Russia’s war on Ukraine. 21.02.25
On the Kursk direction, Russian forces advanced in the areas of Lebedevka, Pogrebki, Guevo, and Kurilovka, making gains in the southern part of Lebedevka, southeast of Nikolaevo-Daryino. The 51st Airborne Regiment of the 106th Airborne Division advanced east of Sverdlivkovo.
On the Kharkiv direction, Russian forces launched unsuccessful attacks in the area of Vovchansk.
On the Kupyansk direction, Russian forces continued attacking in the areas of Zakhidne, Petropavlivka, Stepova Novoselivka, near Zahryzove, and close to Makiivka. They attempted to advance north of Kindrashivka, southeast of Petropavlivka, north of Stepova Novoselivka, west of Kruhlyakivka, south of Lozova, and southwest of Makiivka.
On the Lyman direction, Russian forces advanced in the areas of Yampolivka, Zhuravka Ravine, Novolyubivka, Kolodyazi, and the Serebriansk Forest area.
Ukrainian Defense Forces counterattacked near Yampolivka and in the Serebriansk Forest area.
On the Siversk direction, Russian forces advanced in the areas of Bilohorivka, Hryhorivka, and Verkhnyokamianske.
On the Kramatorsk direction, Russian forces continued advancing within and near Chasiv Yar, near Hryhorivka, Vasyukivka, Kurdyumivka, and Ozaryanivka.
On the Toretsk direction, Russian forces continued their offensive in the areas of Toretsk and Leonidivka.
On the Pokrovsk direction, Russian forces advanced near Pokrovsk, Zelene Pole, Yelyzavetivka, Promin, Novotoretske, Vozdvyzhenka, Serhiivka, Pishchane, Nadiivka, Sribne, and toward Bohdanivka. The enemy attempted to advance near Zelene Pole, Zaporizhzhia, Vodyane Druhe, Udachne, and Kotlyne.
Ukrainian Defense Forces counterattacked near Myrne and Zvirove, making gains in the center of Zaporizhzhia. Fighting continues in Pishchane.
On the Novopavlivka direction, Russian forces advanced in the areas of Andriivka, Ulakly, Konstyantynopil, and Rozdolne. Battles are ongoing in Ulakly. The enemy is attempting to advance east and south of Konstyantynopil and west, northwest, and north of Andriivka.
Ukrainian Defense Forces counterattacked near Konstyantynopil.
On the Huliaypole direction, Russian forces advanced in the areas of Novyi Komar, Novoocheretuvate, Pryvilne, Burlatske, and near Novosilka. They made gains south of Novosilka and attempted to advance toward the outskirts of Skudne, Dniproenerhiya, north of Vremivka, and on the southeastern outskirts of Novosilka.
On the Orikhiv direction, Russian forces advanced in the areas of Novoandriivka, Mali Shcherbaky, and Stepove. They fought for control of Pyatykhatky and attempted to advance southwest of Kamianske and north of Luhove.
Ukrainian Defense Forces counterattacked near Kamianske.
General conclusion:
- The enemy captured Sverdlivkovo on the Kursk direction.
- The enemy advanced near Andriivka and Ulakly on the Novopavlivka direction.
- The occupiers have advanced near Dachne, Zelene Pole, and Burlatske.
- Ukrainian Defense Forces regained positions in Lysivka.
Change in the line of contact (LoC):
- There were 112 combat engagements on various fronts.
- On the Kharkiv direction, the enemy made 3 attempts to breach defensive lines by attacking toward Vovchansk and Zakhidne but was repelled.
- On the Kupyansk direction, Ukrainian Defense Forces repelled 5 enemy attacks in the areas of Zahryzove and Petropavlivka.
- On the Lyman direction, Ukrainian Defense Forces halted 3 enemy assaults near Yampolivka and Kolodyazi.
- On the Siversk direction, the enemy made 2 attempts to advance in the area of Bilohorivka, both of which ended in failure for the occupiers.
- On the Kramatorsk direction, 2 enemy attempts to advance were repelled near Chasiv Yar and Vasyukivka.
- On the Toretsk direction, the occupiers launched 8 assaults on Ukrainian defensive positions near Toretsk. Ukrainian Defense Forces firmly hold back the pressure.
- On the Pokrovsk direction, the enemy launched 31 attacks. The highest level of Russian activity remains in the areas of Promin, Pokrovsk, Pishchane, Lysivka, Vodyane Druhe, Serhiivka, Nadiivka, Bohdanivka, Sribne, Andriivka, and Ulakly.
- On the Novopavlivka direction, Ukrainian Defense Forces repelled 11 attacks toward Konstyantynopil, Rozdolne, Novoocheretuvate, and Pryvilne.
- On the Huliaypole direction, the enemy launched 3 attacks in the areas of Novopil and Novosilka.
- On the Orikhiv Direction, Russian occupiers attacked 3 times in the direction of Novoandriivka and Stepove.
- On the Kursk direction, Ukrainian Defense Forces repelled 3 enemy attacks. The enemy carried out 17 airstrikes.
- In the Black Sea-Azov naval operational area, the enemy naval group on combat duty consists of:
- Mediterranean Sea: 4 ships, including 3 cruise missile carriers; the total salvo is 26 cruise missiles.
Changes in the enemy disposition:
- The 30th Motorized Rifle Regiment of the 72nd Motorized Rifle Division of the 44th Army Corps operates near Sudzha.
- The 1431st Motorized Rifle Regiment of the 27th Separate Motorized Rifle Brigade of the 1st Tank Army operates near Orlyanka.
- The Sever-V Volunteer Reconnaissance and Assault Brigade of the Volunteer Assault Corps operates near Hryhorivka.
- The 428th Motorized Rifle Regiment of the 90th Tank Division of the 41st Army operates in Zaporizhzhia; the 110th Separate Motorized Rifle Brigade of the 51st Army is active in Tarasivka; the 30th Separate Motorized Rifle Brigade of the 2nd Army operates near Kotlyne; and the 506th Motorized Rifle Regiment of the 27th Motorized Rifle Division of the 2nd Army is concentrated in Selydove.
- The 36th Separate Motorized Rifle Brigade of the 29th Army operates near Konstyantynopil; the 40th Separate Marines Brigade of the Pacific Fleet is active near Bahatyr; the 68th Tank Regiment and the 102nd Motorized Rifle Regiment of the 150th Motorized Rifle Division of the 8th Army are active near Ulakly.
- The 57th and 60th Separate Motorized Rifle Brigades of the 5th Army operate near Novosilka; the 40th Separate Marines Brigade of the Pacific Fleet is engaged near Burlatske; and the 5th Separate Tank Brigade of the 36th Army is near active Novyi Komar.
- The 247th Air Assault Regiment of the 7th Air Assault Division is operating in Pyatykhatky.
Possible operation situation developments:
- Once the enemy sufficiently expands its bridgeheads on the Chornyi Zherebets River, the 25th Army, with forces of the 67th Motorized Rifle Division and the 164th Separate Motorized Rifle Brigade, will sharply intensify actions toward Torske and Yampolivka. This will mark the second stage of pushing “Khortytsia” OSG out of the bridgehead east of the Chornyi Zherebets River on the Lyman direction.
- The operational plan of the 8th Combined Arms Army on the Kostyantynivka direction is to envelop the tactical group of the “Khortytsia” OSG, which is defending south of Kostyantynivka between Oleksandropil and Tarasivka from the flanks. The enemy aims to encircle and destroy this group or, if unable to do so, force it to withdraw from the area south of Kostyantynivka in a northwestern direction under the threat of encirclement. The ultimate goal of these actions is a two-pronged breakthrough from the southwest and southeast toward the area of Stepanivka – Berestok – Pleshchiivka – Yablunivka, followed by a simultaneous assault on Kostyantynivka from this area and from the direction of Chasiv Yar.
Russian operational losses from 23.02.22 to 21.02.25
Personnel – almost 864,860 (+1,280);
Tanks 10,146 (+12);
Armored combat vehicles – 21,130 (+18);
Artillery systems – 23,462 (+52);
Multiple rocket launchers (MLRS) – 1,295 (+4);
Anti-aircraft warfare systems – 1,080 (+2);
Vehicles and fuel tanks – 38,104 (+143);
Aircraft – 370 (0);
Helicopters – 331 (0);
UAV operational and tactical level – 26,156 (+135);
Intercepted cruise missiles – 3,064 (0)
Boats/ships – 29 (0).
Humanitarian + general:
- On the night of February 21, Russia launched 160 Shahed-type UAVs, as well as decoy drones and 2 Iskander-M/KN-23 missiles at Ukraine. The Iskander missiles were launched from the territory of Crimea targeting Odesa. As of 08:00, the downing of 87 strike UAVs was confirmed. As a result of the enemy attack, Odesa, Kyiv, Poltava, and Kharkiv Oblasts were affected.
- In the morning of February 21, Russian forces dropped three guided aerial bombs on Kostiantynivka in Donetsk Oblast, resulting in the death of one man and injuries to two others.
- At approximately 11:00, Russian forces struck Zolochiv in Kharkiv Oblast with a guided aerial bomb, injuring four people and damaging residential buildings.
- At 07:55, Russian forces conducted a drone strike, likely using a “Molniya”-type UAV, targeting a police vehicle in Kupiansk, Kharkiv Oblast, injuring three police officers.
- During the day, Russian forces struck Huliaypole in Zaporizhzhia Oblast with guided aerial bombs. Two women and a man were injured and hospitalized. At least 13 houses were destroyed.
- In the evening, Russian forces launched a missile strike on the Lebedyn community in Sumy Oblast, damaging a house and a utility structure. In the Shostka community of Sumy Oblast, a Russian attack involving two UAVs on Friday, February 21, damaged an infrastructure facility.
- During the day, Russian invaders struck the private sector of Sloviansk in Donetsk Oblast, injuring at least six civilians.
- The bodies of those killed from the outskirts of Kherson—Antonivka—had to be evacuated by an armored vehicle. The streets of the settlement are littered with “petal” mines, and Russian drones are present in the sky.
- Russian forces attacked the Dnipro district of Kherson with a UAV, injuring a 59-year-old woman who was hospitalized in critical condition.
- Ukraine plans to import up to 800 million cubic meters of gas from Europe in February and March to compensate for a roughly 40% drop in production following Russian missile strikes, according to Reuters, citing a high-ranking industry source who wished to remain anonymous.
- Two-thirds of Ukrainians fully (26.1%) or rather (36.9%) approve of Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s performance as President of Ukraine. A total of 14.4% of respondents completely disapprove, while 18.3% rather disapprove. These results come from a study conducted by the Onukh IBIF project (Identity and Borders in Flux: The Case of Ukraine), funded by the British Academy, and conducted between November 2024 and January 2025, as cited by the Kyiv International Institute of Sociology.
- 91% of surveyed Ukrainians categorically reject U.S.-Russia negotiations on ending the war without Ukraine’s participation, according to a survey conducted by the Rating Sociological Group on February 20–21 through telephone interviews.
- Due to a lack of qualified workers, the occupation “administration” of temporarily occupied Luhansk Oblast is bringing in Chechens, Ingush, Kalmyks, and representatives from other economically underdeveloped Russian republics, according to the Ukrainian Ministry of Defense’s Center for National Resistance.
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