Russia's war on Ukraine. 22.05.25
Operational situation
On the Kursk direction, Russian forces entrenched themselves in positions south of Tetkino and are attempting to push Ukrainian Defense Forces units beyond the state border.
Ukrainian Defense Forces carried out attacks near Novyi Put and Volfino.
On the Bryansk direction, reconnaissance groups of Ukrainian Defense Forces operate in Suzemsky and Trubchevsky districts, near Subbotovo and Miakishovo.
The enemy blocked roads from Bryansk to Vygonitsky district, as well as to Lopush, Subbotovo, and Miakishovo.
On the Sumy direction, Russian forces continued attacks near Myropilske, Bilovody, and Yunakivka.
On the Kharkiv direction, Russian forces conducted attacks near Vovchansk. The enemy increased the number of assaults near Vovchansk, Vovchanski Khutory, and Tykhe.
Ukrainian Defense Forces maintain control over all logistics routes in the area and prevent Russian troops from constructing pontoon crossings over the Vovcha River.
On the Kupyansk direction, Russian forces attacked near Kamianske, in the direction of Stroyivka, near Kindrashivka, Doroshivka, Mala Shapkivka, Kruhlyakivka, Hrekivka, Kopanky, and toward Novoserhiyivka and Olkhivka.
On the Lyman direction, Russian forces carried out attacks near Ridkodub, Novyi Myr, Zelena Dolyna, Yampolivka, Kolodiazi, Torske, and in the Serebriansk Forest area.
On the Siversk direction, Russian forces attempted to advance north of Ivano-Dariivka and attacked near Bilohorivka.
On the Kramatorsk direction, Russian forces attacked near Chasiv Yar, Predtechyne, Bila Hora, and Kurdyumivka.
On the Toretsk direction, Russian forces attempted to advance northwest and west of Romanivka, and attacked near Toretsk, Druzhba, Dyliivka, Novospaske, Stara Mykolaivka, Hnativka, Nova Poltavka, Oleksandropil, Zoria, Novoolenivka, and Yablunivka.
On the Pokrovsk direction, Russian forces attempted to advance toward the western outskirts of Novoserhiyivka and near Chunyshyne, launched assaults in the direction of Shevchenkove, Malynivka, and near Myroliubivka, Yelyzavetivka, Promin, Lysivka, Dachenske, Zvirove, Kotlyne, Novoserhiyivka, and Udachne. They struck the bridge over the Kazennyi Torets River east of Shakhove.
On the Novopavlivka direction, Russian forces advanced to the center of Novomykolayivka, southwest of Kotlyarivka, west of Orikhove, and south of Bohdanivka. They attacked near Muravka, Novomykolayivka, Troitske, Konstyantynopil, Andriivka, attempted to advance northeast of Oleksiivka, near Bahatyr, east and south of Odradne.
Ukrainian Defense Forces repelled an assault near Novopavlivka, counterattacked near Troitske, Bahatyr, and Odradne, and hold positions in the northwest of Orikhove..
On the Huliaypole direction, Russian forces advanced east of Fedorivka, attempted to move southwest of Vilne Pole, within Zelenyi Hai, east of Novopil, northwest of Novodarivka, and attacked near Pryvilne, Burlatske, Dniproenerhiya, Shevchenkove, Vesele, Rivnopillya, and toward Komar.
Ukrainian Defense Forces counterattacked near Zelenyi Hai and Novopil.
On the Orikhiv direction, Russian forces attacked near Mala Tokmachka, Novodanylivka, Mali Shcherbaky, Shcherbaky, Novoandriivka, Kamianske, and Stepove.
General conclusion:
Command changes on the Siversk direction are slowly yielding results due to tactical adjustments, but the enemy will require significantly more manpower to seize Siversk, which is well-prepared for defense.
On the Kramatorsk direction, Russian forces actively employ FPV drones guided via fiber optic lines. The enemy is amassing personnel for assaults on the Shevchenko and Levanivskyi residential districts.
The seizure of Novooleksandrivka on the Pokrovsk direction creates favorable conditions for further Russian advances toward Pokrovsk.
The 85th Main Special Service Center (military unit 26165) of the Main Directorate of the General Staff of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation conducts cyberattacks on information systems of defense, transport, and IT services, both governmental and private, in NATO member states, Romania, Moldova, and Ukraine. Personnel from unit 26165 exploit systemic vulnerabilities to gain access to data on Western aid shipments to Ukraine, including vessel numbers, routes, and cargo. The enemy has likely gained remote access to surveillance cameras near key logistics hubs and road cameras along supply routes into Ukraine. IP camera attacks primarily target devices located in Ukraine, Romania, Poland, Hungary, and Slovakia.
Change in the line of contact (LoC):
There were 144 combat engagements on various fronts.
On the Kharkiv direction, the enemy made six unsuccessful attempts to advance in the areas of Vovchansk, Kamyanka, and toward Mala Shapkivka.
On the Kupyansk direction, four enemy attacks occurred. Ukrainian Defense Forces repelled assaults near Kindrashivka, Zahryzove, and Nova Kruhlyakivka.
On the Lyman direction, 17 engagements took place. The enemy attempted to advance near Ridkodub, Hrekivka, Zelena Dolyna, toward Novoserhiyivka, Olhivka, Novyi Myr, and in the Serebriansk Forest.
On the Siversk direction, two enemy attacks were repelled near Bilohorivka.
On the Kramatorsk direction, the enemy carried out three attacks near Chasiv Yar and toward Predtechyne.
On the Toretsk direction, the enemy launched 16 attacks on Ukrainian units near Dyliivka, Druzhba, and Toretsk.
On the Pokrovsk direction, 54 enemy assault actions were repelled in the areas of Yablunivka, Zoria, Shevchenko Pershe, Nova Poltavka, Myroliubivka, Yelyzavetivka, Lysivka, Dachenske, Kotlyne, Novoserhiyivka, Udachne, Troitske, Promin, Kotlyarivka, Andriivka, and in the directions of Popiv Yar and Novomykolayivka.
On the Novopavlivka direction, Ukrainian Defense Forces repelled 19 enemy attacks in the areas of Bahatyr, Odradne, Shevchenkove, Vesele, Rivnopillya, Novopil, Zelenyi Hai, and Vilne Pole.
On the Huliaypole direction, the enemy made three attempts to advance toward Ukrainian positions in the area of Vysoke
On the Orikhiv direction, Ukrainian Defense Forces repelled four attacks near Shcherbaky, Stepove, and toward Pavlivka.
On the Prydniprovske direction, enemy units attempted to advance once, without success.
On the Kursk direction, Ukrainian Defense Forces repelled five enemy attacks. The enemy conducted 17 airstrikes.
In the Black Sea-Azov naval operational area, the enemy naval group on combat duty consists of:
Mediterranean Sea: 3 ships, including 1 cruise missile carrier; the total salvo is 8 cruise missiles.
Supporting operation:
Ukrainian Defense Forces struck targets in Moscow, Kursk, Ryazan, Oryol, Kaluga, and Tula Oblast, as well as in the ocupied Autonomous Republic of Crimea.
The airports of “Domodedovo,” “Sheremetyevo,” “Vnukovo,” and “Zhukovsky” in and around Moscow temporarily ceased operations.
Communication outages were reported, and internet service was shut off in Lipetsk Oblast.
A chemical plant in the city of Novomoskovsk, Tula Oblast, was attacked.
Changes in the enemy disposition:
The 177th Separate Marines Regiment of the Caspian Fleet operates near Myropilske; the 83rd Separate Air Assault Brigade, the 25th BARS detachment “Anvar,” and the “Rubikon” Center for Advanced Drone Technologies operate in the border zone of Sumy Oblast.
The 121st Motorized Rifle Regiment of the 68th Motorized Rifle Division of the 6th Combined Arms Army advances toward Kupiansk. The 1431st Motorized Rifle Regiment of the 18th Motorized Rifle Division of the 11th Army Corps operates in Kharkiv Oblast.
The 3rd Motorized Rifle Division of the 20th Combined Arms Army advances toward Lyman.
The 20th Motorized Rifle Regiment advances in the area of Oleksandro-Kalynove. The 103rd Motorized Rifle Regiment of the 150th Motorized Rifle Division of the 8th Combined Arms Army is active near Shcherbynivka; the 238th Artillery Brigade of the 8th Combined Arms Army is engaged near Shcherbynivka and Dyliivka; the 242nd Motorized Rifle Regiment of the 20th Motorized Rifle Division of the 8th Combined Arms Army – near Oleksandropil. The 132nd Separate Motorized Rifle Brigade of the 51st Combined Arms Army and the 33rd Motorized Rifle Regiment of the 20th Motorized Rifle Division advance toward Kostyantynivka.
The 14th Separate SOF Brigade operates near Novoukrainka, Komar, and Odradne.
The 9th Separate Motorized Rifle Brigade of the 51st Combined Arms Army is active near Novooleksandrivka.
The 38th Separate Motorized Rifle Brigade of the 35th Combined Arms Army operates near Malynivka.
Possible operation situation developments:
The military command of the enemy's "Sever (North)" Operational Grouping is currently focused on its immediate operational objective: breaking through to the Yunakivka–Sudzha road, which is already under its fire control. The next operational goal may be to reach the line of dominant heights in the Yunakivka area. Securing these positions would support further expansion of the bridgehead in the border zone—both east of Yunakivka and to the north and northwest of it, particularly along both banks of the Snagost River. In the near future, intensive assault operations are expected both toward Yunakivka and along both banks of the Snagost River, generally advancing from north to south. The enemy will likely attempt to simultaneously reach the Oleksiivka–Yablunivka line and the Yunakivka area. To achieve this, the enemy may deliver a supporting strike in the Troitske–Volodymyrivka direction.
On the Kupyansk direction, the command of the enemy's "Zapad (West)" Operational Grouping conducts offensive operations with the 144th Motorized Rifle Division from a bridgehead near Nove toward the high ground near Cherneshchyna. At the same time, the 4th Tank Division is advancing along converging directions —Raihorodok to Cherneshchyna and Pershotravneve to Kopanky—attempting to encircle the tactical group of the "Khortytsia" Operational-Strategic Grouping, which holds defensive positions along the Novoyehorivka–Hrekivka line.
On the Lyman direction, the forces of the "Zapad (West)" Operational Grouping will advance towards Karlivka and Drobysheve, aiming to reach the Karlivka – Shandryholove – Drobysheve line while simultaneously advancing near Torske to approach Lyman from the east. The 25th Combined Arms Army will attempt to break through the communication lines of the "Khortytsia" OSG tactical group, which is defending in the Dibrova – Yampil direction and in the area of the Serebriansk Forest. The enemy will attempt to advance on both banks of the Chornyi Zherebets River, moving towards the general directions of Yampolivka – Torske and Ivanivka – Zarichne. The main grouping of the army will operate on its right flank, attempting to break through from the north to the Lyman – Kreminna road in the Zarichne – Torske section, while simultaneously tying down the "Khortytsia" OSG forces in the center and on the left flank of the operational zone with frontal engagements.
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 and to Kostyantynivka, delivering its main strike in the area of Chasiv Yar. The 3rd Combined Arms Army of the enemy will try to break through to Kostyantynivka from Chasiv Yar, but it is unlikely to achieve its operational goals without reinforcements, such as the return of the 106th Airborne Division from the Kursk direction or strategic reserves. The 3rd Army will attempt to advance to the northern bank of the Siverskyi Donets River between Yampil and Hryhorivka and from the southeast towards Siversk. The command of the "Yug" Operational Grouping is also concentrating forces in the areas of Soledar, Rozdolivka, and Zaliznyanske to strike from the south along the Bakhmutka River towards Siversk. The offensive may begin with the advance of the forward units of the 127th and 6th Separate Motorized Rifle Brigades of the 3rd Army towards Siversk from the east and southeast. The immediate objective for the enemy is to capture Pereyizne and Fedorivka, with the subsequent goal of advancing to the Zvanivka – Vyimka line.
On the Kramatorsk direction, the command of the enemy’s “Yug (South)” Operational Grouping and the 3rd Army, in particular, may soon change the direction of their main strike and shift it to the north of Chasiv Yar, launching an offensive on both sides of the Bakhmut–Sloviansk road along the Orikhovo-Vasylivka–Minkivka and Blahodatne–Pryvillya directions, which would allow them to break through to the forward approaches of Sloviansk directly from the southeast and create a real threat to the “Siversk” Operational Tactical Grouping (OTG) of Ukrainian Defense Forces by executing a deep flanking maneuver on its right flank. If the enemy manages to achieve operational surprise in these directions and advance to tactical depth, the situation in the Kolodyazi–Hryhorivka sector on the Lyman direction could radically deteriorate for the “Khortytsia” OSG.
Follow-on actions of the 8th Combined Arms Army south of Kostyantynivka could include a rapid advance from the southwest and west towards the forward approaches to Kostyantynivka or a breakthrough in the direction of Pokrovsk from Novoekonomichne and Myrnohrad. It should be considered that a breakthrough along the road towards Novoekonomichne and Myrnohrad would require the command of the "Tsentr (Center)" Operational Grouping to involve elements of the 51st Combined Arms Army in the Vozdvyzhenka–Hrodivka sector and activate its forward units in the Mykolaivka–Promin direction. An attempt to achieve both objectives simultaneously, namely breaking through to Kostyantynivka and Myrnohrad, essentially advancing in diverging directions, would result in the collapse of the offensive. Within the week, the final choice of offensive direction is expected. The reassignment of the 150th and/or 20th Motorized Rifle Divisions to the "Tsentr (Center)" Operational Grouping should not be ruled out, as this would indicate a choice to prioritize a breakthrough towards Myrnohrad and further towards Pokrovsk from the east.
Russian operational losses from 23.02.22 to 22.05.25
Personnel - almost 977,650 (+870);
Tanks – 10,839 (+4);
Armored combat vehicles – 22,574 (+5);
Artillery systems – 28,122 (+32);
Multiple rocket launchers (MLRS) – 1,388 (0);
Anti-aircraft warfare systems – 1,167 (0);
Vehicles and fuel tanks – 49,268 (+99);
Aircraft - 372 (0);
Helicopters – 336 (0);
UAV operational and tactical level – 36,797 (+105);
Intercepted cruise missiles – 3,197 (0)
Boats/ships – 29 (0).
Humanitarian + general:
On the night of May 22, Russian occupation forces attacked Ukrainian territory using an Iskander-M ballistic missile, 128 Shahed-type strike UAVs, and various types of decoy drones. As of 11:00 a.m., Ukrainian air defense forces had neutralized 112 enemy drones—74 were shot down and 38 were lost from radar or suppressed by electronic warfare. The Dnipropetrovsk, Donetsk, Kharkiv, and Mykolaiv Oblasts were affected by the enemy attack.
During the night of May 22, Russian forces launched a missile strike on the Kholodnohirskyi District of Kharkiv, damaging eight private houses. Two people experienced acute stress reactions.
Russian invaders attacked the city of Pavlohrad in Dnipropetrovsk Oblast with drones at night, damaging an industrial facility, residential buildings, and cars, with several fires breaking out.
Air defense engaged Russian drones over Kyiv—debris from an enemy drone fell on the grounds of a school in the Darnytskyi District. There were no injuries or fires.
On the morning of May 22, Russian artillery shelled Kherson. An 85-year-old woman was killed when her house was hit.
On May 22, Russian forces shelled Kostyantynivka and launched a kamikaze drone strike on Raihorodok in Donetsk Oblast. As a result of the attacks, two women aged 54 and 51 were killed, and two more women were injured.
Four residents of Kherson Oblast were injured in Russian attacks on the morning of May 22. Russian forces attacked Komyshany and Kherson with UAVs, and shelled Osokorivka with artillery.
On May 22 at around 13:40, Russian troops subjected Beryslav in Kherson Oblast to artillery fire. The shelling killed a 54-year-old woman and a 64-year-old man. At around 16:00, artillery struck Novooleksandrivka, injuring a 71-year-old local resident.
The international human rights organization Human Rights Watch (HRW) reported that from January to April this year, the number of civilian casualties in Ukraine from Russian attacks—in particular the wounded—rose by 57% compared to the same period in 2024.
Ukraine has submitted a list to Russia for a prisoner exchange in a “1000 for 1000” format. Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov confirmed that the Russian Federation had received the list of prisoners of war.
Almost 50 reports have been filed in Ukraine from children who said Russians attempted to recruit them, according to Vasyl Bohdan, head of Ukraine’s juvenile police. Unknown individuals, using fake accounts, contacted children via messengers and social media, encouraging them to commit arson against military vehicles, government and local authority buildings, and civilian and critical infrastructure sites, promising financial rewards in return.
In the temporarily occupied part of Luhansk Oblast, over 100 schools are planned to be closed this year due to a lack of students, according to the head of the Luhansk Regional State Administration, Oleksii Kharchenko.