Active Conflicts & News Megathread August 22, 2025

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[u/Well-Sourced]

First part on the Pokrovsk front. Starting with a video that showing the movement of units during the breakthrough.

luisenriqueo.bsky.social | BlueSky

Azov Corps wiped out a Russian brigade in 16 days. Moscow sends another one | EuroMaidanPress

After three weeks of hard fighting, the Ukrainian 1st Azov Corps and adjacent units have squeezed and cut up the 15-km salient that Russian infiltrators carved out of Ukrainian territory near the the village of Dobropillya, northeast of the fortress town of Pokrovsk in eastern Ukraine’s Donetsk Oblast.

But Russian reinforcements are rolling in, opening a new—and unpredictable—phase in the battle for the Dobropillya salient. “The enemy’s penetration near Dobropillya remains a dynamic section on the front line where neither side can seize the initiative,” the Ukrainian Center for Defense Strategies noted. It’s more apparent than ever that the Russian penetration toward Dobropillya, which sits astride one of two main supply roads into besieged Pokrovsk, was bigger and more dangerous than some analysts initially concluded.

In fact, it was a breakthrough, albeit one that mostly moved at a walking pace. Over a period of several months, the Russian 51st Combined Arms Army redeployed almost all of its brigades northeast of Pokrovsk, including the 1st, 5th, 9th, 110th and 132nd Motor Rifle Brigades. While the 132nd Motor Rifle Brigade slipped past empty Ukrainian trenches and marched on Dobropillya, the other four brigades attacked toward Rodynsky, at the bottom of the eventual salient.

The scale of the Ukrainian response, and the resulting spike in Russian losses, underscored the seriousness of the situation for Kyiv. If it had captured Dobropillya, the 132nd Motor Rifle Brigade would’ve cut the T0515 road, leaving the Ukrainian garrison in Pokrovsk dependent on just one other road threading into the town from the northwest—a road that itself is in danger of being overrun.

In addition to the 1st Azov Corps, Ukraine redeployed elements from the 79th and 82nd Air Assault Brigades, 1st and 425th Assault Regiments, 25th Assault Battalion, 2nd Battalion of the 92nd Assault Brigade, 32nd and 93rd Mechanized Brigades, 38th Marine Brigade, 14th National Guard Brigade and the Birds of Magyar drone brigade.

It’s a powerful Ukrainian force. And in the first few weeks of its counterattack, it enjoyed a decisive advantage in troops, tanks, armed ground robots and drones. The 132nd Motor Rifle Brigade’s troopers had marched toward Dobropillya “only with weapons in their hands,” Ukrainian Pres. Volodymyr Zelenskyy said.

Between Aug. 4 and 20, the Ukrainian corps killed, wounded or captured nearly 1,600 Russians, according to the the Ukrainian general staff in Kyiv. That’s nearly the entire front-line strength of the 132nd Motor Rifle Brigade.

But a few Russian survivors are still clinging to positions in Zolotyi Kolodyaz, at the top of the salient, and now the Russian 51st Combined Arms Army is deploying additional forces at the bottom of the salient. Despite heavy losses and the near-destruction of its initial penetration toward Dobropillya, the 51st Combined Arms Army isn’t defeated—and probably won’t give up. The army “will try to advance as deeply as possible to Dobropillya,” CDS predicted. And if it manages to finally capture the village, CDS predicted the 51st Combined Arms Army could “sharply worsen the prospects for the defense of not only Dobropillya and Pokrovsk, but also Druzhkivka and Kostyantynivka” on the other side of the salient.

Baba Yaga Fèlla | BlueSky

Pokrovsk direction: On the southern approaches to Pokrovsk, the enemy continues to apply pressure! The main focus is on FPV drones, which are constantly operating in whole swarms. Overall, they are targeting strongpoints, bases, and trying to track infantry movements. This is accompanied by intense artillery and mortar fire.

It is especially hot in the area of Pershyi Travnia near ponds No. 4 and No. 5 — this section remains a "gray zone." The enemy tries to enter with assault groups, occasionally entering groves and outer streets, but they fail to firmly establish themselves. The fighting there hardly subsides: sometimes our forces push the enemy back, then they try to creep forward again under drone cover.

Also, the enemy tries to advance from the southwest in small groups, first bombarding our positions with "kamikaze" drones, then sending infantry, but they are repelled at the exit. On our side, FPV drones are also actively working — this allows us to quickly cut off enemy groups while they are still approaching.

Pokrovsko-Dobropilskyi direction: I'll start right away with Rodynske, the enemy is trying to launch attacks from the east and partially from the northeast, trying to reach the mine and spoil tip to control the heights, the fighting is very fierce. Also, in some places, the enemy is entering the industrial zone of the Mirnograd Central Coal Preparation Plant, our forces there are holding the defense and pushing the invaders back – the pressure is enormous.

Similarly, the enemy tried to infiltrate through Kucheriv Yar–Vesele and to Zolotyi Kolodiaz. Now it seems calm, part of the Russians were destroyed – another part was pushed back with severe injuries. Regarding the settlement of Volodymyrivka: the enemy claimed that the village is completely under their control. Yes, there were attacks but the enemy has not fully secured it yet! They also did not reach Shakhove, there are too many enemy attempts, probably things are tough for them!

Overall, our fighters are holding the defense, enduring heavy strikes from aviation, drones, and heavy artillery. In some areas, we are trying to attack to regain lost positions, the situation is unstable but we maintain control over key lines!

Decisive reserve forces clash on eastern front may seal fate of Dobropillia, Pokrovsk [Dobropillia Map] [Pokrovsk Map]

Within a few days, Ukrainian troops cut through the salient in the area of Vilne, recaptured Dorozhne and Nykanoryvka, and continued the offensive from there toward Maiak. From the other flank, from Volodymyrivka, the Defense Forces entered Maiak and established positions in its northern part, thus maximally narrowing the supply road. Without proper support, the Russian Armed Forces' offensive faltered, and the Ukrainian army regained Rubizhne, Zolotyi Kolodiaz, Vesele, and Hruzke. In Kucherevyi Yar, the Russians found themselves encircled and began retreating south from the village. Within a few days, the Russians lost over 1,100 killed and over 400 wounded.

However, the invaders also understood the necessity of supporting their field commanders' adventure and threw additional reserves to help, which hurried from the east to remove the threat of encirclement. In recent days of fierce counterbattles, the Russian Armed Forces again expanded their wedge between Nykanoryvka and Shakhove, and also prevented the encirclement of troops in Kucherevyi Yar. In addition, the Russian army is advancing on Volodymyrivka and trying to occupy Rusyn Yar to maximally expand the wedge zone. Time has come down to days that will decide not only the situation on this battlefield, but also the further fate of Dobropillia, Pokrovsk, and even Kostiantynivka. If the Russians can establish themselves here, these cities will be in great danger of capture.

While the enemy was distracted by the offensive to the north, the Defense Forces were able to recapture part of the road north of Rodynske and partially removed the threat of taking the village in pincers. Meanwhile, the Russian troops are conducting battles on the northern outskirts of Rodynske, and also attacking Chervonyi Lyman. So far without success.

However, taking advantage of the fact that the Defense Forces transferred part of their reserves to Dobropillia, the Russians stormed the outskirts of Myrnohrad from the direction of Hrodivka. Here they managed to break through 2 kilometers to the village of Promin. From the southwestern flank, the invaders are still attacking Zvirove, while the Defense Forces, who previously expelled enemy sabotage and reconnaissance groups from Leontovychi and Pokrovsk itself, are conducting counter-attacks. The Ukrainian Armed Forces are also successfully repelling the offensive by invaders attempting to drive a wedge between Udachne and Molodetske in order to resume the western encirclement of Pokrovsk, an effort they abandoned half a year ago.

[u/Well-Sourced → u/Well-Sourced]

Second part on the rest of the front north to south.

August 15–22 live war map: Decisive reserve forces clash on eastern front may seal fate of Dobropillia, Pokrovsk

The Russian forces have shifted focus and are moving troops from north to south. Fighting has dropped sharply in the Sumy and Kharkiv regions but ramped up around Pokrovsk, Toretsk, Dobropillia, and the Novopavlivka area. The Orikhiv and Huliaipole fronts may see major escalation soon.

While in the Kharkiv region on the northern outskirts of Kupiansk, the Armed Forces of Ukraine are pushing back the invading Russian forces from the outer streets, the enemy has directed its efforts toward breaking through to Borova, which also holds defense along the Oskil River. This week, the Russians managed to expand their zone of control on a 7-kilometer-wide section of the front between Lozova and Zelenyi Hai. At the same time, this capture cannot be called a breakthrough – the Russians occupied part of the gray zone where the Defense Forces had not been present for a long time. And the front here moves like wet wood burns – once every few months there is local advancement that doesn't even solve anything tactically. For example, in the village of Zahryzlove, the Russians have been stuck for over a year. [Map]

We have begun losing the legendary forest massif where the Ukrainian Armed Forces held defense since 2022. The capture of the Serebrianskyi Reserve will unambiguously have a negative impact on both the Siversk and Lyman fronts, as through it Russian sabotage and reconnaissance groups will be able to reach almost close to Lyman through the forest, and also cross the Siverskyi Donets and emerge in the rear of Siversk. Already now, isolated attempts at advancing on the previously completely rear village of Yampil are being recorded.

Due to the Defense Forces' retreat from a significant part of the forest, the enemy managed to advance in Hryhorivka in the direction of Serebrynka, which the Russians regularly raid. On the northern edge of the forest, the invaders have not only almost completely occupied Torske, but have also crossed the Chornyi Zherebets River in two places and begun fighting for Zarichne, which is the key to Lyman. Both fronts are in a significant crisis, which so far has no good options for resolution. If the situation develops similarly, then in autumn fighting will begin for Siversk and Lyman, which was planned by the Russians. [Map]

Near Novopavlivka itself, the front has held almost unshakably for nearly a month. The invading Russian forces are not rushing to storm the Ukrainian powerful fortified area head-on. They, as always, want to use the strategy of flanking maneuvers. To bypass the settlement from the north, they need to cross the Solona River, but it now serves well as a defensive line for both Novopavlivka and Pokrovsk. The only thing the enemy has managed to do here in several weeks is occupy two fields near Muravka.

From the south, the Russians are restrained by the Vovcha River. Here they finally occupied Oleksiivka after half a year of fighting, but couldnot overcome Ukrainian defense near Dachne. Therefore, they take positions along the river and look for weak points to cross it. In recent days, they approached the shore in the area of the village of Filiia. [Map]

However, the further south, the more fragile Ukrainian defense becomes. Overall, the Novopavlivka direction has the worst dynamics of Russian advancement from 5 to 9 square kilometers per day. And what's worse – the Russian troops are advancing along a fairly wide front of 40 kilometers – from Zeleny Hai south of Novopavlivka, to Malynivka, which is near Huliaipole in Zaporizhzhia. Having advanced near Zeleny Hai, the enemy managed to surprise Andriivka Klevtsova, but the Defense Forces pushed the invaders out of the village, destroying a significant number of them. In the area of Voskresenska and Piddubnoe, the Defense Forces continue to hold part of their positions, but the Russian army, bypassing them, is trying to break through further into Dnipropetrovsk region. They have advanced between Voskresenska and Maliivka, and are also preparing to attack Sichnevе. Both villages are already located outside the Donetsk region. Even further south, the Russians completely captured Vilne Pole and broke through 4 kilometers to the west and began storming Komyshuvakha.

It is here between Komyshuvakha and Temyrivka that there is a junction of three regions: Donetsk, Dnipropetrovsk, and Zaporizhzhia, and the Russians have already captured this conditional three-way border. [Map]

After the occupation of Temyrivka, the Russians expanded their activity even further south, where they wanted to create a threat of encircling Huliaipole from the north. Particularly in the area of Poltavka, the Russian Armed Forces are advancing from two flanks: conducting battles for Malynivka, and also advancing on a 5-kilometer front near Olhivske. Currently, the Defense Forces cannot find countermeasures and stabilize the front, which supposedly should have been ready for defense long ago, but as it turned out, has weak defense lines in certain sections and troops unprepared for defense. Probably in the coming weeks, this direction may become even more threatening than Pokrovsk.

90 Russians killed, 5 captured in battles near Dnipropetrovsk Oblast border | New Voice of Ukraine

Ukraine’s Main Intelligence Directorate (HUR) of the Ministry of Defense released footage on Aug. 22 of combat operations near the administrative border of Dnipropetrovsk Oblast, resulting in the elimination of over 90 Russian soldiers.

Special forces from the Bratstvo unit, part of the HUR’s Tymur special unit, together with the Russian Volunteer Corps (RDK), successfully completed a combat mission and halted the advance of Russian forces in Donetsk Oblast. During the assaults, over 90 Russian soldiers were killed, and 5 were taken prisoner. Drone operators conducted over 400 combat sorties. HUR special forces identified and eliminated several Russian groups attempting to plant Russian flags on territory not controlled by Russia to falsely claim control of settlements.