukrainian Defense Forces counterattacked and pushed the enemy out of several positions, continuing to hold a significant section of terrain along the southern bank of the Siverskyi Donets River from Hryhorivka to the outskirts of Bilohorivka. Units that captured Verkhnyokamianske cannot consolidate their positions there.
On the Kramatorsk direction, Russian troops conducted assaults near Chasiv Yar, Bila Hora, Predtechyne, and Stupochky.
On the Toretsk direction, Russian troops conducted assaults in the direction of Nelipivka, Poltavka, near Toretsk, Dyliivka, Oleksandro-Kalynove, Rusyn Yar, Popiv Yar, Yablunivka, Novospaske, and Romanivka.
On the Pokrovsk direction, Russian troops are fighting for Rodynske, attempted to advance west of Razyne, southeast of Pankivka, on the western outskirts of Boykivka, northeast of Shevchenkove, near Udachne, and attacked Pokrovsk, near Novotoretske, Fedorivka, Novoekonomichne, Mykolaivka, Myroliubivka, Lysivka, Novoukrainka, Shevchenkove, Zvirove, Kotlyne, and Molodetske.
Ukrainian Defense Forces counterattacked near Rodynske.
On the Novopavlivka direction, the 36th Separate Motorized Rifle Brigade of the 29th Combined Arms Army captured Novokhatske. Russian troops attempted to advance west and northeast of Novokhatske, in the direction of Oleksandrohrad and Maliivka, near the southeastern outskirts of Komyshuvakha, the southeastern outskirts of Temyrivka, and attacked near Muravka, Horikhove, Dachne, Oleksiivka, Zaporizhzhia, Yalta, Piddubne, Myrne, Lisne, Maliivka, Novosilka, Zelene Pole, Temyrivka, and in the direction of Filiya, Komyshuvakha.
In the Piddubne – Iskra direction on highway H15 Zaporizhzhia – Donetsk, advanced units of the 36th Separate Motorized Rifle Brigade of the 29th Combined Arms Army advanced immediately by 3.5 km. West of Myrne, assault units of the 37th Separate Motorized Rifle Brigade of the 36th Combined Arms Army occupied a significant area, advancing 2.5 km towards Oleksandrohrad. The 114th Motorized Rifle Regiment of the 127th Motorized Rifle Division of the 5th Combined Arms Army is successfully advancing north of Shevchenkove and has advanced 1.5 km, fighting for Voskresenka. The 143rd Motorized Rifle Regiment is advancing north of Zelene Pole, though not as successfully as the 114th Motorized Rifle Regiment.
On the Huliaypole direction, Russian troops attempted to advance southeast of Olhivske and west of Malynivka.
On the Orikhiv direction, Russian troops attacked near Plavni and Novodanylivka.
On the Prydniprovske direction, Russian troops attacked near the Antonivskyi Bridge, near Kozulskyi Island and Zabych Island.
General conclusion:
Fierce battles continue along the entire perimeter of the enemy's incursion into the border zone of Sumy Oblast. The command of the enemy's "Kursk" Operational Grouping seeks to prevent the withdrawal of its advanced units in the western part of the buffer zone and at the same time seeks to expand it in the central and eastern parts. Over the past two days, the situation has not fundamentally changed.
On the Northern Slobozhansky direction in the Kindrativka area, the enemy will have to abandon its positions and retreat in the northern and northeastern directions, as the advanced units of Ukrainian Defense Forces already control most of the village, and further enemy attempts to hold positions south of it will effectively lead to the defeat of its units. In the Oleksiivka area, the enemy's advanced units are practically enveloped from the flanks (both from the west, from Andriivka, and from the east), but they continue not only to hold their positions in the village but also to attack from time to time. Ukrainian Defense Forces have two fairly deep tactical incursions in the Varachyne – Novomykolayivka direction and east of Oleksiivka, which threatens the enemy with the encirclement of its advanced units.
The forces and assets of the 11th and 44th Army Corps conducted a series of offensive/assault actions within Vovchansk and in the Velykyi Burluk direction. The command of the enemy's " Sever (North)" Operational Grouping is determined to re-occupy the eastern part of Kharkiv Oblast (in the Velykyi Burluk direction), which was liberated by Ukrainian Defense Forces in the autumn of 2022, as evidenced by the clearly synchronized activation of Russian troops in the Vovchansk, Velykyi Burluk, and Kupyansk (from the bridgehead near Dvorichna) directions. The Velykyi Burluk direction, in an operational sense, is not yet the main strike direction of the "Zapad (West)" Operational Grouping, as the troops of the 6th Combined Arms Army, operating from the bridgehead on the Oskil River in the direction of Velykyi Burluk, operate primarily in the Kupyansk direction, not Velykyi Burluk. Enemy units that invaded the border area of Kharkiv Oblast in the Milove area, and those operating in the Bolokhivka direction, are relatively limited, and their actions are localized.
On the Siversk direction, the 3rd Combined Arms Army continues a "creeping offensive" on the Bilohorivka – Verkhnyokamianske line with the aim of reaching the near approaches to Siversk from the east and northeast. The enemy is forced to conduct heavy battles on a relatively wide front south of the Siverskyi Donets River, simultaneously repelling regular counterattacks by Ukrainian Defense Forces and retreating after them in certain areas. To launch an offensive directly on Siversk, the headquarters of the 3rd Combined Arms Army introduced the 123rd Separate Motorized Rifle Brigade into the operation in the Berestove – Vyiimka direction, but its actions are currently without result.
On the Pokrovsk direction, Russian troops are concentrating on advancing towards Shakhove and have intensified Guided Aerial Bomb (KAB) airstrikes with Unified Gliding and Correction Modules (UMPK) in that direction.
On the Novopavlivka direction, Russian troops are regrouping and transferring a significant number of forces that failed to achieve tactically significant successes on the Pokrovsk direction.
On the Novopavlivka direction, a crisis in the defense of the "Khortytsia" OSG is developing. Within two days, the enemy's "Vostok (East)" Operational Grouping occupied a territory with a total area of 9 km², sometimes penetrating Ukrainian defense by more than 3 km. If the situation in this direction does not fundamentally change in the near future, the enemy will be able to reach the Vovcha and Solona rivers on the administrative border with Dnipropetrovsk Oblast in the Oleksandrohrad – Novopavlivka sector.
The activity of Russian UAVs in the Prydniprovske direction has significantly increased. The enemy simultaneously launches 3-4 reconnaissance UAVs and several FPV drones, and uses UAVs as mines, landing them on roads and streets and waiting for the movement of Ukrainian Defense Forces vehicles or civilians.
Change in the line of contact (LoC):
There were 160 combat engagements on various fronts.
On the Northern Slobozhansky and Kursk directions, 21 enemy assault actions were repelled. The enemy conducted 13 airstrikes.
On the Southern Slobozhansky direction, the enemy assaulted Ukrainian Defense Forces positions 13 times in the areas of Vovchansk, Zelene, Stroyivka, and towards Kudiivka.
On the Kupyansk direction, 3 attacks by the occupiers occurred. Ukrainian Defense Forces repelled enemy assault actions in the areas of Kindrashivka, Synkivka, and Zahryzove.
On the Lyman direction, the enemy attacked 22 times, attempting to advance near the settlements of Novoyehorivka, Novyi Myr, Nadiia, Karpivka, Kolodyazi, Yampolivka, Zelena Dolyna, Torske, and towards Serebrianka.
On the Siversk direction, the enemy attacked 4 times in the Hryhorivka area and towards Vyiimka.
On the Kramatorsk direction, 7 combat engagements were recorded; the aggressor attacked in the Orikhovo-Vasylivka area and towards Bila Hora and Predtechyne.
On the Toretsk direction, the enemy conducted 9 attacks in the areas of Shcherbynivka, Nelipivka, Toretsk, Rusyn Yar, and Oleksandro-Kalynove.
On the Pokrovsk direction, 51 assault and offensive actions by the aggressor were stopped in the areas of Poltavka, Novoekonomichne, Myroliubivka, Lysivka, Novoukrainka, Zvirove, Kotlyne, Udachne, Muravka, and Oleksiivka.
On the Novopavlivka direction, the enemy attacked 22 times in the areas of Piddubne, Myrne, Vilne Pole, Voskresenka, and Zelene Pole.
Supporting operation:
Ukrainian Defense Forces carried out UAV airstrikes on targets in Voronezh, Lipetsk, Bryansk, and Belgorod.
Vnukovo Airport in Moscow Oblast was closed.
Changes in the enemy disposition:
The 1427th Motorized Rifle Regiment of the 18th Machine Gun – Artillery Division of the 68th Army Corps operates near Ryzhivka. Units of the 155th Separate Marine Brigade, up to a battalion of the 200th Separate Motorized Rifle Brigade, and the 30th and 1443rd Motorized Rifle Regiments operate in the Kindrativka – Oleksiivka sector.
The 80th Separate Reconnaissance Battalion "Sparta" of the 51st Combined Arms Army operates near Novotroitske and Razyne.
The 14th Separate SOF Brigade and the 336th Separate Marine Brigade operate near Oleksandrohrad.
The 30th Separate SOF Company of the 36th Combined Arms Army operates in the direction of Velyka Novosilka.
The 104th Airborne Division and the 31st Separate Air Assault Brigade strike Ukrainian positions on the western bank of the Dnipro River. The 80th Separate Motorized Rifle Brigade of the 14th Army Corps operates on the Kherson direction.
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 Kremlin's goal of capturing 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. Full occupation of Donetsk, Luhansk, Kherson, and Zaporizhzhia Oblasts is possible no earlier than February 2028, provided current rates of advancement are maintained.
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 Hatnie before attacking the city. For this purpose, the troops will have to force water obstacles, including the Velykyi Burluk River on the Shevchenkove – Mykhailivka – Velykyi Burluk line. Villages located along the river will become a significant obstacle for Russian troops. The Vovchansk – Velykyi Burluk – Dvorichna line can become a powerful defensive line within Russia's buffer zone in northern Kharkiv Oblast if the enemy can combine its efforts from three directions in the medium and long term. The enemy cannot launch an offensive in the direction of Kupyansk due to complex logistical measures that must be carried out to accumulate troops on the western bank of the Oskil River.
On the Lyman direction, the forces of the Russian “Zapad (West)” Operational Grouping will attempt to reach the line of Karlivka – Shandryholove – Drobysheve, while simultaneously advancing near Torske in an effort to enter Lyman from the east. The “Starobilsk” Operational-Tactical Group (OTG) will be forced to withdraw from the area of Kopani – Novoyehorivka – Druzhelyubivka – Cherneshchyna, in response to the enemy’s advance along the southern bank of the Siverskyi Donets River in the direction of Bilohorivka – Serebrianka, within the operational zone of the neighboring 3rd Combined Arms Army of the “Yug (South)” Operational Grouping.
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. One should expect a revitalization of combat operations in the south-to-north direction with the enemy reaching the eastern outskirts of Siversk. The enemy will not be able to achieve its goal without reinforcing its grouping in that direction (primarily with the 106th Airborne Division).
On the Kramatorsk direction, the command of the enemy’s “Yug (South)” Operational Grouping and the 3rd Army may shift the direction of their main strike to the north of Chasiv Yar and launch an offensive on both sides of the Bakhmut–Sloviansk road, along the directions of Orikhovo-Vasylivka–Minkivka and Blahodatne–Pryvillya. This would allow them to break through to the immediate approaches to Sloviansk directly from the southeast and create a real threat of a deep envelopment of the right flank of the “Starobilsk” Operational Tactical Group (OTG). If the enemy succeeds in achieving operational surprise along these directions and advances to tactical depth, the situation in the Kolodyazi–Hryhorivka section on the Lyman direction will deteriorate significantly for the “Kharkiv” OTG.
The enemy's “Tsentr (Center)” Operational Grouping will try to envelope Pokrovsk and bypass the “fortress belt” in Donetsk Oblast from the west in the coming months. The enemy command may attempt to exploit the penetration in the Pokrovsk–Toretsk sector to envelop Pokrovsk from the northeast and north and to bypass the defenses of the “Khortytsia” Operational and Strategic Grouping (OSG) in Kostyantynivka from the southwest and west. Further Russian advance north and west of the Razyne directly depends on the combat capability of the 150th Motorized Rifle Division of the 8th Combined Arms Army, the 110th Separate Motorized Rifle Brigade of the 51st Combined Arms Army and the 39th Separate Motorized Rifle Brigade of the 68th Army Corps. Enemy troops will have to force the Kazennyi Torets River in multiple sections to advance west of Razyne and capture villages along the Pokrovsk – Oleksandrivka line to completely cut off Ukrainian logistics
An envelopment of Pokrovsk from the northeast requires the enemy to significantly advance in the direction of Rodynske, capture it, and establish a powerful defense area there. This will enable attacks on Pokrovsk or advancement to Novooleksandrivka with the aim of cutting off the M30 Pokrovsk – Pavlohrad highway and forcing the “Khortytsia” OSG to withdraw from Pokrovsk under threat of encirclement. Other options for enemy actions include advancing north of Udachne or Kotlyne with the goal of cutting off the M30 highway if they manage to break through Ukrainian defenses, or attempting to wedge between Dobropillya and Kostyantynivka to bypass the "fortress belt" from the west. Russian troops will try to advance to Rodynske from positions in the Novoekonomichne area and force Ukrainian Defense Forces to withdraw from Pokrovsk and Myrnohrad under threat of encirclement before resuming the offensive in the direction of Kostyantynivka. Russian troops will attack west of Razyne in the direction of Rodynske to cut off Ukrainian logistics along the T0515 Pokrovsk – Dobropillya highway.
The enemy's development of its operational success in the Novopavlivka direction threatens to destabilize the situation on the Pokrovsk and Zaporizhzhia directions, leading to negative consequences for Ukrainian Defense Forces in both operational and strategic terms. If the command of Ukrainian Defense Forces fails to stabilize the situation on this direction in the near future, then Ukraine’ military-political leadership should prepare for the opening of the Pavlohrad operational direction and the emergence of operational complications for the "Tavriya" OSG on the Zaporizhzhia direction.
Russian troops have formed a wide and relatively flat front line in the border areas of Donetsk, Dnipropetrovsk, and Zaporizhzhia Oblasts from Malynivka to Zelenyi Hai, from which the enemy can attack in the direction of Huliaypole, Velykomykhaylivka, and Havrylivka. The “Vostok (East)” Operational Grouping may intend to attack westward through Dnipropetrovsk and Zaporizhzhia Oblasts, attempting to use the H15 Kurakhove – Zaporizhzhia highway for rapid advancement and to create convenient supply routes for the grouping from Donetsk. Enemy troops advancing west of Zelenyi Hai will have to force the Khaychur, Solona, Verkhnya Tersa, and Vovcha rivers, cross the T0408 Preobrazhennia – Novomykolayivka and T0401 Pokrovsk – Huliaypole highways, and capture several cities the size of Chasiv Yar, which could become a significant problem for the aggressor. As of today, a rapid advance of approximately 150 km from positions in Novokhatske to Zaporizhzhia is extremely unlikely, considering the current pace of the enemy's offensive.
Russian operational losses from 23.02.22 to 17.07.25
Personnel - almost 1,038 650 (+1,190);
Tanks – 11,029 (+4);
Armored combat vehicles ‒ 22,996 (+1);
Artillery systems – 30,438 (+43);
Multiple rocket launchers (MLRS) – 1,440 (0);
Anti-aircraft warfare systems – 1,197 (+1);
Vehicles and fuel tanks – 55,383 (+154);
Aircraft - 421 (0);
Helicopters – 340 (0);
UAV operational and tactical level – 46,414 (+250);
Intercepted cruise and other missiles – 3,491 (0);
Boats/ships – 29 (0).
Humanitarian + general:
On the night of July 17, Russia attacked Ukraine with 64 Shahed-type attack drones and decoy drones. Air Defense Forces destroyed 36 drones in the north and east of the country, and another 5 decoys were suppressed by Electronic Warfare assets. The enemy primarily directed its strike at Dnipropetrovsk Oblast. In total, 23 UAVs hit five locations.
On the night of July 17, Russians attacked Dnipro and the oblast with drones. One person was killed and 10 were injured. Fires broke out in Dnipro due to hits, and several enterprises were damaged. A man was killed in the city, and five more were wounded, three of them in serious condition. In Dnipro district, Solonianka and Slobozhanske Communities were affected, with a utility building and a greenhouse destroyed. In Nikopol District, Russians struck with FPV drones, Grads, and dropped munitions from UAVs. In Nikopol and Marhanetska Community, five people were injured, and a residential building and a utility structure were damaged; a car burned down. In Mezhevska Community of Synelnykove district, drones damaged infrastructure. In total, Air Defense Forces shot down 22 enemy drones over the oblast.
On the morning of July 17, Russian troops attacked Kherson Oblast with attack drones and artillery: two civilians were injured in Kherson and Bilozerka, both were hospitalized. In Dudchany, a residential building was damaged, but no information on casualties was received.
On the morning of July 17, Russian troops attacked Kryvyi Rih with drones: a fire broke out as a result of the strike, which rescuers promptly extinguished, and a 43-year-old woman was injured.
In Kanivska Community in Cherkasy Oblast, one person was injured as a result of a Russian drone attack. The Russians hit an infrastructure facility.
As a result of Russian shelling of Kostyantynivka and Kramatorsk during the day on July 17, two people were killed and seven more were injured. In Kostyantynivka, enemy artillery killed two civilians, and another woman is in serious condition. Thirty-two residential buildings were damaged. In Kramatorsk, six people who were outdoors were injured as a result of two drone strikes.
On the evening of July 17, Russian troops attacked Pokrovsk in Donetsk Oblast with an FPV drone, killing two civilians and injuring a 70-year-old woman. On the morning of the same day, the occupiers shelled Myrnohrad with barrel artillery — a 63-year-old man was injured.
On the evening of July 17, Russian troops attacked Kherson, dropping explosives from a drone. As a result of the strike, a 36-year-old man was injured — he sustained a blast injury and wounds to his torso, arms, and legs. The injured person was hospitalized.
As a result of Russian strikes on Dnipropetrovsk Oblast throughout July 17, two civilians were injured. In Nikopol district, which the enemy attacked with FPV drones and artillery, an 85-year-old woman was injured. Two private houses were damaged, one of which caught fire. In Synelnykove district, as a result of airstrikes with Guided Aerial Bombs (KAB) on Novopavlivska and Velykomykhailivska Communitys, a 53-year-old man was injured; his condition is of moderate severity.
In Donetsk Oblast, 23,800 residents remain in the zone of active hostilities, including 115 children. In settlements where forced evacuation of children is carried out, nine families with 12 children currently remain.
In liberated Kherson Oblast, emergency medical services crews carry out about 200 calls daily, most of which occur under enemy fire and UAV attacks; the region urgently needs armored transport for emergency services. On the afternoon of July 18, Russians attacked an ambulance with a drone as it was going to a sick child in Zymivnyk. Two medics were injured — a 49-year-old paramedic and a 65-year-old paramedic. They sustained concussions and traumatic brain injuries; their condition is of moderate severity.
Ukraine has returned the bodies of another 1,000 fallen Ukrainian servicemen that Russia was holding. According to the Coordination Headquarters for the Treatment of Prisoners of War, the bodies, according to the Russian side, belong to citizens of Ukraine, including military personnel. The Headquarters clarified that this repatriation measure is part of planned work and is not related to recent agreements in Istanbul.
The Verkhovna Rada appointed Yuliia Svyrydenko as Prime Minister of Ukraine. Her candidacy was supported by 262 People's Deputies. Previously, she held the position of First Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Economy. Fifteen government ministers were also appointed. The Minister of Foreign Affairs retained his position, and Denys Shmyhal, who previously served as Prime Minister of Ukraine, was appointed Minister of Defense. President Volodymyr Zelenskyy stated after the appointment of the new government that on July 18, the reformatting of the security sector would continue, and from next Monday, Ukrainian diplomatic corps would be updated.