Russia's war on Ukraine. 31.08.25
Operational situation
On the Northern Slobozhansky direction, Russian troops attacked near Bezsalivka, Yunakivka. The 2nd Motorized Rifle Regiment of the 2nd Motorized Rifle Division of the 1st Tank Army suffered losses in the area of Novyi Put during an attack.
Ukrainian Defense Forces counterattacked near Yunakivka.
On the Southern Slobozhansky direction, Russian troops attacked near Hlyboke, Kozacha Lopan, Vovchansk, Synelnykove, Prylipka.
On the Kupyansk direction, Ukrainian Defense Forces liberated Myrove and Sobolivka. Russian troops tried to advance northeast of Olhivka, to Druzhelyubivka, to enter Maliivka, Andriivka, and attacked in the direction of Kupyansk, Kutkivka, near Kamyanka, Fiholivka, Petropavlivka, Zahryzove.
On the Lyman direction, Russian troops continued fighting for Hlushchenkove and Ridkodub, tried to cut off the O0527 Korovyi Yar – Shandryholove highway and advanced east of the latter, attacked in the direction of Derylove, Novyi Myr, Karpivka, Zelena Dolyna, Kolodyazi, Myrne, Zarichne, and in the direction of Yampil.
Ukrainian Defense Forces counterattacked near Shandryholove, Ridkodub, and Novomykhailivka.
On the Siversk direction, Russian troops attacked near Dronivka, Serebrianka, Hryhorivka, Vyimka, Pereyizne.
On the Kramatorsk direction, Ukrainian Defense Forces advanced to the western outskirts of Predtechyne.
Russian troops attacked near Stupochky and Predtechyne.
On the Toretsk direction, Russian troops advanced in the western part of Rusyn Yar, tried to advance east and northeast of Nelipivka, and attacked near Toretsk, Dyliivka, Pleshchiivka, Poltavka, Kleban Byk, Katerynivka, Shcherbynivka.
On the Pokrovsk direction, Russian troops advanced southeast of Novoekonomichne, and attacked near Pokrovsk, Rodynske, Vilne, Krasnyi Lyman, Volodymyrivka, Novoekonomichne, Sukhetske, Sofiivka, Shakhove, Zolotyi Kolodyaz, Mayak, Zapovidne, "Kapitalna" mine, Myrolyubivka, Promin, in the direction of Myrnohrad, near Lysivka, Novopavlivka, Novoukrainka, Zvirove, Udachne, Kotlyne.
Ukrainian Defense Forces counterattacked in Pokrovsk, near Volodymyrivka, from Troyanda.
On the Novopavlivka direction, Ukrainian Defense Forces liberated Zelenyi Hai.
Russian troops tried to advance east of Novopavlivka, on the southwestern outskirts of Muravka, attacked Novopavlivka, near Filiya, Zelenyi Hai, Andriivka-Klevtsove, Oleksandrohrad, Voskresenka, Novoselivka, Vorone, Maliivka, Shevchenkove, Zaporizke, the 57th Separate Motorized Rifle Brigade of the 5th Combined Arms Army entered the eastern part of Komyshuvakha.
On the Huliaypole direction, Russian troops attacked near Zelene Pole and to Novomykolayivka.
On the Orikhiv direction, Russian troops attacked near Mala Tokmachka, in the direction of Novodanylivka, near Stepove, Stepnohirsk, Kamianske and Plavni.
General conclusion:
Russian troops have become more active north of Kharkiv along the Kharkiv-city – Belgorod railway line. The enemy attacks in the direction of the railway stations of Prudyanka, Hraniv, and Slatyne.
On the Kupyansk direction, Russian troops are trying to break through to Kupyansk by moving through sewage lines into the town. The enemy continues to build improvised crossing means to force the Oskil River.
On the Lyman direction, Russian troops simultaneously attack the front line and infiltrate the rear of the Ukrainian troops.
On the Siversk direction, Russian troops have a four-battalion organizational structure. Three battalions attack the Ukrainian defense area, while the fourth battalion is held in reserve. The Separate Motorized Rifle Brigade includes EW companies focused on countering Ukrainian UAVs.
On the Pokrovsk direction, Russian troops are trying to advance and accumulate in small assault groups, using a significant number of self-propelled artillery systems and unmanned ground systems for logistics.
Change in the line of contact (LoC):
There were 182 combat engagements on various fronts.
On the Northern Slobozhansky and Kursk directions, Ukrainian Defense Forces repelled 14 Russian attacks.
On the Southern Slobozhansky direction, 11 enemy attacks were stopped in the areas of Vovchansk, Hlyboke, Kamyanka, and in the direction of Novovasylivka.
On the Kupyansk direction, there were 9 Russian attacks. Ukrainian Defense Forces repelled the enemy's assault actions in the areas of Petropavlivka and Kupyansk.
On the Lyman direction, the enemy attacked 13 times, trying to wedge into Ukrainian defense near Novyi Myr, Kolodyazi, Dibrova, Hrekivka, Karpivka, and in the direction of Druzhelyubivka, Shandryholove, Dronivka.
On the Siversk direction, 7 enemy attacks were successfully stopped near Serebrianka.
On the Kramatorsk direction, the occupiers attacked 7 times in the area of Stupochky and in the direction of Podilske.
On the Toretsk direction, the enemy carried out 10 attacks in the areas of Pleshchiivka, Rusyn Yar, Katerynivka, and Poltavka.
On the Pokrovsk direction, 50 assault actions of the aggressor were stopped in the areas of Shakhove, Sukhetske, Nykanorivka, Volodymyrivka, Novoekonomichne, Myrolyubivka, Chervonyi Lyman, Promin, Lysivka, Zvirove, Rodynske, Kotlyne, Udachne, Novoukrainka, and in the direction of Pokrovsk and Zolotyi Kolodyaz.
On the Novopavlivka direction, the enemy carried out 26 attacks in the areas of Oleksandrohrad, Maliivka, Shevchenkove, Zelene Pole, Filiya, Yalta, and in the direction of Novoselivka, Komyshuvakha.
On the Orikhiv direction, the aggressor attacked 5 times. The occupiers tried to advance in the area of Kamianske.
Supporting operation:
Ukrainian Defense Forces launched a UAV strike on objects in Millerovo, Rostov Oblast, and Simferopol Airport in the temporarily occupied Autonomous Republic of Crimea.
Changes in the enemy disposition:
The 7th Separate Motorized Rifle Brigade of the 3rd Combined Arms Army operates near Serebrianka.
The 657th Separate Anti-Tank Battalion of the 29th Combined Arms Army strikes Ukrainian troops near Novoselivka and Sosnivka, and the 305th Artillery Brigade of the 5th Combined Arms Army is active near Kalynivske.
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 by autumn, Kostyantynivka and Kupyansk by 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 command of the enemy's “Zapad (West)” Operational Grouping will try to envelop the entire Kupyansk defense area of the “Khortytsia” OSG as deeply as possible from the north. The enemy will consolidate on the northern outskirts of Kupyansk and will try to paralyze the logistics support of Ukrainian Defense Forces' units defending in the city itself and east of it. The enemy will break through from the north and northeast to the R-07 Kharkiv–Chuhuiv–Kupyansk highway, attacking in the directions of Radkivka–Kovalivka and Radkivka–Myrne.
On the Lyman direction, the 25th Combined Arms Army will completely capture the Serebriansk Forest as far as the Chorny Zherebets River leading to the withdrawal of troops of the 3rd Army Corps across the river in the direction of Yampil.
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. In the near future, the enemy will try to capture Pereyizne and attack Zvanivka along the eastern bank of the Bakhmutka River, trying to break through to Siversk from the south.
On the Toretsk direction, the troops of the 19th Army Corps of Ukrainian Defense Forces will have to leave the Shcherbynivka-Novospaske-Katerynivka-Kleban Byk area, retreat south of the Kleban Byk reservoir, and try to stop the advance of the enemy's 3rd and 8th Combined Arms Armies on the Pleshchiivka – Oleksandro-Shultyne line and go on the defensive in the area of Dovha Balka – Illinivka – Berestok – Stepanivka.
Russian forces will attack in the direction of Oleksiyevo-Druzhkivka and Druzhkivka to cut the Н20 Kostyantynivka-Sloviansk highway and complicate the logistics of Ukrainian Defense Forces in Kostyantynivka, thereby facilitating the capture of the "fortress belt". Russian forces may also try to advance northwest of Chasiv Yar in the direction of Kramatorsk and Sloviansk, transferring part of the troops to attack along the E40 Bakhmut – Sloviansk highway for this purpose, thereby creating conditions for an assault on the "fortress belt" from the northeast.
On the Pokrovsk direction, the 51st Combined Arms Army will continue the envelopment of the Pokrovsk-Myrnohrad agglomeration from the north and northeast and will try to advance as deeply as possible toward Dobropillya, which will sharply worsen the prospects of defense not only for Dobropillya and Pokrovsk, but also for Druzhkivka and Kostyantynivka. Subsequently, the 2nd Combined Arms Army will begin the assault on Pokrovsk from the south and southwest.
On the Novopavlivka direction, the command of the enemy's “Vostok (East)” Operational Grouping will try to break through to the confluence of the Vovcha and Vorona rivers near Velykomykhailivka.
On the Orikhiv direction, the enemy's “Dnepr” Operational Grouping may try to launch an offensive in the direction of Zaporizhzhia. It will continue a 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 Stepne – Mali Shcherbaky line in the northern direction.
On the Prydniprovske direction, the command of the enemy's “Dnepr” Operational Grouping will continue regular attempts to take control of the main part of the island zone in the Dnipro River delta in the direction of Kherson, and will try to create a tactical bridgehead on the right bank and eliminate the tactical bridgeheads of Ukrainian Defense Forces in the area of the Antonivskyi road and railway bridges.
Russian operational losses from 23.02.22 to 31.08.25
Personnel - almost 1,082 140 (+810);
Tanks – 11,151 (+2);
Armored combat vehicles ‒ 23,212 (+2);
Artillery systems – 32,199 (+27);
Multiple rocket launchers (MLRS) – 1,476 (0);
Anti-aircraft warfare systems – 1,213 (0);
Vehicles and fuel tanks – 60,305 (+83);
Aircraft - 422 (0);
Helicopters – 340 (0);
UAV operational and tactical level – 55,062 (+371);
Intercepted cruise and other missiles – 3,664 (+38);
Boats/ships – 29 (0).
Humanitarian + general:
On the night of August 31, Russia attacked Ukraine with 142 strike UAVs, of which the Air Force shot down and suppressed 126; 16 drones hit their targets in 10 locations, and downed devices fell in 6 locations.
On the night of August 31, Russia massively attacked Odesa Oblast with strike drones: Chornomorsk and its surroundings were the most affected, with damage to energy infrastructure, leaving more than 29,000 customers without electricity; destruction of private houses and administrative buildings was recorded, fires broke out, and one person was wounded. According to the company, Russian troops attacked four DTEK energy facilities in Odesa Oblast.
On the morning of August 31, Russian troops attacked Bilozerka in Kherson Oblast, as a result of which a 56-year-old woman and a 44-year-old man were wounded, having sustained mine blast injuries and concussions.
In Nizhyn, Chernihiv Oblast, a Russian Shahed loitering munition hit a critical infrastructure enterprise, which left the city without water and electricity. There were no casualties.
Two people were injured as a result of Russian strikes on Kupyansk District in Kharkiv Oblast on the morning of August 31.
In Sumy Oblast, on the morning of August 31, Russian servicemen attacked a 64-year-old man who was riding a moped in the Khutir-Mykhailivska community of Shostka District, injuring him. Due to the threat of repeated strikes, medics could not immediately reach the site.
On the morning of August 31, in the area of the port of Chornomorsk, a civilian vessel hit an unidentified explosive device, sustaining minor damage. There were no casualties among the crew, and after inspection, the vessel is likely to continue sailing.
On August 31, at about 12:00 p.m., Russian troops attacked Kherson with a drone, as a result of which a woman was killed and at least six more people were wounded. The occupiers also shelled the central part of the city: medical and educational institutions, an administrative building, and a residential building were damaged.
In Dnipropetrovsk Oblast, six people were wounded as a result of enemy attacks throughout the day; the enemy carried out missile and drone strikes on the Synelnykove, Pokrovsk, Myrove, Marhanets, Mezhova, and Malomykhailivka communities, causing fires and damage to private houses, outbuildings, vehicles, an enterprise, a gas pipeline, and a medical facility.
In July, 198 out of 218 (91%) incidents related to territorial centers for recruitment and social support turned out to be fakes or manipulations, according to the Ground Forces, to which the TCCs are subordinate.
75% of citizens believe that Ukraine should agree to a ceasefire only with international security guarantees. 19% are against any agreements, 3% agree to a ceasefire without conditions, and another 3% are undecided. Among the key guarantees, Ukrainians name the financing of the army and the supply of weapons from partners (52%), the commitment of allies to enter the war in the event of a repeated attack (48%), and international patrolling of air and sea space (44%). 59% of respondents support a cessation of hostilities and a search for a compromise, 20% are for continuing the war until the return of Donbas and Crimea, and 13% are for continuing the war until the demarcation line as of February 22, 2022. 62% consider searching for a compromise with the involvement of other countries to be a real way to end the war, 20% favor direct negotiations with Russia, and 11% support refusing negotiations and continuing the war until the complete liberation of the territories. The survey was conducted by the "Rating" Sociological Group on August 21-23, 2025, using the CATI method (computer-assisted telephone interviews).