Russia’s war on Ukraine. 16.04.25
On the Kursk direction, Russian forces continued unsuccessful attempts to dislodge Ukrainian Defense Forces from their positions in Kursk Oblast. The enemy tried to advance toward Vodolaha, near Veselivka, Zhuravka, and Basivka. Fighting continued near Oleshnia, in Hornal, near the Sviatomykolaivskyi Monastery, Guevo, Loknia, Volodymyrivka, and Bilovody.
Ukrainian Defense Forces hold their positions in Oleshnia, Hornal, and control the territory of the Sviatomykolaivskyi Monastery, the tactically advantageous heights around it, and forested areas of Kursk Oblast near the international border.
On the Belgorod direction, fighting continued in the northernmost part of Belgorod Oblast. The enemy achieved no success in any direction.
Ukrainian Defense Forces hold their positions near Demidovka and Popovka and counterattacked between these villages.
On the Kharkiv direction, Russian forces attempt to improve their tactical positions in the grey zone near Sotnytsky Kozachok.
On the Kupyansk direction, Russian forces attempted to advance near Petropavlivka, Makiivka, and Hrekivka, and attacked near Zahryzove, Nova Kruhlyakivka, Nadiia, Hrekivka, and in the direction of Olkhivka.
On the Lyman direction, Russian forces are engaged in fighting on the outskirts of Novomykhailivka, attempting to advance east of the village, southwest of Yampolivka, and near Torske. They attacked near Katerynivka, Zelena Dolyna, Nove, Novomykhailivka, Ridkodub, and Torske.
On the Siversk direction, Russian forces continued assaults near Bilohorivka, Verkhnyokamianske, and Ivano-Dariivka.
On the Kramatorsk direction, Russian forces continued assaults near Chasiv Yar, in the direction of Mayske, Andriivka, near Ozaryanivka, Predtechyne, and Stupochky.
On the Toretsk direction, Ukrainian Defense Forces made a slight advance in the northwestern part of Toretsk.
Russian forces are attempting to advance between Zelene Pole and Valentynivka, west of Valentynivka, and toward Sukhа Balka. They continued assaults in Toretsk, near Dyliivka, Dachne, Druzhba, Sukhа Balka, and Valentynivka.
On the Pokrovsk direction, Ukrainian Defense Forces advanced on the western outskirts of Dachenske and in the industrial zone in the east of Pishchane.
Russian forces attempted to advance north of Kalynove and attacked near Yelyzavetivka, Zelenе Pole, Novotoretske, Lysivka, Novooleksandrivka, Kotlyne, and Udachne.
On the Novopavlivka direction, Russian forces unsuccessfully tried to advance north of Nadiivka, west of Konstyantynopil, north, south, and east of Bahatyr, southeast of Odradne, and attacked near Kotlyarivka, Bohdanivka, Troitske, Konstyantynopil, Andriivka, Oleksiivka, Rozlyv, and toward Odradne.
Ukrainian Defense Forces counterattacked near Bahatyr and in the direction of Konstyantynopil.
On the Huliaypole direction, Russian forces advanced toward Velyka Novosilka, attacked toward Shevchenkove, and advanced near Pryvilne and Vilne Pole.
Ukrainian Defense Forces liberated Dniproenerhiya.
On the Orikhiv direction, Russian forces advanced along the T0812 highway Orikhiv – Zaporizhzhia east of Shcherbaky, unsuccessfully attempted to advance near Bahate, and attacked near Stepove, Lobkove, Mali Shcherbaky, and Kamianske.
General conclusion:
- Intense close combat continues on the Lyman direction. The enemy has redeployed several unidentified units from the Kuyiansk direction, temporarily resolving reinforcement shortages.
- On the Orikhiv direction, Russian forces typically attack in small infantry groups from the line of Shcherbaky – Stepove – Lobkove. They are attempting to create a “radio-electronic corridor” where UAV control is disrupted and quickly advance toward Ukrainian positions. Use of chemical agents, primarily tear gas, has increased during assaults.
Change in the line of contact (LoC):
- There were 111 combat engagements on various fronts.
- On the Kharkiv direction, the enemy conducted an unsuccessful attack in the area of Vovchansk.
- On the Kupyansk direction, there were 3 enemy attacks. Ukrainian Defense Forces repelled enemy assault actions near Nova Kruhlyakivka and Zahryzove.
- On the Lyman direction, the enemy attacked 14 times, attempting to advance near Novomykhailivka, Tverdokhlibove, Nadiia, and toward Nove, Zelena Dolyna, and Hryhorivka.
- On the Siversk direction, 5 assaults by occupation forces were repelled near Verkhnyokamianske and Bilohorivka.
- On the Kramatorsk direction, 3 combat engagements were recorded in the areas of Chasiv Yar, Predtechyne, and Stupochky.
- On the Toretsk direction, the enemy carried out 19 attacks near Dachne, Dyliivka, Toretsk, and Kurdyumivka.
- On the Pokrovsk direction, 32 enemy assaults were repelled in the areas of Sukha Balka, Zelene Pole, Yelyzavetivka, Lysivka, Udachne, Novoserhiyivka, Troitske, Vodyane Druhe, Bohdanivka, Andriivka, and in the direction of Stara Mykolaivka.
- On the Novopavlivka direction, the enemy attempted to break through 12 times near Konstyantynopil, Pryvilne, Rozlyv, Vilne Pole, and toward Odradne.
- On the Orikhiv direction, the enemy conducted attacks in the area of Kamianske.
- On the Prydniprovske direction, he aggressor made an unsuccessful attempt to advance.
- On the Kursk direction, units of Ukrainian Defense Forces repelled 17 attacks. The enemy carried out 38 airstrikes.
- In the Black Sea-Azov naval operational area, the enemy naval group on combat duty consists of:
- Mediterranean Sea: 3 ships, including 3 cruise missile carriers; the total salvo is 26 cruise missiles.
Supporting operation:
- Ukrainian Defense Forces carried out drone airstrikes on the permanent deployment points of missile brigades that had launched missile strikes on the city of Sumy on Palm Sunday – the 448th Missile Brigade of the 20th Combined Arms Army in the village of Kliuvka, Kursk District, and the 112th Missile Brigade of the 1st Tank Army in the city of Shuya.
- Targets in Voronezh, Belgorod, Kursk, Lipetsk, Moscow Oblasts, and the Autonomous Republic of Crimea were also attacked.
- Airports in Yaroslavl and Nizhny Novgorod were temporarily closed.
Changes in the enemy disposition:
- Units of the 40th Separate Marines Brigade of the Pacific Fleet and the 56th Air Assault Regiment of the 7th Air Assault Division operate in Kursk Oblast.
- The 116th Separate Brigade of Operational Purpose of the Russian National Guard is active in Vovchansk.
- The 7th Separate Motorized Rifle Brigade of the 3rd Army Corps is attacking in the direction of Hryhorivka.
- Russian forces have established workshops for the repair of tanks and armored vehicles in rear areas close to the front lines in occupied Ukraine, including in Bakhmut. This allows for field repairs within one to five days.
- The 139th Separate Motorized Rifle Brigade of the 29th Combined Arms Army operates near Bahatyr, and the 14th Separate SOF Brigade – near Odradne.
- The 57th Separate Motorized Rifle Brigade of the 5th Combined Arms Army is active near Vilne Pole. The 36th Separate Motorized Rifle Brigade and the 656th Motorized Rifle Regiment of the 29th Combined Arms Army are advancing in the direction of Shakhtarske. The 69th Separate Cover Brigade of the 35th Combined Arms Army operates in the direction of Velyka Novosilka.
Possible operation situation developments:
- The plan for the enemy’s spring-summer offensive campaign in the Southwestern Theater of Operations may be as follows: a simultaneous breakthrough towards Kostyantynivka and Druzhkivka from the south and southeast (from the direction of Toretsk and Vozdvyzhenka), as well as from the northeast (from the direction of Chasiv Yar), followed by an advance towards Kramatorsk from the south while simultaneously advancing towards Slovyansk with the forces of the 20th and 25th Combined Arms Armies of the “Zapad (West)” Operational Grouping through Lyman. Russian forces may attempt to advance near Kupyansk, Lyman, Novopavlivka, or toward the city of Zaporizhzhia. The Pokrovsk direction is viewed by Ukraine’s military-political leadership as the absolute priority for the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation. Additionally, Russian forces intend to create a buffer zone in the north of Sumy Oblast and pose a threat to the city of Sumy in the coming months.
- In Sumy Oblast, key enemy objectives that could provide stability to a buffer zone may include the heights between Yunakivka and Khrapivshchyna, the wooded area to the northeast of Sumy from Radkivka to Mohrytsya, and the Psel River. Based on this, the enemy’s operational tasks in this direction may include taking control of the area of Bilovody – Loknia – Yunakivka – Yablunivka, seizing at least the eastern part of the wooded area west of Mohrytsya, and reaching the line of Velyka Rybytsya – Myropillya along the Psel River. The enemy may also attempt to break through from the border toward Vorozhba and Bilopillya and cut off the operational lateral route between Sumy and Novhorod-Siverskyi. The implementation of such a plan would require the enemy command to covertly deploy a strike force in the area of Tiotkino.
- Ukrainian Defense Forces may launch an offensive in the direction of Lyman Pershyi – Horobivka – Tavilzhanka, which, if successful, will lead to either the enemy’s rapid retreat from the Dvorichna bridgehead or its encirclement there. Such a development would result in the loss of combat capability of the entire enemy’s 6th Combined Arms Army.
- On the Lyman direction, the enemy will attempt to advance toward Karlivka from Nove and toward Drobysheve from Kolodyazi, aiming to reach and establish a foothold along the Karlivka–Shandryholove–Drobysheve line, while simultaneously intensifying the offensive near Torske and advancing on Lyman from the east. Forward units of the 25th Army are expected to attempt a coordinated river crossing over the Chornyi Zherebets near Zarichne in the coming days. Their objective is to secure a foothold on the eastern bank and push into the town. The enemy aims to advance toward Borova’s forward lines and fully dislodge elements of the “Khortytsia” Operational-Strategic Grouping from positions east of the Chornyi Zherebets River.
- 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. After the reaching the Poltavka–Pleshchiivka line, the enemy’s 3rd Combined Arms Army, reinforced by an airborne forces group, will attempt a rapid breakthrough from the bridgehead on the Siverskyi Donets–Donbas canal in the Chasiv Yar area, advancing from the northeast toward Kostyantynivka.
Russian operational losses from 23.02.22 to 16.04.25
Personnel – almost 936,210 (+1,050);
Tanks – 10,638 (+9);
Armored combat vehicles – 22,163 (+13);
Artillery systems – 26,377 (+87);
Multiple rocket launchers (MLRS) – 1,364 (0);
Anti-aircraft warfare systems – 1,132 (+2);
Vehicles and fuel tanks – 44,4729 (+133);
Aircraft – 370 (0);
Helicopters – 335 (0);
UAV operational and tactical level – 32,837 (+146);
Intercepted cruise missiles – 3,145 (0)
Boats/ships – 29 (0).
Humanitarian + general:
- The Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine extended martial law and mobilization in Ukraine for three months, until August 6. The law now needs to be signed by the President, who submitted it to parliament.
- Foreign Ministry spokesperson Heorhii Tykhyi reported that Russia has carried out more than 30 strikes on Ukraine’s energy infrastructure, despite the declared “energy truce” in effect since March 25.
- As of April 16, 2025, 159,000 war crimes have been registered in Ukraine since the beginning of the full-scale war, according to Yurii Bielousov, head of the Department for Countering Crimes of the Office of the Prosecutor General. There are about 850 suspects — these are Russian servicemen who have already received suspect status. Of these, about 608–610 cases are currently being considered in Ukrainian courts. So far, 158 individuals have been convicted.
- On the night of April 16, the Russian forces attacked Ukraine with 97 strike UAVs of the Shahed type and drone decoys of various types. As of 9:30, 57 strike UAVs were confirmed shot down. Thirty-four enemy drone decoys were lost from tracking (without negative consequences). As a result of the Russian attack, Sumy, Odesa, Dnipropetrovsk, Kyiv, and Poltava Oblasts were affected.
- On the night of April 16, Russian forces launched another attack on Odesa using strike drones. As a result of the attack, civilian infrastructure, residential buildings, and warehouse facilities were damaged. Three people were injured.
- Two villages in the Reshetylivka community of Poltava Oblast were left without electricity due to falling debris from a Russian drone that was shot down overnight.
- Russian occupiers continue to shell Dnipropetrovsk Oblast — starting on the evening of April 15, the region was attacked with drones, guided aerial bombs, and artillery. An enterprise, residential buildings, ten vehicles, power lines, and a gas pipeline were damaged.
- On the morning of April 16, Russian forces shelled Kherson with aviation and artillery. One man was killed, and nine people were injured, including a 15-year-old teenager. The enemy also damaged 20 apartment buildings, two private homes, residential houses, a sports facility, and two supermarkets. In the second half of the day, two more people were injured due to enemy shelling in Kherson Oblast — in the village of Oleksandrivka and in the regional center.
- In the communities of Donetsk Oblast located in the active combat zone, 195 children still remain. In the city of Toretsk in Donetsk Oblast, where no intact building remains, about 40 people still live. The military is trying to persuade them to evacuate, but they refuse. In the city of Pokrovsk in Donetsk Oblast, which is under Russian shelling, 2,192 people remain. Utility workers, a doctor, and social workers are still working in the city.
- On April 11, three servicemen of the Armed Forces of Ukraine were performing combat duties at a position near the village of Rozdolne in the Volnovakha District. During assault actions, the occupiers captured them. One unarmed Ukrainian serviceman was executed with automatic weapons by Russian forces.
- Russian invaders have begun using Shahed-type strike UAVs equipped with poisonous substances for attacks on Ukraine, according to the Center for Countering Disinformation under the National Security and Defense Council. One UAV was found to contain a capsule with the concentrated chemical agent “CS” (an irritant). This is a highly toxic substance with irritating effects.
- Over the past 20 months, North Korea has transferred at least 4 million artillery shells to Russia, which are actively being used in the war against Ukraine. An investigation by Reuters confirms that these supplies take place on a massive and systematic scale — via sea and rail routes — significantly strengthening the combat capabilities of the Russian army.
- In Mariupol, the occupiers plan to demolish nearly 2.5 square kilometers of private houses in the historic “Harbor” district. In their place, a public and business center is planned. At the same time, more than 18,000 Mariupol families currently living in the city still have nowhere to live, according to Petro Andriushchenko, head of the Center for the Study of Occupation and former adviser to the mayor of Mariupol.
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