Russia's war on Ukraine. 20.09.25
Operational situation
On the Northern Slobozhansky direction, Russian troops attacked near Oleksiivka and Yunakivka. The 2nd and 3rd Battalions of the 30th Motorized Rifle Regiment of the 72nd Motorized Rifle Division of the 44th Army Corps try to unblock the units of the 810th Separate Marine Brigade near Sadky and Oleksiivka. Infantry groups of the 30th Motorized Rifle Regiment try to penetrate positions in Oleksiivka from the Gordeevsky district of Kursk Oblast. The enemy struck with Shahed UAVs in Zelena Dibrova and Doroshenkove.
Ukrainian Defense Forces counterattacked near Oleksiivka, Yunakivka, Kindrativka, Andriivka, Bilovody, Varachyne, and Sadky.
On the Southern Slobozhansky direction, Russian troops tried to advance west of Synelnykove, and northwest of Odradne. They attacked near Hlyboke, in the direction of Lyptsi, in Vovchansk, and near Vovchanski Khutory, Tykhe, Milove, and Khatnie, and hold the roads near Kozacha Lopan under fire control. Enemy strikes made it impossible to evacuate civilians from Kozacha Lopan, Tokarivka, Hoptivka, Velyki Prokhody, and Mali Prokhody.
On the Kupyansk direction, Russian troops tried to advance to the western outskirts of Kupyansk. They attacked Borova, and near Kindrashivka, Fiholivka, Stepova Novoselivka, Pishchane, and in the direction of Bolohivka, Novoosynove, and Shyivka.
Ukrainian Defense Forces counterattacked near Hrekivka.
On the Lyman direction, Russian troops advanced into the Serebriansk forest area and reached the northern bank of the Siverskyi Donets river. They tried to advance southwest of Serednie, west of Kolodyazi, and in the northern part of Yampil, and attacked near Shandryholove, Novoselivka, Derylove, Novomykhailivka, Stavky, Zarichne, and in the direction of Torske.
Ukrainian Defense Forces counterattacked near Ridkodub.
On the Siversk direction, Russian troops attacked near Dronivka, Serebrianka, Hryhorivka, Vyimka, and Pereyizne.
Ukrainian Defense Forces hold positions north of Siversk.
On the Kostyantynivka direction, Russian troops advanced south of Oleksandro-Shultyne. Shcherbynivka and the northwestern part of Toretsk are a gray zone.
Russian troops attacked near Chasiv Yar, Stupochky, Predtechyne, Bila Hora, Shcherbynivka, Pleshchiivka, Toretsk, Kleban-Byk, Rusyn Yar, Poltavka, Sofiivka, Volodymyrivka, and in the direction of Mykolaypillya.
Ukrainian Defense Forces counterattacked near Predtechyne, Volodymyrivka, and in the direction of Novotoretske.
On the Pokrovsk direction, Russian troops attacked near Toretske, Shakhove, Vilne, Nove Shakhove, Zaporizhzhia, Pokrovsk, Rodynske, Chervonyi Lyman, Novoekonomichne, Sukhetske, Promin, Lysivka, Novoukrainka, Kotlyne, Troyanda, Udachne, Zvirove, Molodetske, and in the direction of Novopidhorodnie.
Ukrainian Defense Forces counterattacked near Zaporizhzhia and Pankivka.
On the Novopavlivka direction, the 35th Separate Motorized Rifle Brigade of the 41st Combined Arms Army captured Muravka, although Ukrainian Defense Forces hold positions on the northwestern outskirts of the village. Russian troops attacked near Novomykolayivka, Dachne, Orikhove, Filia, Ivanivka, Andriivka-Klevtsove, Piddubne, Voskresenka, Novoselivka, Sichneve, Komyshuvakha, Maliivka, Ternove, and Berezove, and tried to advance north and in the eastern part of Kalynivske.
Ukrainian Defense Forces counterattacked near Berezove and Kalynivske.
On the Huliaypole direction, the 394th Motorized Rifle Regiment of the 127th Motorized Rifle Division of the 5th Combined Arms Army captured Novoivanivka. Russian troops tried to advance south and west of Novoivanivka, and attacked near Uspenivka, Olhivske, Novomykolayivka, and Poltavka.
On the Orikhiv direction, Russian troops tried to advance south of Stepnohirsk, and attacked near Prymorske, Kamyanka, and in the direction of Novoandriivka.
General conclusion:
On the Northern Slobozhansky direction, DPRK Armed Forces handle border security and demining in Kursk Oblast. Incidents of friendly fire against Russian troops have occurred, and wounded Korean soldiers have declined treatment and resisted evacuation by Russian medics.
On the Pokrovsk direction, Russian troops are increasing the intensity of UAV use, complicating the use of transport vehicles by Ukrainian Defense Forces in the rear areas.
Change in the line of contact (LoC):
There were 165 combat engagements on various fronts.
On the Northern Slobozhansky and Kursk directions, 9 combat engagements occurred.
On the Southern Slobozhansky direction, the enemy assaulted the positions of Ukrainian Defense Forces 5 times near Vovchansk, Fyholivka, and in the direction of Odradne.
On the Kupyansk direction, 3 enemy attacks occurred. Ukrainian Defense Forces repelled the enemy's assault actions in the areas of Stepova Novoselivka and Pishchane.
On the Lyman direction, the enemy attacked 15 times, trying to advance near Novomykhailivka, Shandryholove, Kolodyazi, Torske, and Zarichne, and toward Stavky, Novoselivka, and Serednie.
On the Siversk direction, the enemy attacked 9 times in the areas of Yampil, Serebrianka, Siversk, Vyimka, and Dronivka.
On the Kostyantynivka direction, 22 attacks were recorded. The aggressor attacked in the areas of Stupochky, Toretsk, Shcherbynivka, and Poltavka, and toward Pleshchiivka, Rusyn Yar, Ivanopillya, and Stepanivka.
On the Pokrovsk direction, 50 Russian assault and offensive actions were stopped in the areas of Volodymyrivka, Nykanorivka, Nove Shakhove, Rodynske, Novoekonomichne, Promin, Lysivka, Pokrovsk, Kotlyne, Molodetske, Udachne, Dachne, Chervonyi Lyman, and Novopavlivka.
On the Novopavlivka direction, the enemy attacked 33 times in the areas of Filiya, Voskresenka, Berezove, Maliivka, Novoivanivka, Piddubne, Zelenyi Hay, Tovste, Sichneve, Novomykolayivka, and Olhivske.
On the Orikhiv direction, the enemy advanced twice in the area of Kamyanka and toward Stepnohirsk.
On the Prydniprovske direction, the enemy tried to approach the positions of Ukrainian Defense Forces in the direction of the Antonivskyi bridge twice in vain.
Supporting operation:
The Unmanned Systems Forces of Ukrainian Defense Forces struck the Saratov “Kreking” oil refinery of the Rosneft Public Joint Stock Company in Novokuybyshevsk, Samara Oblast with a UAV.
Changes in the enemy disposition:
The 137th Airborne Regiment of the 106th Airborne Division operates on the Sumy direction. The 10th Self-Propelled Artillery Regiment of the 44th Army Corps strikes Ukrainian troops in Kursk Oblast.
The 1009th Motorized Rifle Regiment of the 69th Motorized Rifle Division of the 6th Combined Arms Army strikes Ukrainian positions in and near Vovchansk.
The 16th Separate SOF Brigade strikes Ukrainian positions near Vasylivka.
The 7th Separate Motorized Rifle Brigade of the 3rd Combined Arms Army strikes Ukrainian positions north of Siversk.
The 56th Separate SOF Battalion of the 51st Combined Arms Army and the 57th Separate SOF Company of the 8th Combined Arms Army operate near Shakhove and Volodymyrivka.
The 31st Engineer Regiment of the 8th Combined Arms Army operates in Zaporizhzhia Oblast. The 291st Motorized Rifle Regiment of the 42nd Motorized Rifle Division of the 58th Combined Arms Army strikes Ukrainian positions near Orikhiv and Novodanylivka.
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 20.09.25
Personnel - almost 1,100 600 (+1,070);
Tanks – 11,192 (+1);
Armored combat vehicles ‒ 23,280 (+2);
Artillery systems – 32,927 (+31);
Multiple rocket launchers (MLRS) – 1,492 (0);
Anti-aircraft warfare systems – 1,218 (0);
Vehicles and fuel tanks – 62,168 (+124);
Aircraft - 422 (0);
Helicopters – 341 (0);
UAV operational and tactical level – 61,045 (+365);
Intercepted cruise and other missiles – 3,718 (0);
Boats/ships – 29 (0).
Humanitarian + general:
On the night of September 20, Russian troops launched a combined strike on Ukraine using 619 unmanned aerial vehicles and missiles, of which 583 were shot down or suppressed by air defense. The occupiers used 579 drones, 8 Iskander-M/KN-23 ballistic missiles, and 32 Kh-101 cruise missiles. Among those that did not reach their targets were 552 UAVs, 2 Iskanders, and 29 Kh-101 missiles. Ballistic and cruise missile hits and 23 strike drones were recorded in 10 locations, with debris from shot-down drones falling in another 10.
On the night of September 20, one person died and 36 were injured in Dnipropetrovsk Oblast as a result of a massive combined attack by Russians with unmanned aerial vehicles and missiles. Most of the victims were hospitalized in moderate condition, and one man is in serious condition. In Dnipro and the surrounding district, several fires broke out. An apartment building, private houses, outbuildings, garages, and business facilities were damaged, and a fire was also recorded on the territory of a company in Pavlohrad. In Nikopol district, Russian troops used FPV drones and artillery, hitting the district center and Pokrovsk community, where a private house caught fire.
As a result of the shelling of Dnipro, one of the Russian missiles hit a warehouse of the ATB retail chain, causing a fire. Several of the company's trucks were damaged, but none of the employees were injured.
In Kyiv Oblast, as a result of a combined attack by Russians with drones and missiles, fires broke out in several districts, including a private house and five cars. The most destruction was recorded in Bucha, Boryspil, and Obukhiv districts. There are no reports of casualties.
On the night of September 20, Russian troops attacked Khmelnytskyi Oblast. During the extinguishing of a fire in one of the houses in Dunayivtsi community, the body of a man born in 1979 was found. Two other local residents sought medical help but did not require hospitalization. According to preliminary data, two houses were destroyed and about 20 residential buildings were damaged.
On Saturday afternoon, Russian troops attacked Chernihiv with drones, as a result of which two unmanned aerial vehicles fell and transport infrastructure was damaged. According to preliminary information, there are no casualties.
In the village of Malokaterynivka, Zaporizhzhia Oblast, a Russian FPV drone hit near a private house, as a result of which a 60-year-old local resident was injured. In the morning, a Russian drone hit a residential building in Prymorsk, as a result of which an 87-year-old woman was injured.
On the evening of September 20, Russian troops struck Poltava Oblast, with hits on civilian infrastructure facilities in Myrhorod and Poltava districts. According to preliminary information, there are no casualties.
In Chernihiv Oblast, as a result of enemy attacks on September 19, one person died and eight were injured, including three medics.