Russia's war on Ukraine. 19.09.25
Operational situation
On the Northern Slobozhansky direction, Russian troops attacked near Tetkino, in Ryzhivka, and near Oleksiivka, Yunakivka, and Sadky.
Ukrainian Defense Forces counterattacked near Oleksiivka, Sadky, and Yunakivka.
On the Southern Slobozhansky direction, Russian troops attacked near Hlyboke, in the direction of Lyptsi, within Vovchansk, on the left bank of the Vovcha River, and near Synelnykove. They also attacked in the directions of Ambarne, Hryhorivka, and Obukhivka, fought for Odradne, and tried to advance near Milove and toward Khatnie.
On the Kupyansk direction, Russian troops tried to advance east of Tyshchenkivka, north of Kindrashivka, and near Holubivka, Stepova Novoselivka. They also attacked near Kupyansk, Kamyanka, Zahryzove, Druzhelyubivka, Hrekivka, and in the direction of Novoosynove, Bohuslavka, and Borivska Andriivka.
Ukrainian Defense Forces counterattacked in Kupyansk, and near Myrova and Sobolivka, and drove the enemy back to Myrova and Radkivka.
On the Lyman direction, Russian troops advanced to the center of Shandryholove, continued fighting for Zarichne and Yampil, and attacked near Novoselivka, Serednie, Derylove, Novomykhailivka, Kolodyazi, and in the direction of Stavky and Torske.
Ukrainian Defense Forces counterattacked near Yampil and Torske.
On the Siversk direction, Russian troops tried to advance north of Vyimka, and attacked near Dronivka, Serebrianka, Hryhorivka, Fedorivka, Pereyizne, and in the direction of Nikiforivka and Bondarne.
On the Kostyantynivka direction, Russian troops tried to advance on the southern outskirts of Ivanopillya, fought for Volodymyrivka, and attacked near Kostyantynivka, Chasiv Yar, Stupochky, Oleksandro-Shultyne, Bila Hora, Predtechyne, Pleshchiivka, Toretsk, Kleban-Byk, Oleksandro-Kalynove, Shcherbynivka, Katerynivka, Poltavka, Rusyn Yar, and in the direction of Mykolaypillya.
On the Pokrovsk direction, Russian troops fought for Pankivka, tried to advance east of Shakhove, and near Zolotyi Kolodyaz, Hruzke, and Nove Shakhove. They also fought in the western, central, and eastern parts of Pokrovsk along the E50 Pokrovsk – Donetsk highway, north of Zvirove, and attacked near Zaporizhzhia, Novy Donbas, Pokrovsk, Rodynske, Novoekonomichne, Myroliubivka, Sukhetske, Chervonyi Lyman, Fedorivka, Promin, Myrnohrad, Lysivka, Novoukrainka, Novopavlivka, Leontovychi, Molodetske, Zvirove, Kotlyne, Udachne, and in the direction of Novopidhorodnie, Serhiivka, and Hryshyne.
Ukrainian Defense Forces counterattacked near Zaporizhzhia and Pankivka, and isolated Russian troops near Kucheriv Yar.
On the Novopavlivka direction, Russian troops attacked near Novomykolayivka, Muravka, Dachne, Orikhove, Filiya, Ivanivka, Tovste, Andriivka-Klevtsove, Piddubne, Oleksandrohrad, Voskresenka, Sichneve, Komyshuvakha, Novoheorhiivka, Kalynivske, and in the direction of Orestopil and Berezky. They also tried to advance to Kalynivske and north of Khoroshe.
Ukrainian Defense Forces counterattacked near Berezove, Kalynivske, and Orestopil.
On the Huliaypole direction, Russian troops advanced to the center of Novoivanivka, tried to advance south of the village, and near Olhivske and Novomykolayivka. They also attacked near Uspenivka, Poltavka, and in the direction of Okhotnyche and Novo-Hryhorivka.
Ukrainian Defense Forces counterattacked near Novoivanivka and Kalynivske and struck the command post of the 35th Combined Arms Army.
On the Orikhiv direction, Russian troops advanced into the southern part of Prymorske, tried to advance into the southern part of Stepnohirsk, and attacked near Plavni, Kamyanka, and in the direction of Novoandriivka.
Ukrainian Defense Forces counterattacked near Stepnohirsk and Prymorske.
On the Prydniprovske direction, Russian troops continued local attacks in the direction of the Antonivka road bridge.
General conclusion:
On the Southern Slobozhansky direction, enemy Sabotage and Reconnaissance Groups conduct subversive actions in the direction of Velykyi Burluk, trying to force Ukrainian Defense Forces into committing reserves to the battle. This activity may be considered preparation for an operation targeting the flank or rear of the Defense Forces on the Kharkiv direction, as well as in the Chuhuiv area.
On the Kupyansk direction, Russian troops do not advance on the eastern bank of the Oskil River in Kupyansk, they try to seize positions in the rear areas. Ukrainian Defense Forces conduct anti-sabotage actions, clear the town of the enemy in urban areas on the western bank of the Oskil River in Kupyansk. Enemy groups concentrate in the northwestern part of Kupyansk, where they enter from Radkivka, and intend to seize the bridges across the Oskil River in the center of Kupyansk. A simultaneous enemy offensive in the Kamyanka – Krasne Pershe area and in the Odradne area may allow Russian troops to advance to Kolodyazi and Dvorichanske. This will improve logistics across the Oskil River and will allow equipment to be ferried across the river near Mytrofanivka and Fiholivka.
On the Lyman direction, the enemy lacks manpower.
On the Kostyantynivka direction, Russian troops try to cut Ukrainian logistics and attacked Ukrainian forward positions near Toretsk. Ukrainian Defense Forces have encircled the enemy near Volodymyrivka.
On the Pokrovsk direction, Russian troops use small group tactics and strike to block the E50 Donetsk – Pokrovsk highway and destroy Ukrainian logistics. The enemy accumulates on the eastern flank of Myrnohrad, preparing for the assault on the town.
On the Novopavlivka direction, Russian troops use very little combat equipment, only motorcycles and all-terrain vehicles.
Change in the line of contact (LoC):
There were 223 combat engagements on various fronts.
On the Northern Slobozhansky and Kursk directions, 12 combat engagements occurred.
On the Southern Slobozhansky direction, the enemy assaulted the positions of Ukrainian units 15 times near Hlyboke, Vovchansk, Vovchanski Khutory, and Odradne, and in the direction of Bolohivka.
On the Kupyansk direction, 8 enemy attacks occurred. Ukrainian Defense Forces repelled the enemy's assault actions toward Kupyansk, Novoosynove, and Kindrashivka, and in the direction of Borova.
On the Lyman direction, the enemy attacked 16 times, trying to advance near Kolodyazi and toward Shyikivka, Novoselivka, Shandryholove, Derylove, Stavky, and Zarichne.
On the Siversk direction, in the areas of Serebrianka, Hryhorivka, and toward Yampil, Dronivka, and Vyimka, the enemy attacked 13 times.
On the Kramatorsk direction, 4 combat engagements were recorded. The aggressor attacked in the areas of Chasiv Yar, Stupochky, Oleksandro-Shultyne, and Bila Hora.
On the Toretsk direction, the enemy carried out 17 attacks in the areas of Shcherbynivka, Kleban-Byk, Toretsk, and Poltavka, and toward Pleshchiivka, Rusyn Yar, and Mykolaypillya.
On the Pokrovsk direction, 87 assault and offensive actions by the aggressor were stopped in the areas of Shakhove, Volodymyrivka, Nove Shakhove, Novoekonomichne, Lysivka, Zvirove, Kotlyne, Udachne, Orikhove, Dachne, and toward Vilne, Chervonyi Lyman, Rodynske, Pokrovsk, Novopidhorodnie, Molodetske, Muravka, Novopavlivka, and Filiya. Ukrainian forces effectively inflict substantial losses on the enemy units and, through proactive measures, prevent the adversary from achieving the objectives of their offensive operation.
On the Novopavlivka direction, the enemy attacked 27 times in the areas of Sichneve, Voskresenka, Piddubne, Maliivka, Komyshuvakha, Ternove, Novoivanivka, Olhivka, and toward Filiya, Ivanivka, Iskra, and Berezove.
On the Orikhiv direction, the enemy advanced 5 times with aviation support in the area of Kamyanka and toward Novoandriivka.
On the Prydniprovske direction, the enemy tried to attack in the direction of the Antonivskyi bridge twice in vain.
Supporting operation:
The Special Operations Forces of the Armed Forces of Ukraine struck a concentration area of rear units of the enemy's 810th Separate Marine Brigade in Kursk Oblast, destroying an ammunition depot and a fuel and lubricants depot.
Changes in the enemy disposition:
The 98th Airborne Division strikes Ukrainian troops near Chervone, and the 242nd Motorized Rifle Regiment of the 20th Motorized Rifle Division and the 238th Artillery Brigade of the 8th Combined Arms Army strike Ukrainian positions near Mykolaypillya. The 299th Airborne Regiment of the 98th Airborne Division strikes Ukrainian transport vehicles on the roads to Kostyantynivka.
The 30th Separate Motorized Rifle Brigade of the 2nd Combined Arms Army operates in Pokrovsk, and the 35th Separate Motorized Rifle Brigade of the 41st Combined Arms Army strikes Ukrainian positions on the Pokrovsk direction.
The 114th Motorized Rifle Regiment of the 127th Motorized Rifle Division of the 5th Combined Arms Army operates near Vyshneve, and the 64th Separate Motorized Rifle Brigade of the 35th Combined Arms Army strikes Ukrainian troops on the Huliaypole direction.
The 108th and 247th Air Assault Regiments of the 7th Air Assault Division operate near Stepnohirsk, the 270th Motorized Rifle Regiment of the 42nd Motorized Rifle Division of the 58th Combined Arms Army operates near Mala Tokmachka, and the 4th Military Base of the 58th Combined Arms Army strikes Ukrainian forces north of Orikhiv.
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 enemy's immediate offensive objective is to block the city of Kupyansk from the north and northwest, cut off the Kupyansk – Dvorichna – Velykyi Burluk – Chuhuiv road, and have forward units of the 6th Combined Arms Army break through to Kupyansk. An additional objective for the enemy within the operational area of the 6th Combined Arms Army is to advance toward Velykyi Burluk.
The enemy will develop an offensive on Lyman from the side of Zelena Dolyna, and on Siversk. The 70th Motorized Rifle Division of the 25th Combined Arms Army will attack along the railway from Pereyizne in the general direction of Siversk. Troops of the 25th Combined Arms Army will try to cross the Siverskyi Donets River. The 3rd Combined Arms Army will regroup in the Verkhnyokamianske area and looks for weaknesses in the Ukrainian defense. The command of the enemy's “Zapad (West)” Operational Grouping may open a new direction through Zarichne and will try to level the front line by attacking along converging directions. The concentration of the enemy on this bridgehead will give the 3rd Army Corps of Ukrainian Defense Forces the opportunity to hold its positions and counterattack on a wide section of the front, while also blocking the enemy's advance on Borova.
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."
On the Pokrovsk direction, the enemy's “Tsentr (Center)” Operational Grouping will try to attack the eastern flank of Myrnohrad. The enemy will build up its grouping by transferring marine and other military units from Sumy Oblast and will deploy operational reserves before the beginning of the decisive assault on Pokrovsk.
On the Novopavlivka direction, the enemy's “Vostok (East)” Operational Grouping will be forced to stretch the front in the southern direction, striving to level the front line in the northern direction, accelerating the advance of its left flank. The enemy entered the inter-river area, where it is significantly limited in maneuver, but will operate in the direction of Dachne – Filiya and will shift the direction of the main strike further south. The enemy will try to advance through Velykomykhailivka, bypassing Oleksandrohrad, and to move in the northern direction.
On the Orikhiv direction, the enemy's “Dnepr” Operational Grouping will continue the local offensive operation, trying to break through along the left bank of the Dnipro River from the Plavni – Kamianske line to Stepnohirsk and from the Stepove – Mali Shcherbaky line in a 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 19.09.25
Personnel - almost 1,099 530 (+1,150);
Tanks – 11,191 (0);
Armored combat vehicles ‒ 23,278 (+1);
Artillery systems – 32,896 (+17);
Multiple rocket launchers (MLRS) – 1,492 (+1);
Anti-aircraft warfare systems – 1,218 (+1);
Vehicles and fuel tanks – 62,044 (+44);
Aircraft - 422 (0);
Helicopters – 341 (0);
UAV operational and tactical level – 60,680 (+211);
Intercepted cruise and other missiles – 3,718 (0);
Boats/ships – 29 (0).
Humanitarian + general:
From the evening of September 18, Russian occupiers attacked Ukraine with 86 Shahed-type, Gerbera and other types of strike UAVs. As of 9:00 a.m. on September 19, air defense neutralized 71 drones, but 15 strike UAVs hit six locations, with debris from shot-down drones recorded in two more. The Air Force reported that the attack continued, and a new group of UAVs was recorded from the northern direction.
After the night drone attack in Kyiv, debris fell in several districts, damaging the trolleybus network. An unexploded drone was also found.
Russian troops shelled the border area of Chernihiv Oblast on September 19, wounding a fire department driver and another resident.
In Huliaypole, Zaporizhzhia Oblast, an enemy drone hit a civilian car, killing a married couple.
In the settlement of Bilozerka, Kherson Oblast, Russian troops attacked a 59-year-old woman with an UAV, dropping an explosive device on her. As a result, she sustained a concussion, contusion, a shrapnel wound to her arm, a blast injury, and a closed traumatic brain injury, and was hospitalized.
Russian troops attacked Nikopol and Synelnykiv districts of Dnipropetrovsk Oblast during the day, causing damage and injuring six people.
Within the framework of President of Ukraine's Bring Kids Back UA initiative, three more Ukrainian teenagers were returned from the temporarily occupied territories.
President Volodymyr Zelenskyy signed a decree on the creation of the Office of the Military Ombudsman, in order to launch the institution of the military ombudsman in Ukraine.
The share of Ukrainian citizens who support holding elections before the final end of the war, but with a ceasefire and security guarantees, has increased. According to a Kyiv International Institute of Sociology (KIIS) survey, it increased from 9% to 22% from March to September 2025. At the same time, the majority of Ukrainians—63%—continue to believe that elections should be held only after a final peace agreement and the end of the war (71% thought so in May, and 78% in March), while the share of those who advocate for elections even without a ceasefire remains stable at 12%. The survey was conducted on September 2-14 using telephone interviews with 1,023 adult citizens in government-controlled territories.
Russia, along with Iran, actively conducts large-scale operations to recruit mercenaries to participate in combat operations on the side of the Russian troops, attracting mainly citizens of Iraq, Syria, Afghanistan, Libya, Yemen, and other countries in the region, including even former ISIS militants, which causes concern among security experts. According to special services, such large-scale recruitment is associated with a shortage of personnel in the armed forces of the Russian Federation, and financial incentives and promises of Russian citizenship are used to attract mercenaries, the Ukrainska Pravda newspaper reports, citing sources in the Ukrainian special services.