Russian Invasion of Ukraine: Key Summary 2025

In December 2024 we said two things that upset people:
- There's plenty of war left
- We hope Russia advances 4000 square kilometers (Hold your outrage)

We'll be covering in this thread 🧵on what that meant in 2025, and beyond 2/ In 2025, the war was firmly settled into attritional drone warfare, where Russia decided that they'd save their few remaining vehicles and attempt to advance with manpower, taking and accepting the resultant trade off in personnel casualties.

Warspotting shows equipment losses are about 60% of 2024 (when you factor in lag time and an additional 500 or so to come). Tanks are at 519 this year vs 1139 last, and AFVs are at 1316 this year vs 3073 last. It's not difficult to see why the personnel casualties have rocketed

Daily Ukraine map thread for Sunday 7th December to Wednesday 10th December 2025

Highlights: Large update today as we condense Sunday through Wednesday into one, due to lack of personnel. We'll do a full front round up to make up for it.

Vovchansk - Russian forces advanced slightly to Lyman (different one) in north Kharkiv, as well as being sighted in Vilcha.

Kupyansk - Ukrainian forces sighted in north Kupyansk, indicating Ukrainian pushback is succeeding in the city. Ukrainian forces also retook much of the territory back to Stepova Novoselivka (Map 1)

Lyman - Infiltration via the woodlands means Russian forces snuck through to Yarova. Heavy fighting continues here, in the tough forested area.

Siversk - Heavy fighting in Siversk itself as Russian forces try to breach the river. (Map 2)

Kostyantynivka - Heavy fighting as usual here, no significant changes as Russian forces continue to expend large amounts of manpower to advance a few yards.

Pokrovsk and Myrnohrad - Russian forces sighted in Myrnohrad as they try and capture the town, and the supply line is very very contested for Ukrainian forces coming in and out. There was a large Russian assault in west Pokrovsk towards Hryshyne, especially on quads, resulting in lots of burning wrecks along the road. (Map 3)

Dnipropetrovsk / East Zaporizhia -
Proof of the Ukrainian recapture of Ivanivka came in, showing numerous Russian KIA and PoWs taken. 67th Mech also released a video, undated, of the capture of numerous Russian PoWs across the river south of Orestopil. Russian forces press in on Hulyaipole, with drones striking Russian positions within the northeastern residential section. (Map 4)

Elsewhere, Ukrainian USVs struck the sanctioned Russian oil tanker 'Dashan' in the Black Sea today, seemingly disabling it. This is the third confirmed tanker hit over the past few weeks, discounting the one disabled near Senegal which was unconfirmed.

As this is being typed, a large Ukrainian UAV attack on Russia is underway.


2/ Russian shadow fleet oil tanker Dashan on the way to a Russian port was hit by Group 13 USVs and disabled (Rough location via AIS)
Coordinates: 43.05547, 33.92889
Source:

https://x.com/sternenko/status/1998805164447170618

Daily Ukraine map thread for Saturday 6th December 2025

Highlights: Ukrainian forces retake Tykhe in the Dnipropetrovsk direction

Ukrainian 25th Airborne raises flag in Pokrovsk (Map below)

Heavy fighting continues in the usual areas, but especially at Myrnohrad today as Russian forces try to squeeze the few hundred Ukrainians holding fiercely in the town. 2/ 25th Airborne raise flag in Pokrovsk
Coordinates: 48.2931707, 37.1920932
Source: x.com/MaxximOSINT/st… and x.com/Richer214469/s…

Daily Ukraine map thread for Monday 17th November 2025

Highlights: Ukrainian 59th Assault Brigade forces capture PoWs in Novopavlivka after Russian mechanized attack there.

Russian forces advance to Hai and raise flag. (Map 1)

Russian forces are sighted being hit by drone north of Pokrovsk, and in south Siversk.

Turkish LNG tanker was hit by Russian drone near Izmail on the Danube, and is burning. Nearby villages were evacuated.

Map: uacontrolmap.com 2/ Russian assault troops taken prisoner by 59th Assault Brigade
Coordinates: 48.14899, 36.80366
Source:

https://x.com/moklasen/status/1990330560372416811

Daily Ukraine map thread for Saturday 15th November 2025

Highlights: Russian forces advance further in east Zaporizhia, executing two Ukrainian PoWs outside Zatyshshyna and almost reaching Hulyaipole.

Further footage from Novopavlivka emerged showing Russian vehicles being hit further into the settlement.

BDA of the Novorossiysk strikes emerged, numerous S-400 TELs destroyed, site evacuated afterwards. Oil storage destroyed. 2/ Russian forces execute two captured Ukrainians near Zatyshyna
Coordinates: 47.68253525374764,36.35676881828709
Source: t.me/DeepStateUA/22…

Daily Ukraine map thread for Wednesday 12th November 2025

Highlights: Pokrovsk remains contested, with footage from 425th Skala showing ongoing Ukrainian assaults against Russian positions in the north. (Map 1)

Russian forces continue to attempt to advance in the Hulyaipole direction in Zaporizhia, and for some reason it's only now everyone is yelling about it, considering it's been an ongoing issue for months... Go figure. At least DeepState updated their grey. (Map 2)

As a note for contacting us it's usually best to contact us via DM or on the Project Owl Discord. We can miss regular tweet replies as the X notifications are poor.
2/ SBU Alpha Ivan Franko Group hits Russian truck near Pisky at 50 km depth
Coordinates: 48.06816, 37.64696
Source:

https://x.com/moklasen/status/1988334843151995244

Weekend Ukraine map thread for Sunday 9th November 2025

Highlights: Fog hampers actions around Pokrovsk, which remains contested.

Ukrainian forces sighted back in Chasiv Yar, as the Russian Alfa drone unit of the 28th Motor Rifle Regiment video shows. Needless to say, they quickly deleted the video showing the Ukrainian advance, but not before it was geolocated and stored. (Map 1)

Russian forces raise a few flags in Rybne, over the Yanchur river in east Zaporizhia. (Map 2)

Russian 123rd Motor Rifle of the 3rd Army (LPR) assaults a trench just outside Siversk. (Map 3)

Russian strikes disable many Ukrainian power plants over the weekend across the country, whilst this year Ukraine can actually strike back, and disabled a few Russian ones.

2/ SSO FP-2 drones hit S-400 launcher in Uiutne, Crimea, from October 6th
Coordinates: 45.519024, 34.564426
Source:

https://x.com/99Dominik_/status/1987094211364335979

Daily Ukraine map thread for Thursday 6th November 2025

Highlights: A closer look at Vovchansk, where Russian forces have inched forward roughly one kilometre over the course of 2025, pushing into the southern, bombed-out ruins of the town.

Elements of the Russian 128th Motor Rifle Brigade reportedly raised a flag in the southern sector of Vovchansk earlier this week, though nearby infantry were subsequently hit by a Ukrainian airstrike amid the rubble.

Elsewhere, Russian troops have been sighted on the northeastern edge of Pokrovsk, with additional forces seen unloading by vehicle in the south. Ukrainian presence in the area appears limited to aerial reconnaissance and drone activity.

On the long-range strike front, Ukrainian forces conducted several deep strikes overnight last night, notably hitting a drone storage site at Donetsk Airport, triggering a large secondary explosion. Further afield, footage shows strikes on the Simferopol oil depot in Crimea, destroying two storage tanks, and another targeting the Kostroma GRES power plant near Volgorechensk in Kostroma Oblast. 2/ Fire in the area of the generator building of Kostroma GRES power plant
Coordinates: 57.45721, 41.17131
Source:

https://x.com/blinzka/status/1986375287345717669

Daily Ukraine map thread for Friday 17th October 2025

Highlights: Footage of Russian infiltrations into Pokrovsk and ambushes on Ukrainian soldiers continue. Due to the latest footage circled below, we've marked the entire western side as grey until proven otherwise.

Russian forces advanced seven kilometers into Pryvillia in Dnipropetrovsk oblast to raise a flag, putting further credence to the Ukrainians fell back over the river theorem. Whilst flag raises can just be a PR stunt somethings, you cannot just ignore flag raises and the issues that have arose where it's made this situation possible.

Small Russian advance north of Hryhorivka at Bakhmut to the canal.

Small Russian advance marked in Kupyansk.

Ukrainian SOF hit fuel storage in Hvardiis'ke, Crimea with FP-2 drones

Russian BM-30 Smerch MLRS destroyed in a deep strike, the 3rd of the war confirmed

Further mechanized losses from the Russian mechanized attacks east of Pokrovsk have been clarified.

Map: uacontrolmap.com 2/ Two Ukrainian soldiers fired at by Russian soldier standing behind them further west on the road, filmed by Russian 30th Motor Rifle Brigade
Coordinates: 48.285218, 37.171913
Source:

https://x.com/Bielitzling/status/1979166229941072127

Daily Ukraine map thread for Monday 13th October 2025

Russian forces (Marines and attempted another large mechanized assault northeast of Pokrovsk today. Things did not appear to go well for the Russian forces. As of right now, the Ukrainian Unmanned Systems killboard for today alone is 8 tanks damaged, 2 destroyed, and 35 AFVs damaged, 9 destroyed.

Elsewhere, Ukrainian forces were geolocated in central Oleksiivka, Sumy, likely having taken the settlement back.

Feodosia oil and fuel depot was struck yet again last night and is still burning. Capacity should be below half now, as it's the second time it's been struck this month. 2/ Many Russian dismounts struck and dead near Novoekonomichne
Coordinates: 48.29820, 37.33324
Source:

https://x.com/moklasen/status/1977786749796372555

Daily Ukraine map thread for Friday 26th September 2025

Highlights: Afipsky refinery hit last night by Ukrainian drones. It's the third time it's been struck with visible damage since this latest refinery campaign began in August.

Russian forces are shown to have advanced near Siversk, infiltrating near Dronivka and north of the settlement itself.

Russian fuel train derailed after leaving Belarus, and hitting truck at crossing. Sabotage or accident, you decide.

Map: uacontrolmap.com 2/ Russian fuel truck collides with truck and derails near Ryzhikovo, Smolensk
Coordinates: 54.88382, 31.30416
Source:

https://x.com/blinzka/status/1971502232387674329

Daily Ukraine map thread for Thursday 25th September 2025

Highlights: Very little to report on the battlefield, bar Russia grinding slowly forward in numerous areas, but glacially slow and for a horrifically high cost. Key areas remain at Kupiansk in the Kupiansk direction, at Yampil and Shandryholove in the Lyman direction, at Siversk in the Siversk direction and south of Kostyantynivka in the eponymous direction. NE of Pokrovsk in the Dobropillya area remains a grey area despite it being six weeks later, and the Russian naval infantry has entered the fight doing what they do - head on.

Continued Russian failures to do much of anything on the battlefield have allowed time for Ukraine to improve their drone programme, which is reaping dividends at the moment. Not dividends for the oligarches in charge of oil refineries however!

Prymary drones of the HUR continue to strike at Crimea, with an An-26 at Kacha airfield hit, causing a fire, whilst also striking radars near the coast. There is nothing to suggest these strikes will diminish.

Map: uacontrolmap.com
2/ An-26 transport plane 30-Blue attacked by an Ukrainian Prymary drone at Kacha, and burnt down
Coordinates: 44.770109, 33.571173
Source: x.com/99Dominik_/sta… and x.com/tom_bike/statu…

Daily Ukraine map thread for Saturday 6th September 2025

Highlights: Geolocations show a Russian advance beyond Shandryholove to the road near Drobysheve before being halted.

Russian mechanized assault towards Myrnohrad spotted, five vehicles claimed destroyed.

We've adjusted numerous icons to further reflect the changing nature of the war. Refineries are added, as are many of the new Corps units. Many smaller older unit cards have been folded into their parent units and transferred to the archive box. Many thanks to @Davommeh for their high res insignias.

Map: uacontrolmap.com 2/ A Russian soldier was struck by a Ukrainian FPV drone in Leontovychi, Donetsk
Coordinates: 48.253224, 37.123882
Source:

https://x.com/99Dominik_/status/1963930413426254084

Daily Ukraine map thread for 1st to 5th September 2025

Highlights: We've returned, and will focus on the changes that occurred on the front whilst away.

At the Kreminna / Lyman direction, fighting continues over Torske and Zarichne, whilst the northern flank continues to fail as Russian forces approach Drobysheve to cut the route - which is well and truly interdicted by drone at this point too. There is also heavy fighting near Serebryanka on the Siversk side of the river as Russian forces continuously attack there.

At Kupiansk, Russian infiltrators raised a flag in the centre of the town before being hit by a drone. We've warned numerous times that the Ukrainians saying the situation under control in this area are lying about the situation, but nothing seems to get done. Regardless, the north half of the town is a grey area and threatens the east bank substantially at this point due to lack of action.

In Western Donetsk and into Dnipropetrovsk oblasts, Russian forces continue to advance here, raising a flag in Novoselivka, whilst flag raising groups occur on both sides near Dachne and Filiya.

In Western Zaporizhia, a recent Russian mechanized assault almost reached Novodanylivka before being destroyed. Another attack occurred near Mala Tokmachka, but went about as well as the previous attacks with AFVs destroyed. Russia forces continue to attack on foot towards Stepnohirsk on the edge of the old reservoir.

At Pokrovsk, Ukrainian forces captured numerous Russian PoWs when they attacked into Boikivka, as well as retook Udachne. Russian forces attacked from Novoekonomischne into Myrnohrad but appear repelled. Note the Russian Naval Infantry force shift in this region.

At Kostyantynivka, Russian forces continue to advance with infiltration groups almost reaching the town.

In more optimistic news for Ukraine, the long range strike campaign has definitely improved. Last night Ryazan refinery was hit again, and fuel storage in Luhansk was also struck. Numerous radar sites and AD sites were struck during August as well.

Map: uacontrolmap.com


2/ 425th Assault Regiment "Skala" shows Ukrainian flag hoisted in Novoekonomischne

Coordinates: 48.325523, 37.329632

Source:

https://x.com/AudaxonX/status/1962548690922463628

Daily Ukraine map thread for Saturday 9th August 2025

Highlights: Yet another Russian drone strike on a civilian bus in Kherson area results in dead and many injured.

Russian forces advance slightly at Shcherbynivka in the Toretsk direction, and also northeast of Pokrovsk. The Lyman direction also remains dangerous, we have advanced Russian control near Kolodyazi by half a treeline.

Map: uacontrolmap.com 2/ Civilian casualties after a Russian drone attack on a bus in Kherson Oblast.
Coordinates: 46.733266, 32.705379
Source:

https://x.com/99Dominik_/status/1954140462295474680

Daily Ukraine map thread for Saturday 26th July 2025

Highlights: Few changes on the ground today. Russian flag raise in Zelenyi Hai, west Donetsk, as well as in Maliivka, Dnipropetrovsk oblast, both shown below.

Russian forces also infiltrated the Kreminna forest and raised a flag three kilometers deep.

HUR posts Su-27UB at Armavir sabotaged and set alight, damaging it. Honestly, they'd have better luck with sledge hammers than this amateur fire starting attempts.

Map: uacontrolmap.com 2/8 336th Naval Infantry Brigade raise flag in Maliivka, Dnipropetrovsk oblast
Coordinates: 47.92425, 36.63164
Source:

https://x.com/creamy_caprice/status/1949038962678595778

Daily Ukraine map thread for Friday 25th July 2025

Highlights: Russian forces continue their pushes near Kostyantynivka and Pokrovsk, where the situation continues to degrade for Ukrainian troops to the north east of Pokrovsk, and DRGs continue to operate inside Pokrovsk boundaries from the southwest.

Russian forces raise flags in Novoekonomichne

Russian forces advance near Kupiansk again near Tyshchenkivka. Check the map for details, but yes, one of those situations where a lack of troops and initiative on Ukraine's side is putting the amount of Ukrainian troops and equipment in danger on the east side. We've covered it many times, and we feel like a broken record for repeating it so won't bother going into more detail. It's still very minor in the overall war.

Map: uacontrolmap.com 2/10 Main directorate of police hit by Russian airstrikes in Kherson
Coordinates: 46.632847, 32.619948
Map view: google.com/maps/d/u/0/vie…
Source: x.com/99Dominik_/sta…

Daily Ukraine map thread for Tuesday 22nd July 2025

Highlights: Back to focus on the Toretsk and Pokrovsk sectors today, where Ukrainian forces have lost more positions to the Russian advances.

Russian flag raises in Bila Hora by the 7th Military Base's 77th Motor Rifle Regiment, finally advancing there. Russian forces also advanced to Poltavka, and there are claims that Russian forces reached Nove Shakove, a 7 kilometer advance from where we have them currently.

Russian forces also entered Zvirove, and DRGs also enter Pokrovsk proper, ambushing Ukrainian forces. Manpower situation remains critical, and no signs of any alleviation politically for Ukraine.

Map: uacontrolmap.com 2/15 A Russian soldier gets trapped in barbed wire and is struck by two drone dropped grenades of the Ukrainian 47th Artillery Brigade near Zvirove, Donetsk oblast, in Pokrovsk direction.

Coordinates: 48.244637, 37.113131

Source:

https://x.com/RoadtoMars9/status/1947115042362605593

Daily Ukraine map thread for Tuesday 15th July 2025

Highlights: Focus a bit on the Toretsk area today, rather than Pokrovsk which is also in a spot of bother. Russian forces advanced to take the rest of Novospaske after the flag raise yesterday.

The Toretsk area is fascinating. In almost three and a half years, Russia have gotten just ten kilometers past the old borders here for who knows how many thousands of dead. Wonder how many more dead won't see the next ten kilometers...

Many thanks to volunteers, and the geolocators who post information publically, free of charge, to counter disinformation and show what the front is really like. Our information remains open source intelligence only thanks to your work. We have never asked for donations or money for ourselves, and anyone using our map and doing so is an absolute grifter. Please do your own research.

Map: uacontrolmap.com 2/10 UA-Reg Team of 1st Special Operations Task Group of the Special Operations Center "West" of the Ukrainian SSO hit Russian howitzer and ammo in Nikolaevo-Daryino, Kursk region, Russia

Coordinates: 51.243757, 35.012689

Source:

https://x.com/auditor_ya/status/1945145782119591986

Daily Ukraine map thread for Monday 30th June 2025

Highlights: Small Russian advance in Kamyanske in west Zaporizhia oblast marked. This area of the front has barely moved since 2022.

Russian 30th Motor Rifle Brigade raise flag in Novomykhailivka

Map: uacontrolmap.com 2/10 Russian soldier removes Ukrainian flag from Kamianske bridge in west Zaporizhia
Coordinates: 47.53888, 35.36638
Map view: google.com/maps/d/u/0/vie…
Source: t.me/creamy_caprice…

Daily Ukraine map thread for Wednesday 25th June 2025

Highlights: Robert "Magyar" Brovdi's drone stats paint a grim picture for Russian infantry, with heavy casualties. Claims so far from Rubio say this year the Russians have 80,000 dead so far, and yeah, that's pretty solid in our opinion. Onwards to 160k by December 31st...

Russian forces did advance slightly to Yalta in the west Donetsk area, showing that Ukrainian forces pulled back over the Mokri Yaly and Vovcha rivers in the area. We've marked it below for ease of view

Map: uacontrolmap.com 2/10 17th Special Purpose Center hits Russian positions with FPV drones in Toretsk
Coordinates: 48.406495, 37.836410
Source:

https://x.com/AudaxonX/status/1937608370476761469