War in Ukraine today: latest news, 12 August 2025 (photo)

It has been the 1266  th day of the Ukrainian resistance to the russian military aggression. 

 

What happened in Ukraine today:

Here is operational information of the General Staff as of 6 pm:   

The Ukrainian defence forces are holding back the advance of russian occupiers and taking measures to prevent the enemy from advancing deeper into Ukrainian territory. At present, 91 combat engagements have been recorded.

The communities of Turia, Starykove, Bilokopytove, Shalyhyne, Myropilske, and Boiaro-Lezhachi in Sumy oblast; Zarichchia, Khrinivka, and Klyusi in Chernihiv oblast have been affected by enemy artillery and mortar fire. The settlements of Seredyna-Buda and Kamianka in Sumy oblast were subjected to air strikes.

Six combat clashes took place towards North Slobozhanske and Kursk. The enemy carried out four air strikes, dropping seven guided aerial bombs, and carried out 143 shelling attacks, including six with multiple launch rocket systems.

Towards South Slobozhanske, fighting continues near the village of Kamianka.

Towards Kupiansk, the enemy carried out four attacks on the positions of the Defence Forces near Kindrashivka, Moskovka and Kupiansk.

Towards Lyman, the enemy attacked the positions of our defenders 19 times in the areas of Hrekivka, Myrne, Zarichne, Karpivka, Torske, Dibrova, and in the direction of Shandryholove and Serebrianka. Six combat clashes are ongoing.

Towards Siversk, the enemy carried out six offensive actions in the areas of Hryhorivka and Vyimka. Two combat engagements are ongoing.

Towards Kramatorsk, Ukrainian soldiers repelled two assaults in the areas of Oleksandro-Shultyne and Stupochky.

Towards Toretsk, four attacks were repelled in the areas of Nelypivka, Shcherbynivka, and Yablunivka. Two combat engagements are currently ongoing.

Towards Pokrovsk, the enemy made 25 attempts to push back our units in the areas of Popovyi Yar, Volodymyrivka, Kolodiaziv, Nikanorivka, Nove Shakhove, Nove Ekonomichne, Zvirove, Udachne, as well as in the direction of Rodynske and Promin. The defence forces have already repelled twenty-four attacks.

Towards Novopavlivka, the enemy made 13 attempts to break through the defences in the areas of Dachne, Novoukrainka, Vilne Pole, Oleksandrohrad, Tolste, Myrne, Maliivka, Voskresenka, and Andriivka-Klevtsove. Four battles are ongoing.

Towards Huliaipole, the enemy advanced in the direction of Poltavka and launched an air strike on Bilohiria.

In the Orikhiv direction, Ukrainian soldiers repelled one assault in the Kamyanske area. Stepnogorsk and Plavni were hit by guided bombs.

Towards Kherson, the enemy attacked the positions of our defenders five times but was unsuccessful.

The government has developed a new mechanism to speed up the restoration of housing after shelling. The initiative was developed after the latest shelling of Kyiv, in response to the president’s task to make the restoration process as efficient and understandable to people as possible. The new approach allows the stages of restoration — from inspection to the start of construction work — to be carried out in parallel, without unnecessary delays, but with mandatory recording of all actions in an electronic system.

The Ministry of Defence reported that in Ukraine, as part of the reform of the military training system for young people and students, a cycle of training for national resistance will be introduced, starting at the age of 14. Instead of basic military training (BMT), the state is introducing a new model — the basics of national resistance, which will cover all citizens, starting from school age. According to the new approaches, the cycle of training citizens for national resistance begins at the age of 14, in particular through participation in military-patriotic games such as Sokil and Dzhura, as well as the study of the updated subject Defence of Ukraine, which is already being introduced in schools and vocational education. In addition, BMT will be abolished in higher education institutions and replaced by Fundamentals of National Resistance, but without the assignment of a military speciality. Unlike BMT, which was taught formally and did not provide real training, the new approach involves practical participation in training, including weapon handling, tactical and fire training. After completing their education, citizens will be required to undergo basic military service, which will become part of their general training.

Recent war events in the east of Ukraine

Kharkiv oblast

Frontline

Yesterday 168 combat clashes were recorded.

Towards South Slobozhanske, six combat clashes took place in the areas of Vovchansk, Kolodiazne, and Dvorichanske.

Towards Kupiansk, nine attacks by the occupiers took place over the past day. Defence forces repelled enemy assaults near the settlements of Stepova Novoselivka, Kindrashivka, Kupiansk, Zahryzove, and Bohuslavka.

Attacks

Over the past day, three settlements were hit by enemy strikes.

In Kupiansk, a 78-year-old man was wounded.

The enemy used three Molniya-type UAVs and four FPV drones in the oblast.

In Malyi Burluk, Kupiansk region, a private house was damaged.

Donetsk oblast

Frontline

According to Andrii Kovalov, Spokesman for the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, several groups of russian troops, which had infiltrated the settlements of Zolotyi Kolodiaz, Vesele, Vilne, Rubizhne, and Kucheri Yar towards Pokrovsk the day before, have been destroyed. Additional forces have been deployed to block the occupying groups, and reserve units of the Defence Forces have already taken prisoners.

Up to 10 russian infantrymen managed to break through the first line of defence of the Ukrainian army towards Pokrovsk, and they are being destroyed by reserve units of the Defence Forces. Viktor Trehubov, Spokesman of the Dnipro military unit, said that russian troops do not have control over this section of the front.

Attacks
On 11 August, the police recorded 2,662 enemy strikes along the front line and in residential areas.

10 settlements were under attack: Bilozerske, Kostiantynivka, Kramatorsk, Lyman, Pokrovsk, Sviatohirsk, Drobysheve, Illinivka, Novovodiane, and Shakove.

47 civilian objects were destroyed, including 32 residential buildings.

The russians struck Bilozerske with four FAB-250 bombs from UMPC and Smerch MLRS, killing two civilians and injuring eight others, including a child. 12 apartment buildings, an educational institution, and 8 civilian vehicles were damaged.

One person was killed and one injured in Shakhove. In Pokrovsk, a civilian was injured by an FPV drone strike.

The occupiers dropped a KAB-250 bomb on Illinivka in Kramatorsk region, injuring a civilian and damaging a non-residential building.

The enemy shelled Kostiantynivka with artillery, injuring two people and damaging three private homes.

Russia attacked Kramatorsk with two Molniya-2 UAVs, damaging two apartment buildings and an educational institution.

Russian troops directed four Geran-2 UAVs at Sviatohirsk, damaging one apartment building and 11 private homes.

In Lyman, an apartment building and private houses were damaged as a result of artillery and drone strikes. In Drobysheve, an enemy drone destroyed a private home.

Novovodiane in Bilozerska community was hit four times by Geran-2 UAVs, damaging educational and cultural institutions.

Other

Henadii Yudin, Head of the Regional Police Evacuation Operations Department, reported that in one week, police crews from Pokrovsk region evacuated more than 120 people. It is impossible to enter Zolotyi Kolodiaz village in Shakhove community, while evacuation continues from Dobropillia and Bilytske. However, due to the deteriorating security situation, evacuation routes are changing, and the road between Dobropillia and Kramatorsk is currently not in use.

In Lyman community, rescuers extinguished a fire covering an area of 4.5 hectares. According to the State Emergency Service, firefighting is complicated by the presence of mines in the forests.

Petro Andriushchenko, Head of the Centre for the Study of Occupation, stated that the occupying authorities in Donetsk oblast have abandoned plans to desalinate seawater and purify mine water, recognising them as too expensive. The occupiers admit that the water supply is on the verge of complete shutdown.

Luhansk oblast

The invaders used barrel artillery 24 times in our area of responsibility. They fired twice from multiple launch rocket systems. They sent 90 unmanned aerial vehicles and FPV drones towards the fortifications of Ukrainian defenders and surrounding villages. Yesterday, the enemy attacked 20 times towards Lyman and carried out eight assaults towards Siversk.

The invaders selectively grant permission to open schools in the cities they captured in 2022. Therefore, from 1 September, about 40 of them will not be operating in the so-called “lpr”. This applies, in particular, to Lysychansk, Rubizhne, and Svatove. There is no internet there – it was shut down by the russians at one point. This decision prevents the implementation of distance learning. Therefore, for the fourth year in a row, children will be forced to go to schools for assignments and study all subjects independently at home. In addition, the occupiers have already decided to close more than 100 schools in Luhansk oblast due to insufficient number of students.

Back in the spring, cases of water supply being cut off without warning and without any schedule became more frequent in Siverskodonetsk. Moreover, during the few hours when water is available, the pressure is minimal. Residents of the upper floors suffer the most.

What is happening now in the north of Ukraine

Kyiv oblast

Regional Military Administration reported that in 2025, the regional budget allocates over 151 million UAH for veteran assistance programs. Housing certificates have been issued to 53 families. The region hosts the inclusive veteran settlement “Kvit Kalyny,” where more than 50 families live. Eleven veteran hubs are already operating, with a new one recently opened in Bila Tserkva.

In Irpin, the Comprehensive Community Recovery Program has been approved. The document resulted from joint work by the public, local authorities, experts, and international partners. Its development was made possible with the support of the UN-Habitat program, in partnership with UNITAC, Ukraine Urban Lab, IMPACT Initiatives, and Restart Ukraine, and funded by the Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development of Germany (BMZ).

In Kyiv, on St. Michael’s Square, an open-air photo exhibition “Days of Remembrance of the Heroes of the 2014 Ilovaisk Battle” has opened. The exhibition features unique photographs taken during the fighting for Ilovaisk in August 2014 — one of the most tragic events in the war with russia.

On August 13 at 15:00, the Museum of Theatre, Music, and Cinema Arts of Ukraine will host a memorial evening for Volodymyr Chornyi — “A Film Cut Short by War.” Volodymyr Chornyi was a graphic artist and film set decorator for Pamfir, Our Cats, and Iron Butterflies. He volunteered to join the army and became a master sergeant of the 66th Separate Mechanized Brigade. He was killed in battle on May 9, 2023.

This week, a delegation from the Republic of Korea arrived in Bucha to assist the community in designing modern wastewater treatment facilities for the proper functioning of the Bucha water utility. The project is being implemented under a memorandum signed in 2023 with the South Korean company KEITI. According to community head Anatolii Fedoruk, this will be an important step towards an environmentally safe and comfortable life for residents.

Zhytomyr oblast

A delegation from the German partner city of Kassel visited the Zhytomyrteplokomunenergo CHP plant, which currently runs on wood chips and produces both heat and electricity. The modern CHP plant provides heat to 54 multi-storey residential buildings, five educational institutions and a polyclinic. The guests also visited the military cemetery in Zhytomyr and laid flowers at the graves of fallen defenders of Ukraine.

Sumy oblast

In the evening update on 11 August the General Staff reported that Ukraine’s Defence Forces have cleared Stepne villages and Novokostiantynivka (formerly Pershe Travnia) in Sumy oblast of russian troops. Soldiers of the 225th Separate Assault Regiment, through active operations, pushed enemy units beyond Ukraine’s state border.

In North Slobozhanske and Kursk front, there were 13 engagements over the past day. Enemy forces carried out 11 air strikes, dropping a total of 23 guided aerial bombs, and conducted 298 artillery attacks, including 26 from multiple launch rocket systems.

Seredyna-Buda Town Council reported that on the morning of 12 August, russian forces struck Seredyna-Buda by unguided rockets, causing three fires in the town. Later, drone and mortar attacks were recorded.

The Regional Military Administration informed that from the morning of 11 August to the morning of 12 August, russian forces carried out more than 50 attacks on 31 settlements across 15 territorial communities in Sumy oblast. The highest number of strikes was recorded in Sumy and Shostka regions. The enemy actively used guided aerial bombs in the oblast (nearly 30 strikes) and multiple launch rocket systems (20 strikes), and also launched attacks by FPV-drones and UAVs. In Sumy community, a man born in 1987 was injured in a UAV attack.

The consequences of enemy strikes in Sumy oblast as of the morning of 12 August:

• In Velyka Pysarivka community: an administrative building was destroyed;

• In Shostka community: a non-residential building was damaged;

• In Znob-Novhorodske community: a civilian infrastructure facility was damaged;

• In Sumy community: civilian infrastructure facilities were damaged.

Over the past day, local authorities, together with units of the State Emergency Service, the National Police, and non-governmental organisations, evacuated 14 people from border communities.

In Sumy, the neurology and admissions departments of St Panteleimon Hospital, which had been destroyed in a russian strike, have been restored. The medical facility was damaged in September 2024 after being hit by two russian “Shaheds.” In addition, according to the hospital’s director, more than 115 windows and about 100 doors were replaced following the russian attacks. Almost every room in the hospital also had to be refurbished.

Chernihiv oblast

Chernihivoblenergo JSC reported that on 12 August, russian forces hit Semenivka section of Koriukivka Redional Power Supply Company by a drone. Two strikes were recorded. As a result of the attack, an energy worker, who serves as a lead engineer for electricity distribution, was injured. The man had arrived at the site by car and had just stepped away from it when the drone struck the courtyard. The second drone strike hit the building of the section directly.

During the night of 12 August, the enemy attacked Chernihiv oblast by four ballistic missiles, the Air Force of the Armed Forces of Ukraine reported. russian forces struck by Iskander-M/KN-23 missiles.

Chernihiv Border Detachment informed on 11 August, russian forces attacked three border communities in Chernihiv oblast: Novhorod-Siverskyi, Semenivka, and Snovsk. A total of 20 explosions were recorded. The enemy used mortars, carried out strikes by FPV-drones, and dropped explosive devices from UAVs. Five settlements came under enemy fire.

Recent events in the central regions of Ukraine

Dnipropetrovsk oblast

Until late in the evening and in the morning, the occupiers continued to strike Nikopol region by drones and artillery. They targeted the regional centre and Myrove community. As a result of morning artillery shelling in Nikopol, a 55-year-old woman was injured; she received the necessary medical assistance. 2 high-rise buildings and a power line were damaged. Updated reports indicate that yesterday’s attacks on Marhanets community resulted in a fire that destroyed another private house. The enemy attacked Mezhova community in Synelnykove region by drones, causing a fire. A cultural facility and a non-operational building were damaged. Yesterday’s attacks in the community damaged an educational institution, an administrative building, a cafeteria and outbuildings.

During the day, the occupiers launched about 45 attacks. The occupiers were continuously firing on Nikopol by drones and artillery. In Marhanets community, a 65-year-old woman was injured by a drone strike; she received the necessary medical care. Fires broke out. 7 private houses, a farming enterprise, a tractor and an outbuilding were damaged; the outbuilding was destroyed. A bus and a car were hit.

Vinnytsia oblast

Mayor Serhii Morhunov informed that 4 families of defenders have already used the new service Social Adaptation for Veterans and Their Families. They are currently staying in one of the rehabilitation centres. Over 8 days, a multidisciplinary team from the city’s social services center: 2 psychologists, a social worker and a coordinator They work with the soldiers and their wives. The facility has rehabilitation and wellness rooms. The adaptation service is implemented according to the state standard and is provided to soldiers who have recently returned from the front line. The city funds the families’ stay and the specialists’ work. 

Kirovohrad oblast

Oksana Makaruk, Head of the City’s ’s Health Department, reported that in Nove village, part of Kropyvnytskyi community in Kirovohrad oblast, a dormitory for displaced healthcare workers has been created. It was set up in a former outpatient clinic building, furnished with furniture, appliances and kitchenware. The procedure for settling in will be approved by the executive committee of the city council.

Poltava oblast

Soldier Vladyslav Punko from Pyriatyn community was killed in action on 9 August while carrying out a combat mission near Bilozerske town in Donetsk oblast.

In Kremenchuk, certificates for housing purchases were presented to the families of servicemen Oleh Kravchenko and Serhii Kovalov. These documents grant the right to receive monetary compensation that can be used to buy a home.

Cherkasy oblast

Cherkasy paid tribute to 25-year-old Vladyslav Holovchenko, who was killed in Dnipropetrovsk oblast while carrying out a combat mission.

Latest news from the front of the southern regions of Ukraine

Zaporizhzhia oblast

Ivan Fedorov, Head of Zaporizhzhia Regional Military Administration, reported that a 68-year-old man was injured as a result of a russian attack on Prymorske. 2 air bombs destroyed a house and the blast wave and shrapnel damaged nearby buildings. The injured man is receiving all necessary medical care.

According to the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, on 11 August, Defence Forces repelled 3 russian attacks in Orikhiv and Huliaipole regions. The clashes occurred near Kamianske, Novodanylivka and Malynivka.

Ivan Fedorov, Head of the RMA, stated that on 11 August, russian forces carried out 468 strikes on 14 towns and villages in Zaporizhzhia oblast. In particular, they used 316 drones (mostly FPV drones) to attack Bilenke, Plavni, Prymorske, Huliaipole, Malynivka, Shcherbaky, Novodanylivka, Mala Tokmachka, Charivne and Preobrazhenka.

3 wounded people remain in hospitals, one of them in serious condition. In total, 24 people were injured as a result of a russian airstrike on Zaporizhzhia on 10 August.

Mykolaiv oblast

Referring to the RMA, on 11 August and during the night of 12 August, russian forces attacked Mykolaiv oblast by FPV drones. This caused fires and damaged outbuildings. There were no casualties reported.

In Mykolaiv oblast, 26 modular houses have been built for families who lost their homes due to the war.

Odesa oblast

According to the Ukrainian Navy, as of 12 August, there are no russian warships present in the Black Sea or the Sea of Azov.

Kherson oblast

Based on the information provided by the CMA, on 11 August, a 39-year-old resident of Bilozirka sought medical attention after being attacked by a russian drone. He was hospitalised with a blast injury and concussion.

At about 1:30pm, russian forces attacked Molodizhne. A 59-year-old man sustained a mine-blast injury and shrapnel wounds; doctors are examining him.

The RMA reported that at midday, russian forces struck the central part of Kherson. The facade, roof and windows of an educational institution were damaged. There were no casualties reported.

Also, russian forces attacked a girl by a drone at around 12:30pm in Dniprovskyi district of Kherson. She sustained a blast injury and concussion.

The CMA informed that after 11am, russian shelling hit the central part of Kherson, damaging a municipal healthcare facility: its facade, about 25 windows and a nearby car. There were no injuries reported, as staff and patients managed to reach shelter in time.

According to Kherson RMA, during the night of 10 August, a 44-year-old man in Bilozirka was wounded by russian shelling, suffering a blast injury and concussion.

Oleksandr Prokudin, Head of Kherson RMA, reported that on 11 August, 5 people were injured in Kherson oblast due to russian shelling. Damaged structures include a high-rise building, 13 private houses, a cell tower, a gas station and vehicles. The russian forces attacked 37 settlements in the region.

Latest news for today in the western regions of Ukraine

Volyn oblast

The RMA held a meeting with a team from the International Committee of the Red Cross. They discussed the involvement of the Red Cross in creating appropriate conditions at Domanovye checkpoint for Ukrainians returning from the occupied territories.

Zakarpattia oblast

7 families from Sinelnykyi region, Dnipropetrovsk oblast, were met at the railway station in Mukachevo. Among the 20 evacuees were 12 children of various ages. All the newcomers were placed in a temporary shelter in the city of Berehove. There they received the necessary assistance: clothes, hot food, and, most importantly and psychological support.

Ivano-Frankivsk oblast

The 10th Separate Mountain Assault Brigade Edelveis received 200 quadcopters worth over UAH 2.7m thanks to funds from the regional budget as part of programs to support the region’s military formations.

Lviv oblast

Senior Police Lieutenant Vasyl Hrynchyshyn from Strii region was awarded with the For the Defense of Ukraine Order by the President of Ukraine (posthumously). The award was presented to the Hero’s wife, Khrystyna.

Rivne oblast

The RMA signed a memorandum of cooperation with the Social Support Service NGO. This NGO unites volunteers who are engaged in transporting the bodies of fallen soldiers, as well as supporting their families.

Ternopil oblast

In Ternopil, 25 servicemen will receive one-time assistance to purchase the necessary equipment. Since the beginning of 2025, 2,524 servicemen have already received such assistance, and in 2024 – 3,198 defenders.

Khmelnytskyi oblast

The military received 100 10-inch FPV drones; DJI MATRICE4T UAVs; night vision sighting systems; counter-battery combat systems; special tablets; turrets and day and night equipment for them worth almost UAH 2.7m.

Chernivtsi oblast

Chernivtsi received 15 buses from the municipality of Prague.

International support of Ukraine in the russian-Ukrainian war (russia’s invasion of Ukraine)

Azerbaijan will provide Ukraine with $2m from the reserve fund for the purchase and shipment of Azerbaijani-made electrical equipment to Ukraine.

Volodymyr Zelenskyy, President of Ukraine, had a phone conversation with Narendra Modi, Indian Prime Minister. They discussed bilateral cooperation and the diplomatic situation in general.

 

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Materials compiled by Tetyana Pidgorna, Olena Reka, Yana Hushchyna, Tamara Moshkovska, Sofia Ratynska, Ioanna Kryvenko, Helena Albahachiieva, Kristina Maknynia 

Translated by Tetyana Pidgorna, Yana Hushchyna, Alla Litrovnyk, Liudmyla Stadnykova, Ilona Korolevska, Tetiana Moiseienko, Marharyta Koval, Tetiana Kurbatova

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