Russia’s war on Ukraine. 30.12.25
Operational situation
On the Northern Slobozhansky Direction, Russian forces attacked near Kostyantynivka, Andriivka, Oleksiivka, Varachyne, Yablunivka, Hrabovske, toward Kindrativka. Small enemy infantry groups intensified activity near Komarivka. A unit of the 1st Anti-Aircraft Missile Regiment of the Aerospace Forces of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation operates in Bezsalivka.
Ukrainian Defense Forces counterattacked near Andriivka.
On the Southern Slobozhansky direction, Russian forces advanced northeast of Kozacha Lopan, attacked near Prylipka, Vovchanski Khutory, Starytsia, Vilcha, Vovchansk, Izbytske, Lyman, Milove, Dvorichanske, toward Hrafske, Khatnie, Hryhorivka.
Ukrainian Defense Forces counterattacked near Vilcha.
On the Kupyansk direction, Russian forces attacked near Kupyansk, toward Mala Shapkivka, Petropavlivka, Pishchane, near Kurylivka, Kupyansk-Vuzlovyi, Hrekivka, toward Boldyrivka, Prystyn, Blahodativka, Druzhelyubivka. The command of the 79th Motorized Rifle Regiment of the 18th Motorized Rifle Division of the 11th Army Corps, operating near Dvorichanske, formed consolidated units from wounded and sick servicemen for actions on the front line. Out of 200 killed in the regiment, 140 are irreversible non-combat and sanitary losses.
Ukrainian Defense Forces counterattacked within and near Kupyansk, near Podoly and Nechvolodivka.
On the Lyman direction, Russian forces advanced near Lyman and Korovyi Yar, attacked near Novoselivka, Oleksandrivka, Drobysheve, Novomykhailivka, Stavky, Myrne, Zarichne.
Ukrainian Defense Forces counterattacked near Drobysheve and Stavky.
On the Sloviansk direction, Russian forces advanced northeast of Riznykivka and southeast of Zakitne, attacked near Siversk, Dronivka, Platonivka, Ozerne, Yampil, Dibrova, Serebrianka, Sviato-Pokrovske.
Ukrainian Defense Forces counterattacked near Riznykivka.
On the Kostyantynivka direction, Russian forces attacked near Kostyantynivka, Minkivka, Oleksandro-Shultyne, Kleban-Byk, Shcherbynivka, Pleshchiivka, toward Berestok, near Yablunivka, toward Stepanivka, near Rusyn Yar and Sofiivka.
Ukrainian Defense Forces counterattacked from Novopavlivka.
On the Pokrovsk direction, Russian forces captured Nove Shakhove and Rodynske, intensified attacks from the bridgehead west of the Kazennyi Torets River near Nove Shakhove and Novotoretske, and advanced along road O0525 southeast of Hryshyne. The enemy attacked near Shakhove, Vilne, Pankivka, Dorizhne, near and within Pokrovsk, near Rodynske, Krasnyi Lyman, Novoekonomichne, near and within Myrnohrad, near Kotlyne, Udachne, and Molodetske.
Ukrainian Defense Forces repelled an assault northwest of Boykivka.
On the Oleksandrivka direction, Russian forces continued the offensive near Novopavlivka, Novoserhiyivka, Filiya, Andriivka-Klevtsove, Yalta, Tovste, Ivanivka, Oleksandrohrad, Verbove, Vyshneve, toward Sosnivka.
Ukrainian Defense Forces advanced in the northern part of Oleksandrohrad.
On the Huliaypole Direction, Russian forces repelled counterattacks by Ukrainian Defense Forces east of highway T0401 Pokrovske–Huliaypole between Dobropillya and Pryluky toward Solodke, attacked near and within Huliaypole, near Nove Zaporizhzhia, Varvarivka, Solodke, Pryvilne, Rybne, Dorozhanka, toward Zaliznychne.
On the Orikhiv direction, Russian forces advanced in the western part of Stepnohirsk and northeast of the town, attempted to advance northwest of Lukyanivske and north of Stepnohirsk along highway M18 Zaporizhzhia–Melitopol toward Veselyanka, attacked near Mala Tokmachka, Bilohirya, Shcherbaky, Stepove, Plavni, Novoandriivka, and Prymorske.
On the Prydniprovske Direction, Russian forces attacked in the direction the Antonivskyi Bridge.
General conclusion:
The General Staff of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation has ceased paying contract servicemen of the enemy “Sever (North)” Operational Grouping compensation for participation in an “anti-terrorist operation”.
Russian forces are concentrating efforts on attacks on the eastern bank of the Oskil River, particularly toward Kupyansk-Vuzlovyi. In Kupyansk, encircled enemy units have three pockets of resistance, while the rest of the city is a gray zone.
The enemy has intensified attacks near Sofiivka and Volodymyrivka, attempting to advance toward Druzhkivka from the southwest.
Russian forces unsuccessfully attempt to entrench along the railway north of Rodynske and west of the village, using crossings along the Kazennyi Torets River to move units for attacks on Myrnohrad, and are attempting to bypass the city from the north via Chervonyi Lyman.
The Black Sea Fleet of the Navy of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation has no ships or vessels in the Black and Azov seas. Only two submarines with cruise missiles remain at the Fleet’s disposal, which it uses infrequently due to maintenance problems and the high risk of being hit. The enemy is attempting to repair damaged ships in Novorossiysk, but the available dry docks are within the range of Ukrainian strikes.
Supporting operation:
Special Operations Forces of the Ukrainian Defense Forces conducted sabotage at an ammunition depot and in an enemy concentration area in Melitopol.
Change in the line of contact (LoC), directions of attacks and counterattacks:
There were 151 combat engagements on various fronts.
On the Northern Slobozhansky and Kursk directions, 2 combat engagements occurred.
On the Southern Slobozhansky and Kursk directions, Ukrainian Defense Forces repelled 12 attacks near Vovchanski Khutory, Vovchansk, Starytsia, Prylipka, and toward Izbytske and Kolodyazne.
On the Kupyansk Direction, 5 attacks by the invaders occurred. Enemy assault actions were repelled near Pishchane and toward Petropavlivka.
On the Lyman direction, the enemy attacked 10 times, attempting to wedge into the Ukrainian defense in the areas of Kolodyazi, Zarichne, and toward Yampil.
On the Sloviansk direction, 3 enemy attacks were stopped in the area of Dronivka.
On the Kostyantynivka direction, the enemy carried out 17 attacks in the areas of Oleksandro-Shultyne, Shcherbynivka, Pleshchiivka, Yablunivka, Rusyn Yar, and toward Kostyantynivka and Sofiivka.
On the Pokrovsk direction, 43 assault actions by the aggressor were stopped in the areas of Pankivka, Chervonyi Lyman, Rodynske, Myrnohrad, Novoekonomichne, Pokrovsk, Kotlyne, Udachne, Molodetske, Novoserhiyivka, and toward Filiya.
On the Oleksandrivka direction, the enemy carried out 13 attacks in the areas of Tovste, Oleksandrohrad, Verbove, and Rybne.
On the Huliaypole Direction, Ukrainian Defense Forces repelled 25 enemy attacks in the areas of Solodke, Huliaypole, and Bilohirya.
On the Orikhiv Direction, 2 combat engagements occurred; the enemy attempted to advance near Stepove and Shcherbaky.
On the Prydniprovske Direction, the occupiers attempted to advance twice but were repelled.
Changes in the enemy disposition:
The 106th Airborne Regiment operates near Mykilske.
The 58th Separate SOF Battalion of the 51st Combined Arms Army strikes Ukrainian transport vehicles in the area of Kostyantynivka.
The 57th Separate SOF Company and the 102nd Motorized Rifle Regiment of the 150th Motorized Rifle Division of the 8th Combined Arms Army strike in the Toretsk area, while the division’s 174th Separate Reconnaissance Battalion operates toward Dobropillya.
The 1198th Motorized Rifle Regiment of the 35th Combined Arms Army strikes Ukrainian positions in Verkhnya Teresa, the 1466th Motorized Rifle Regiment of the 127th Motorized Rifle Division of the 5th Combined Arms Army operates in Zaliznychne, and the 38th Separate Motorized Rifle Brigade of the 35th Combined Arms Army operates near Tsvitkove.
The 104th Airborne Assault Regiment of the 76th Airborne Assault Division operates near Orikhiv.
Engineering units of the 98th Airborne Division operate on the left bank of the Dnipro River.
Possible operation situation developments:
On the Southern Slobozhanske Direction, the enemy will attempt to capture Vovchansk, attempt to break through in the area of Tsehelne toward the Vovchansk–Staryi Saltiv road and the highway to Rubizhne with the forces of a tactical grouping (elements of the 6th Combined Arms Army, the 11th and the 44th Army Corps). These actions will slow the enemy’s advance along the eastern bank of the Siverskyi Donets to Bilyi Kolodyaz, Verkhnya Pysarivka and Buhayivka.
On the Kupyansk Direction, the enemy will hold its bridgehead in the Dvorichna and simultaneously will develop an offensive by the 47th Tank Division of the 1st Tank Army east of the city. The troops of the 6th Combined Arms Army will envelop the defense area of the 16th Army Corps of Ukrainian Defense Forces near Kolodyazne, will attack in the Milove – Ambarne and Krasne Pershe – Novovasylivka Directions, and will break through in the Dvorichna – Ridkodub Direction.
The defeat of the enemy “Zapad (West)” Operational Grouping in Kupyansk complicates and delays the seizure of the Sloviansk–Kramatorsk agglomeration. The successes of Ukrainian Defense Forces on the Kupyansk Direction will not allow Russian forces to exploit the advance of the troops of the 25th Combined Arms Army near Lyman and the 3rd Combined Arms Army near Siversk, thereby slowing the movement toward Sloviansk. Enemy forces will need to force the Siverskyi Donets River in the Lyman Direction to reach Sloviansk and secure their flanks against a possible counterstrike by Ukrainian Defense Forces from the Izium area. Russian forces are unable to develop an offensive toward Sloviansk from the Siversk Direction, as they do not have a sufficient number of troops there to conduct a frontal assault on the city.
On the Lyman Direction, the enemy’s 20th Combined Arms Army will attempt to seize the Yarova – Novoselivka – Drobysheve – Pryshyb area and block the Lyman – Izium logistics route along the northern bank of the Siverskyi Donets River. The 25th Combined Arms Army will continue its offensive east and southeast of Lyman in order to reach the Dibrova – Ozerne line and create a favorable initial position for an assault on Lyman from the south and southeast and will attempt to seize Zakitne and consolidate on the dominant heights. In addition, through actions on this Direction, the enemy seeks to support the 3rd Combined Arms Army, which is advancing toward Sloviansk along the southern bank of the Siverskyi Donets River. The troops of the 20th and 25th Combined Arms Armies will advance north and east of Lyman with the aim of isolating the defense area of the 3rd Army Corps of the Ukrainian Defense Forces around the city from the north and northwest, in order to reach the Siverskyi Donets River south of the city on the Raihorodok – Zakitne section.
By maintaining control of a bridgehead on the Siverskyi Donets river, 3rd Army Corps of the Ukrainian Defense Forces will make it much more challenging for the enemy to launch an offensive towards Sloviansk from this direction.
On the Sloviansk Direction, the 3rd Combined Arms Army will attempt to break through from the Dronivka – Siversk line to the Zakitne – Riznykivka – Kalenyky – Kryva Luka area, facilitating the offensive on Lyman by the troops of the 25th Combined Arms Army. The advance of the 3rd Combined Arms Army along the southern bank of the Siverskyi Donets River in a westward direction will allow the command of the enemy “Zapad (West)” Operational Grouping not only to concentrate the main forces of the 20th and 25th Combined Arms Armies for the assault on Lyman without diverting them to block Defense Forces positions along the river, but also to ensure maneuver by troops within the zones of the 3rd, 20th, and 25th Combined Arms Armies across the Siverskyi Donets River outside the fire influence of Ukrainian Defense Forces.
Ukrainian Defense Forces will seek opportunities to slow the enemy advance along the southern bank of the Siverskyi Donets River toward Raihorodok and Sloviansk.
On the Kostyantynivka Direction, the enemy command will attempt to conduct a deep envelopment of Kostyantynivka from the north, east, and southeast and to break through from the southwest to the near approaches to Druzhkivka, that is, to enter the deep rear of the 19th Army Corps of Ukrainian Defense Forces defending in Kostyantynivka and to its south and southwest. Enemy troops will advance in the general direction of Volodymyrivka – Rayske to reach the near approaches to Druzhkivka and will attempt to break through from the east and northeast to the Bilokuzmynivka – Virolyubivka – Izhevka – Kurtivka area. Simultaneously, the enemy will conduct a frontal offensive within the defense zone of the 12th Azov Special Purpose Brigade of the National Guard of Ukraine. The troops of the enemy’s 3rd Army Corps will advance to the Novodmytrivka – Chervone line, collapsing the defense of the 24th Separate Mechanized Brigade of the 11th Army Corps of Ukrainian Defense Forces in Chasiv Yar by an offensive from the south. The aggressor will attack along both banks of the Kazennyi Torets River in the Sofiivka area, attempt to seize the village, and advance toward Novopavlivka and Torske. In the offensive zone of the 8th Combined Arms Army, the enemy will advance in the general direction of Volodymyrivka – Sofiivka.
The Pokrovsk–Myrnohrad defense area of the 7th Rapid Reaction Corps of the Air Assault Forces of Ukrainian Defense Forces will be seized by the enemy by the end of January 2026. By capturing Pokrovsk and Myrnohrad, the enemy gains the chance to launch an offensive toward Dobropillya and potentially break through rapidly, with the 2nd Combined Arms Army advancing from Pokrovsk and the 51st Combined Arms Army moving from the bridgehead on the Kazennyi Torets River. The command of the enemy “Tsentr (Center)” Operational Grouping will not be able to bypass/encircle the defense area of the Armed Forces of Ukraine from the flanks, as the Defense Forces firmly hold the Vilne – Novyi Donbas line, leaving only a frontal offensive on Dobropillya, which will entail enormous losses.
On the Oleksandrivka and Huliaypole Directions, the enemy’s “Vostok (East)” Operational Grouping will attempt to envelop the Huliaypole defensive area of Ukrainian Defense Forces from the north, block its main lines of communication, reach the Huliaypole–Pokrovske road on the Dobropillya–Varvarivka section, reach the Khaychur River, force it in the Danylivka–Dobropillya area, and encircle Huliaypole from the northwest. Forces of the 36th Combined Arms Army and elements of the right flank of the 5th Combined Arms Army will attempt to break through toward Pokrovske from the southeast.
On the Orikhiv Direction, the enemy will try to break through toward Novomykolayivka to bypass the Orikhiv defensive area of Ukrainian Defense Forces from the north. The enemy “Vostok (East)” Operational Grouping will attempt to collapse the defense of the Armed Forces of Ukraine southeast of Zaporizhzhia and break through to its near approaches, advancing along the Donetsk–Zaporizhzhia highway. Simultaneously, acting from the south, the enemy’s “Dnepr” Operational Grouping will attempt to break through from the Plavni–Kamianske line along the left bank of the Dnipro River toward Stepnohirsk, and from the Stepove–Mali Shcherbaky line in the northern direction with the aim of reaching the near approaches to the city of Zaporizhzhia.
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 24.02.22 to 30.12.25
Personnel - almost 1,206 910 (+1,220);
Tanks – 11,477 (+5);
Armored combat vehicles ‒ 23,841 (+4);
Artillery systems – 35,589 (+19);
Multiple rocket launchers (MLRS) – 1,582 (+1);
Anti-aircraft warfare systems – 1,264 (0);
Vehicles and fuel tanks – 72,010 (+119);
Aircraft - 434 (0);
Helicopters – 347 (0);
UAV operational and tactical level – 96,932 (+400);
Intercepted cruise and other missiles – 4,136 (0);
Boats/ships – 30 (0).
Humanitarian + general:
On the night of 30 December, Russian forces attacked Ukraine with two Iskander-M ballistic missiles and 60 strike UAVs of various types, including Shahed and Gerbera. As of 09:00, one missile and 52 UAVs were shot down or suppressed in the northern, southern, and eastern parts of the country. At the same time, impacts of one ballistic missile and eight strike UAVs were recorded at five locations.
On the night of 30 December, the enemy attacked Odesa with ballistic missiles and UAVs.
The enemy continues to attack Ukraine’s energy infrastructure. In particular, Russian forces struck energy facilities in frontline and border oblasts. As a result, as of the morning of 30 December, a significant number of consumers in Chernihiv Oblast were left without power. There are also settlements that are fully or partially without electricity in Kharkiv Oblast and Sumy Oblast.
After the shelling of the Kherson thermal power plant on 28 December, between 10,000 and 12,000 people were left without heating.
On the morning of 30 December, Russian forces attacked Zaporizhzhia, damaging an industrial infrastructure facility and causing a fire. According to the head of the Zaporizhzhia Oblast Military Administration, Ivan Fedorov, a woman sustained shrapnel wounds as a result of the enemy strike.
Russian forces attacked the port infrastructure of Odesa Oblast, damaging facilities at the ports of Pivdennyi and Chornomorsk, including oil storage tanks and a civilian grain vessel flying the Panamanian flag. As a result of the strike, one person was injured, and response operations are currently ongoing at the impact sites. Despite the attacks and damage, the seaports continue to operate in compliance with the necessary security measures.
On 30 December, as a result of Russian attacks on Zaporizhzhia Oblast and Kherson Oblast, one man was killed and another was wounded. In Zaporizhzhia district, Russian forces struck a civilian vehicle in Veselyanka with a UAV, killing the driver on the spot, while in Kherson at approximately 12:40, an enemy drone attack on a residential building caused a 65-year-old man to sustain blast trauma and shrapnel wounds.
Throughout the day, the Russian army attacked Nikopol district of Dnipropetrovsk Oblast more than 15 times, damaging civilian objects.
The energy company DTEK stated that unpredictable emergency power outages have been in effect on the left bank of Kyiv for more than a day, while on the right bank of the capital, power outages are occurring according to schedule. According to Deputy Minister of Energy Olha Yukhymchuk, due to the scale of destruction of energy facilities after Russian attacks, it is currently impossible to return to hourly outage schedules on the left bank of Kyiv, as well as in a number of districts of Kyiv Oblast and in Odesa Oblast.
The Defense Council decided on the mandatory evacuation of the population from 14 border villages of the Novhorod-Siverskyi, Semenivka, Snovsk, and Horodnia communities in Chernihiv Oblast, which is to be completed within 30 days. According to the head of the Chernihiv Oblast State Administration, Viacheslav Chaus, despite daily shelling and real threats, 300 people still reside in these settlements. In total, more than 1,400 residents have already left the border areas of the oblast during 2025.
The IAEA reported that technical specialists completed repair work on a critically important power transmission line near the Russian-occupied Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant within the framework of a localized ceasefire achieved through mediation by the International Atomic Energy Agency.