🇷🇺Summer Offensive
Today’s focus is the southern front, where Russian activity has surged over the past two months.
Currently, five Combined Arms Armies and one VDV Division are carrying out offensive operations as part of the 2025 summer campaign.
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Central Zaporizhzhia saw advances toward Kam'yans'ke by two Air Assault Regiments from the 7th VDV Division, supported by infantry from multiple regiments of the 19th Division. Meanwhile, the 503rd Regiment was unsuccessful assaulting out of Nesterianka.
Fighting around Robotyne remains low to moderate in intensity, as elements of the 42nd Division push toward Novodanylivka and try to secure positions in Mala Tokmachka. The 42nd likely holds the largest reserve force in the south, with 3(+2) regiments currently uncommitted.
Further east, the Hulyaipole Front had been largely static for three years until the 38th Brigade—and possibly the 64th—were committed, launching assaults into Malynivka.
The 1198th Regiment remains in reserve.
In the Vremivka area, the 127th Division continues advancing toward the Donetsk Oblast border, recently reinforced by the 69th Covering Brigade, which is now assaulting Vil'ne Pole.
After breakthroughs near Odradne and Komar, the 5th, 29th, and 36th Armies continue their rapid westward advance. Near Tolstoi, the 36th Brigade—backed by the 430th MRR and assault battalions—is pushing northwest.
Meanwhile, the 5th Tank Brigade, 336th Marines, and 37th MRB are advancing toward Voskresenka, as the 57th and 60th Brigades press toward Maliivka on the Dnipropetrovsk Oblast border.
Key takeaways:
As part of Russia’s summer offensive, fighting on the southern front is intense in southern Donetsk and western Zaporizhzhia, while the rest of Zaporizhzhia is experiencing low to moderate levels of combat.
Apart from various volunteer formations, Russia has committed a significant number of additional units—indicating the southern offensive could be near-peak intensity, for now.
🇷🇺 Russian units operating in Kursk/Sumy Oblast.
Thread:
Contrary to initial beliefs, most Russian units remained in Kursk and continued assault operations through April and May, with additional units recently reintroduced
The main efforts in the Bilovdy to Loknya area are carried out by the 76th Air Assault Division (104th, 234th and 237th Regiments) and 83rd Air Assault Brigade with 106th Airborne Division (51st, 119th and 137th Regiments) and 150th MRR supporting.
The recently redeployed and reintroduced 155th Naval Infantry Brigade, 30th MRR and a 200th MRB battalion operates in the Kostyantynivka - Volodymyrivka area
In the previous thread, we mentioned the deployment of the 501st Separate Marine Battalion of the 36th Marine Brigade from Kursk.
In reality, almost the entire 36th Brigade has been deployed to this sector, specifically between Novoolenivka and Kalynove.
The 44th Mechanized Brigade, which was previously in recovery, was deployed north of Romanivka and Zorya in early May.
Two of its mechanized battalions and brigade assets such as the UAS Battalion have been seen so far.
THREAD
Significant Russian troop movements in the Kupyansk direction.
Russia moves three regiments from Pishchane direction towards Terny, increases attacks near Kyslivka and reinforces the attack against Zapadne.
The 1st Tank and 1st Motor Rifle Regiments of the 2nd Motor Rifle Division had been fighting on the south side of the Pishchane salient since at least 08.2024, this is their first major move in a long time. First MIAs near Terny started showing up in mid March 2025.
While the 272nd Motor Rifle Regiment has had a presence near Tabaivka and Kyslivka for a long time, offensive activity and losses have increased greatly with the transfer of the 153rd Tank Regiment to the area.
THREAD
In March Ukrainian forces attacked Belgorod oblast, capturing the villages of Demidovka and Popovka.
Apparently, more Ukrainian units than initially believed are involved, including several brigades previously in Kursk oblast and soldiers transferred from support branches.
The main elements seem to be from 225th Assault Regiment, 47th Mechanized Brigade and 17th Heavy Mechanized Brigade
Interestingly, missing soldiers of 225th Regiment are in some cases transferred (or attached) from:
- 141st Brigade
- 201st AA Missile Brigade
- Unknown unit A4893
17th Heavy Mechanized Brigade is only involved in Popovka (at least its 2nd Mechanized Battalion and a rifle battalion).
532nd Repair and Restoration Regiment personnel also fought there, presumably transferred or attached to a frontline unit (perhaps 17th Brigade).
THREAD
Russian Nuclear Forces are used as assault infantry in the Toretsk direction.
In November 2024, trucks belonging to the 🇷🇺 12th Main Directorate crossed the border into Ukraine near 47.845276, 39.762979.
At that time we didn't know what their purpose was.
Now we do.
How did we identify the trucks? The double digit number on the right side of the license plates, "39", is exclusively used by the 12th Main Directorate (12 GU MO) and can be seen on every vehicle.
In December, a video of another unit showed up for the first time, also in Toretsk. The "20th Regiment". Subordination was unclear, peripheral information, like Military Unit Number (MUN), subordination and origin completely missing.