Ukraine’s Commander-in-Chief Gen. Oleksandr Syrskyi summed up August 2025 as a month of major tests for the military but also significant gains. Despite Russia’s numerical and equipment advantages, Ukrainian troops disrupted Moscow’s plans and stabilized the situation on several key fronts, he said.
Russia aimed to secure a strategic edge in August, Syrskyi wrote, seeking to encircle Ukrainian forces around the Pokrovsk–Myrnohrad urban area and intensify offensives on the Novopavlivka and Zaporizhzhia axes.
Those plans did not materialize, he said. Russian forces were forced to delay their push toward Zaporizhzhia and redeploy marine units to Donetsk region. The month Moscow had pinned high hopes on turned into a period of “comparatively the smallest territorial gains in recent times,” Syrskyi added.
He said Ukrainian troops held their ground and, in several cases, regained lost territory:
- Dobropillya sector: Russian forces seized 13.5 sq. km but lost 25.5 sq. km;
- Pokrovsk sector: the enemy advanced 5 sq. km, Ukraine took back 26 sq. km;
- Hulyaipole and Prydniprovia sectors: no territorial losses sustained;
- North Slobozhanshchyna sector: an additional 4 sq. km retaken.
Overall, in August, Ukrainian forces restored control over 58 sq. km, liberating several settlements, the commander said.
Russia continued a “creeping” advance with small infantry groups, avoiding direct clashes. Ukraine responded with active defense—holding lines, shielding cities from missile and drone strikes, and striking deep into Russian territory.
According to Syrskyi, Ukrainian drones hit more than 67,000 enemy targets in August, while the Middle Strike program’s effectiveness rose by 25%. Deep Strike assets hit 60 targets inside Russia, including defense industry facilities, transport infrastructure, and fuel and weapons production sites.
Syrskyi said August was also a month of organizational changes in the Armed Forces of Ukraine. The army is completing its transition to a corps-level command system, granting army corps authorities, forces, and areas of responsibility. The reform is already improving command and combat effectiveness, he said.
He added that Russian losses in August totaled 28,790 troops killed and wounded. Since the start of 2025, that figure has reached 297,350 service members, according to Syrskyi.
“We still have a lot of work ahead, but we are defending our land, and we’re on the right course: to wear down the enemy, destroy it, and achieve the results Ukraine needs,” he concluded.
Reserve Major Oleksii Hetman has said Russia plans to step up offensive operations using heavy armor to punch 10–15 kilometers into Ukrainian defensive lines, with main efforts toward Pokrovsk, Kupiansk, and Zaporizhzhia.
