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Russo-Ukraine War - 21 October 2025 - Day 1336

A number of claims and counterclaims are being made on the Ukraine-Russia conflict on the ground and online. While GlobalSecurity.org takes utmost care to accurately report this news story, we cannot independently verify the authenticity of all statements, photos and videos.

On 24 February 2022, Ukraine was suddenly and deliberately attacked by land, naval and air forces of Russia, igniting the largest European war since the Great Patriotic War. Russian President Vladimir Putin announced a "special military operation" (SVO - spetsialnaya voennaya operatsiya) in Ukraine in response to the appeal of the leaders of the "Donbass republics" for help. That attack is a blatant violation of the territorial integrity, sovereignty and independence of Ukraine. Putin stressed that Moscow's goal is the demilitarization and denazification of the country. The military buildup in preceeding months makes it obvious that the unprovoked and dastardly Russian attack was deliberately planned long in advance. During the intervening time, the Russian government had deliberately sought to deceive the world by false statements and expressions of hope for continued peace.

"To initiate a war of aggression... is not only an international crime; it is the supreme international crime differing only from other war crimes in that it contains within itself the accumulated evil of the whole." [Judgment of the International Military Tribunal]

The UK Ministry of Defence reported that in September 2025 Russia launched approximately 5,500 one way attack uncrewed aerial systems (OWA UAS) against Ukraine. This is a significant increase on the 4,100 launched in August 2025, which was almost certainly limited due to Russia attempting to demonstrate a purported willingness to take part in meaningful negotiations. So far in October 2025, Russia has already launched more than 3,000 OWA UAS.

Russia maintains a high strike tempo, having conducted four large scale strike packages using its Long Range Aviation (LRA) bomber fleet in September 2025. This includes a 07 September 2025 strike that saw more than 800 munitions launched, predominantly OWA UAS. This combination of premier missiles alongside mass OWA UAS attempts to complicate Ukrainian air defence efforts and increase the survivability of Russian munitions. Russia launched more than 70 of its premier AS-23a KODIAK Air Launched Cruise Missiles against targets in Ukraine in September 2025.

Ukraine's critical national infrastructure (CNI) has almost certainly become Russia's priority target, with Russia attempting to degrade Ukraine's energy network ahead of the winter period, as it has done previously in the conflict. Russia has conducted four large scale strikes against Ukraine's CNI network so far in October 2025.

The General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine reported that since the beginning of the day, there have been 151 combat encounters.

The Russian opponent launched two missile and 39 aviation strikes, using six missiles and dropping 85 controlled aviation bombs. Also used 1960 kamikaze drones for strikes, carried out 3049 shells of settlements and positions of Ukrainian troops.

Ukrainian defenders repelled one Russian attack in Northern Slobozhansky and Kursky directions. The Russian enemy launched six aviation strikes, dropped 15 controlled aviation bombs and carried out 133 shells.
In the South Slobozhansky direction, Ukrainian units stopped 12 Russian attacks near Vovchansky, Vovchanskih Hutoriv, Stroivka, Kamyanka, Western and towards Bologivka and Kolodyazny, another confrontation is ongoing.
In the Kupyansky direction, Ukrainian soldiers repelled six Russian attacks in the areas of Stepova Novoselivka, Sand, Green Grove, Nova Kruglyakivka and towards Petropavlivka and Kurylivka, at the moment three clashes continue.
In the Lyman direction, Ukrainian soldiers stopped 14 assault actions of the harbniks near the settlements of Grekivka, Kopanka, Karpivka, Medium, Kolodiazi, Deryilove, Mirne and Novoselivka. Three more fighting clashes are ongoing so far.
In the Slavic direction, the Russian opponent tried to attack five times in the areas of Serebryanka, Novoselivka, Viimki and Pereíznogo.
In the kramators Наkomu direction at the moment the Russian offensive actions is not recorded.
In the Konstantinivsky direction, Russian occupiers today 24 times stormed the positions of Ukrainian defenders in the areas of the settlements of Bila Gora, Oleksandro-Shultyne, Scherbinivka, Pleschievki, Rusin Yar. Defense forces are steadily suppressing the pressure and repelled 22 Russian attacks, currently fighting is being sharpened in two locations.
Throughout the day in the pokrovsky direction, the Russian enemy committed 53 offensive actions. The activity of Russian occupiers was fixed near the settlements of Nikanorivka, Mayak, Suhetske, Rodinske, Red Leiman, Novoekonomíčne, Mykolaivka, Ray, Fox, Pokrovsk, Zvirove, Kotline, Udaachne, Molodetske, Novomikolaivka, Kotlyarivka, Gorihove and Dachne. Four fighting clashes are going on so far.
Today, according to preliminary data, 140 Russian occupants have been defecated, of which 112 are irrevocably. In addition, Ukrainian soldiers destroyed a combat armored vehicle, BTR, two cars, antenna control of BPLA, 18 unmanned aircraft and a warehouse of occupiers' ammunition. Ukrainian soldiers also struck the artillery system and seven shelters for personnel.
In the Oleksandrivsky direction, Ukrainian units repelled seven attacks in the areas of settlements Ivanivka, Filiya, Verbove, Novogrigorivka and Novomykolaivka.
Ukrainian soldiers repelled two Russian attacks near Poltavka in the direction of Gulyaipils биkomu.
In the Orihiv direction, the Russian enemy tried five times to go forward at the position of Ukrainian units in the areas of Kamiansky, Stepovoye and towards Stepnogirsk and Mala Tokmačka.
In the pridniprovsky direction of combat clashes at the moment is not recorded.

The Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation reported that the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation continue the special military operation.

The Sever Group of Forces improved the tactical situation. Losses were inflicted on formations of one heavy mechanised brigade, two mechanised brigades, one jaeger brigade, one assault regiment of the AFU, and one territorial defence brigade near Khrapovshchina, Korchakovka, Pershe Travnya, Sadki, Varachino, and Andreyevka (Sumy region).

In Kharkov region, losses were inflicted on units of one mechanised brigade and one motorised infantry brigade of the AFU near Volchansk and Volchanskiye Khutora (Kharkov region)

The AFU losses amounted to up to 195 troops, one infantry fighting vehicle, nine motor vehicles, one artillery gun, and eight materiel depots.

The Zapad Group of Forces took more advantageous lines and positions. Losses were inflicted on manpower and hardware of two mechanised brigades, one air assault brigade of the AFU, and one territorial defence brigade near Kupyansk, Kurilovka, Grushevka, Boguslavka (Kharkov region), Krasny Liman, and Novoselovka (Donetsk People's Republic).

The AFU losses amounted to more than 220 troops, one tank, four armoured fighting vehicles, including two U.S.-made M113 armoured personnel carriers, 15 motor vehicles, and one field artillery gun.

One Grad MLRS combat vehicle, nine electronic warfare stations, one U.S.-made AN/TPQ-50 counter-fire radar, and seven ammunition depots were destroyed.

The Yug Group of Forces' units improved the situation along the front line. Losses were inflicted on formations of two mechanised brigades, one airmobile brigade of the AFU, and two territorial defence brigades near Seversk, Platonovka, Pazeno, Dronovka, Zvanovka, Nikolayevka, Ivanopolye, and Konstantinovka (Donetsk People's Republic).

The AFU losses amounted to more than 215 troops, one armoured fighting vehicle, seven motor vehicles, and three artillery guns. Three ammunition depots were wiped out.

The Tsentr Group of Forces' units took more advantageous lines and positions. Losses were inflicted on manpower and hardware of five mechanised brigades, one air assault brigade, one assault brigade, one jaeger brigade, two assault regiments of the AFU, one marine brigade, one territorial defence brigade, and two national guard brigades near Krasnoarmeysk, Grishino, Vasilevka, Rodinskoye, Kucherov Yar, Toretskoye, Artemovka, Dimitrov, Promin (Donetsk People's Republic), and Novogrigorovka (Dnepropetrovsk region).

The AFU losses amounted to more than 480 troops, one tank, one U.S.-made M113 armoured personnel carrier, five U.S.-made HMMWV armoured fighting vehicles, 33 field artillery guns, including four U.S.-made 155-mm M777 howitzers, and six motor vehicles.

The Vostok Group of Forces continued to advance into the depths of enemy defences. Losses were inflicted on formations of two mechanised brigades, two assault regiments of the AFU, one territorial defence brigade near Yegorovka, Novonikolayevka, Danilovka, Alekseyevka (Dnepropetrovsk region), Uspenovka, and Pavlovka (Zaporozhye region).

The AFU losses amounted to up to 310 troops, one armoured fighting vehicle, 10 motor vehicles, one artillery gun, one electronic warfare station, and one counter-fire radar.

Units of the Dnepr Group of Forces inflicted losses on manpower and hardware of one mechanised brigade, three coastal defence brigades of the AFU, and one territorial defence brigade near Stepnogorsk (Zaporozhye region), Sadovoye, Nikolskoye, Belozerka, and Tyaginka (Kherson region).

The AFU losses amounted to more than 40 troops, one tank, 11 motor vehicles, one field artillery gun, and four electronic warfare stations.

Operational-Tactical Aviation, attack unmanned aerial vehicles, Missile Troops and Artillery of the Russian Groups of Forces struck power and transport infrastructure objects used by AFU, attack UAV depots as well as temporary deployment areas of Ukrainian armed formations and foreign mercenaries in 140 areas.

Air defence units shot down one guided aerial bomb and 137 fixed-wing unmanned aerial vehicles.

In total, since the beginning of the special military operation, the enemy has lost 667 aircraft, 283 helicopters, 91,466 unmanned aerial vehicles, 633 anti-aircraft missile systems, 25,602 tanks and other armoured fighting vehicles, 1,605 MLRS combat vehicles, 30,683 field artillery guns and mortars, and 44,481 special military vehicles.