War in Ukraine today: latest news, 18 September 2025 (photo)

It has been the 1303  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:  

Since the beginning of this day, 100 combat engagements have been recorded.

Today, the communities of border settlements suffered from enemy artillery fire: Nova Huta, Yasna Polyana, Seredyna-Buda, Kucherivka, Boyaro-Lezhachi in Sumy region.

• Northern-Slobozhanske and Kursk directions. Eight combat engagements took place. The enemy launched 5 airstrikes, dropping 12 guided aerial bombs, and carried out 108 shelling attacks on positions of our troops and settlements, 4 of them using multiple launch rocket systems.
• Southern-Slobozhanske direction. Defense Forces repelled 3 attacks near Hlyboke and Vovchansk. Another engagement is ongoing.
• Kupiansk direction. The occupiers twice attempted to break through our defenses towards Kupiansk and Novosynove.
• Lyman direction. The enemy carried out 8 attacks near Kolodiazi and towards Shandryholove, Stavky, and Zarichne. Two battles are ongoing.
• Siversk direction. Defense Forces repelled 3 attacks in the areas of Serebrianka, Yampil, and Vyiimka. Four battles are ongoing.
• Kramatorsk direction. The enemy attempted twice to breach the defenses near Oleksandro-Shultyne and Bila Hora.
• Toretsk direction. Twelve assault actions were recorded in the areas of Shcherbynivka, Toretsk, Poltavka, and towards Pleshchiivka and Rusyn Yar. Two battles are ongoing.
• Pokrovsk direction. The invaders carried out 43 attempts to advance in the areas of Shakhove, Volodymyrivka, Nove Shakhove, Lysivka, Zvirove, Kotlyne, Udachne, and towards Chervonyi Lyman, Rodynske, Pokrovsk, Novopidhirodne, Molodetske, Muravka, Novopavlivka, and Filiia. Defense Forces repelled 39 attacks. Fighting continues in 7 locations.
• Novopavlivka direction. The enemy tried to break through our defenses in the areas of Sichneve, Voskresenka, Komyshuvakha, Ternove, Olhivka, and towards Filiia, Ivanivka, and Berezove. Ten attacks were repelled, five battles are ongoing.
• Huliaipole direction. No offensive actions recorded.
• Orikhiv direction. The enemy attacked 5 times near Kamianske, as well as towards Novoandriivka, Stepnohirsk, and Plavni.
• Prydniprovske direction. The enemy twice unsuccessfully attempted to advance towards the Antonivskyi Bridge.

On the remaining directions, the situation remains unchanged. 

Recent war events in the east of Ukraine

Kharkiv oblast

Frontline
As of 16:00, in the South-Slobozhanske direction, the Defense Forces repelled three enemy attacks near Hlyboke and Vovchansk. Another battle is ongoing.

In the Kupiansk direction, Russian forces launched two assaults toward Kupiansk and Novoosynove.

Shelling
During the past day, 184 combat engagements were recorded.

In the South-Slobozhanske direction, the enemy carried out 11 assaults on the positions of our units near Vovchansk, Odradne, and toward Hryhorivka and Obukhivka.

In the Kupiansk direction, there were seven enemy attacks during the day. The Defense Forces repelled assaults near Boryvska Andriivka, Kindrashivka, Zahryzove, Bohuslavka, and toward Kupiansk.

At around 08:45, a Russian UAV crashed at the entrance to Shevchenkove; no people were injured, reported Andrii Kanashevych, Head of the Kupiansk Regional Military Administration.

During the past day, four settlements in Kharkiv oblast came under enemy strikes.
As a result of shelling, one person was killed and another injured.

In the village of Slatyne, Derhachi community, a 73-year-old man was killed, and a 70-year-old woman was injured.

Medical help was also sought by: a 60-year-old man injured on 16 September in the village of Zarubivka, Vilkhuvatka community; and an 85-year-old man who was injured on 15 September in the city of Kupiansk.

The enemy actively used various types of weapons against Kharkiv oblast:
▪️1 “Geran-2” UAV;
▪️7 “Molniya” UAVs;
▪️2 FPV drones.

Civilian infrastructure was damaged and destroyed:
▪️In Kharkiv district – 5 private houses (Slatyne), a private house (Kurylivka), and power grids (Derhachi);
▪️In Chuhuiv district – a car (Bilyi Kolodiaz).

Other
Over 280 hectares of territory in Kharkiv oblast were demined in a week. 1,961 explosive devices were defused.
The transit evacuation point in Lozova received 169 people in a day. 61 people remain. A total of 3,163 people have been registered at the point since it began operating.

According to Iryna Karabut, Head of the Village Military Administration, on 17 September an alley with portraits of missing persons was opened in Krasnokutsk. Among those attending the opening was 58-year-old Ihor Yakovlev, a soldier released from captivity. He personally removed his portrait from the stand in the alley.

Donetsk oblast

Frontline

According to a report by the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, towards Kramatorsk, the russian army carried out five assaults near Chasiv Yar. There were also battles near Stupochky and in the direction of Nykyforovka.

The Defence Forces repelled the most attacks on the Pokrovsk section of the front line — 69 per day, with more than 20 assaults towards Novopavlivka.

Zelenskyy said in a video statement that during Dobropillia counteroffensive, Ukrainian forces liberated seven settlements and cleared nine more.

Another thousand bodies, which, according to the Russian Federation, belong to Ukrainian military personnel, have been returned to Ukraine, the Joint Forces Operation reported. Law enforcement officers and experts will conduct identification in the near future.

Referring to the NGO Ukraine Without Torture, on 16 September, Oleksandr Hatiiatullin, a human rights activist, journalist and co-founder of the NGO, was killed on the front line. He joined the Armed Forces of Ukraine in the spring of 2022 and fought in Donetsk and Sumy oblasts.

Attacks

Today, at around 10am, the russian army dropped a FAB-250 bomb from a UMPK on a residential area of Kostiantynivka. The russians killed two women aged 62 and 65 and three men aged 65, 67 and 74.

Four apartment buildings were damaged.

 

Two residents of Donetsk region died as a result of russian aggression, another 11 were wounded, including a child.

On 17 September, the police recorded 2,327 enemy shellings along the front line and in residential areas.

11settlements were under attack: Dobropillia, Druzhkivka, Kostiantynivka, Kramatorsk, Lyman, Donetsk, Novodonetsk, Raihorodok, Vasylivska Pustosh, Starovarvarivka and Tetianivka.

76 civilian objects were destroyed, including 51 residential buildings.

Kostiantynivka endured 12 attacks with bombs, drones, and artillery. The russians killed two people and wounded three more. Six apartment buildings, 26 private houses, and an educational institution were damaged.

Five people were wounded in Druzhkivka, which was hit by 10 strikes from various types of drones. A hospital, an administrative building, a retail kiosk, and nine vehicles were damaged.

The enemy struck Novodonetsk with Smerch multiple launch rocket systems, injuring three civilians, including a child born in 2014. Three apartment buildings, four garages, and a civilian vehicle were destroyed.

In Kramatorsk, four drones damaged two private houses and a hotel. In Vasylivska Pustosh, two enemy drones damaged two private houses and a civilian car.

In Lyman, one household and three summer cottages were damaged. Two Molniya-2 UAVs struck Raihorodok, damaging four private houses. A private house was damaged in Donetsk.

Russia shelled Dobropillia four times, including with FPV drones, damaging one apartment building and six private houses.

 

Other

Yuliia Ryzhakova, Head of the Children’s Services Department, reported that there are 1,582 minors remaining in six settlements where the forced evacuation of families with children is ongoing. The largest number of children are in Druzhkivka and Kryvyi Rih communities. Dmytro Pozharskyi, Head of the social services department of Donetsk Regional Military Administration, said that there are also 1,364 single people with limited mobility in the region who require the care of social workers. None of these people agree to be evacuated to safe regions.

On 10 September, a resident of Pokrovsk, who is nine months pregnant, tried to leave the city by bicycle amid constant shelling by the russian army. The woman was rescued by soldiers from the 25th Airborne Brigade of the Sich Brigade.

According to Petro Andriushchenko, Head of the Centre for the Study of Occupation, stated that over the summer, the Starokrymske Reservoir, from which the occupiers draw water for Mariupol, has shrunk by more than four metres. If the rate of withdrawal continues, there may be no water left in this reservoir by the end of autumn.

Luhansk oblast

The enemy actively used artillery systems and various types of drones to shell populated areas and Ukrainian defensive fortifications. The occupiers fired 13 times from barrel artillery. They directed 20 UAVs and FPV drones towards us. The enemy attacked 21 times towards Lyman. Another 14 attacks were launched towards Siversk.

In Siversk and the surrounding villages, where electricity supply has been restored over the past three years, domestic consumers are being cut off for the slightest non-payment of tariffs. The population is left without electricity if they have a current debt of one or two months. Residents of Borivske, in particular, complain about such arbitrariness.

The municipal services of Rubizhne are unable to regularly remove household waste that accumulates near houses and on the streets of the city. There is a shortage of specialised equipment and workers. The city’s residents have repeatedly appealed to the occupation administration, but they have not even set a deadline for resolving the issue. Unsanitary conditions prevail in the settlement.

 

What is happening now in the north of Ukraine

Kyiv oblast

On the evening of September 18, Russian forces attacked Kyiv region. As a result of drone debris falling in Boryspil district, a man was injured, the Regional Military Administration reported. A 60-year-old man sustained shrapnel wounds to the lower back and was hospitalized.

During the night, the enemy once again attacked Kyiv region with strike drones. In Bucha district, the attack caused a fire in a non-residential building covering an area of 100 square meters; a private house and a car were also damaged. In Boryspil district, rescuers localized a fire at warehouse facilities. According to the State Emergency Service, 56 rescuers and 15 units of equipment were involved in the response.

Due to the air raid alert in Kyiv, metro trains did not operate on above-ground sections. Service was limited to the underground part. Some stations functioned only as shelters. At 20:58, the Kyiv City State Administration reported that the metro had resumed normal operations, including train service on open sections.

Polish Defense Minister Władysław Kosiniak-Kamysz arrived in Kyiv for talks on military cooperation, support for Ukraine, and the security situation. During his visit, the Polish Defense Minister announced that his country would sign an agreement with Ukraine on cooperation in the field of drones.

In Irpin, reconstruction of the “Champion” city stadium, which was seriously damaged as a result of Russian armed aggression, is ongoing. Its restoration became possible thanks to funding from the United24 fundraising platform and the initiative of Ukrainian footballer Andriy Shevchenko. The project includes replacing the pitch and a comprehensive upgrade of the infrastructure: stands, locker rooms, sports grounds, and the surrounding area.

Human rights defender, journalist, and soldier Oleksandr Hatiiatullin was killed on the frontline. He joined the Armed Forces of Ukraine in March 2022 and carried out combat missions in the Donetsk and Sumy directions. In 2016, Oleksandr co-founded the NGO Ukraine Without Torture and for many years represented the Ukrainian Parliament Commissioner for Human Rights in places of detention. A farewell ceremony will be held for Oleksandr in Kyiv on Saturday, according to Muslim traditions, at the Ar-Rahma mosque.

The Kyiv Regional Center for National Resistance Training has launched its 9th basic course. Over the course of 7 weeks, cadets will master 16 areas of training.

Five veterans from Kyiv region will represent Ukraine at the Strong Spirit’s Games, an international adaptive sports competition to be held in Madrid from September 25 to 29. The Strong Spirit’s Games will bring together 150 participants from Ukraine, the USA, Ireland, Spain, Estonia, and Georgia.

Zhytomyr oblast

In the Zhytomyr community, 14 families of war-disabled veterans will receive financial compensation for the purchase of housing. The funds will be allocated from the latest subvention provided from the state budget.

In Zhytomyr, on Chudnivska Street, a building for a Veterans’ Space is planned to be constructed. The Zhytomyr Regional Military Administration’s Department of Regional Development intends to sign the construction contract.

Representatives of the Dolyna community in Zaporizhzhia oblast visited Raihorod as part of the project “Side by Side: United Communities.” The participants visited the Markushevychi Lyceum and discussed issues of supporting the social sphere during the war, attracting investments and resources for development, education and culture, youth engagement, and encouraging residents to participate in community decision-making.

Sumy oblast

On the North-Slobozhanske and Kursk directions, 11 combat engagements took place. Over the past day, Russian forces carried out ten airstrikes, dropping 25 guided bombs, and conducted 203 artillery strikes on Ukrainian military positions and settlements, including 14 using multiple launch rocket systems, the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine reported.

On September 17, during the day and later in the evening, Russian forces attacked Konotop with drones, striking an infrastructure facility previously damaged by Russian attacks, according to Konotop Mayor Artem Semenikhin. As a result of the Russian strikes, a dog—an old resident of the Port neighborhood, nearly 17 years old—was killed. Residential buildings and communal property were damaged, and dry vegetation burned over a large area.

From the morning of September 17 to the morning of September 18, Russian forces carried out 68 strikes on 29 settlements across 13 territorial communities in the region. The highest number of strikes was recorded in Sumy and Shostka districts. In Sumy oblast, the enemy actively used guided aerial bombs (up to 20 strikes), unguided air-launched rockets (10 strikes), UAVs (over 20 strikes), VOG mortar drops from drones (10 strikes), as well as FPV drones and multiple launch rocket systems.

As a result of Russian strikes across the region, as of the morning of September 18, the following damage was recorded: non-residential buildings and civil infrastructure in the Vorozhbyanska community, and two private houses in the Seredyna-Buda community.

During the day, local authorities, together with units of the State Emergency Service, National Police, and local NGOs in border communities, evacuated four people.

Chernihiv oblast

On September 17 in Nizhyn, a Russian drone attacked State Emergency Service firefighters while they were extinguishing a fire caused by a prior strike. As a result, one firefighter was killed and two others were injured, reported Vyacheslav Chaus, Head of the Chernihiv Regional Military Administration.

Over the past day, 22 enemy strikes were recorded in Chernihiv region, the RMA reported. Russian forces hit a farm in Novhorod-Siverskyi district with artillery, damaging a grain storage facility and a warehouse. In Koriukivka district, a UAV attack caused a forest fire, which has since been extinguished.

On September 18, Russian forces attacked three border communities in Chernihiv region—Novhorod-Siverskyi, Semenivka, and Horodnia—carrying out a total of 18 strikes. Eight villages came under enemy fire, according to the Chernihiv Border Detachment. The enemy used FPV drones and also dropped explosive devices from UAVs.

On September 17, near Nizhyn and in the Menska community, explosives experts neutralized warheads from downed Russian drones, the Chernihiv police reported. Drone debris was found in open areas of Nizhyn community and on private property in Menska community.

The government allocated over UAH 287 million for the restoration of the Chernihiv Central District Hospital polyclinic, which has been repeatedly targeted by Russian missiles. Significant damage was sustained by the polyclinic department, which still requires reconstruction. This decision was recently approved at a Cabinet of Ministers meeting.

Recent events in the central regions of Ukraine

Dnipropetrovsk oblast

Mykola Lukashuk, Head of the RMA, reported that in the evening, the occupiers continued their attacks on Nikopol region. The enemy used drones and artillery, targeting the regional centre, Myrove and Pokrovske communities. A residential house caught fire in Nikopol as a result of the evening strikes. Attacks targeted Synelnykove region, where drones struck Mykolaivka, Pokrovske and Mezhova communities, damaging 2 private houses and a gas pipeline.

The enemy once again attacked the Nikopol region by drones and artillery, targeting Marhanets and Pokrovske communities. An enterprise, a car and a shelter were damaged.

Synelnykove region was attacked by an aerial bomb and drones. Strikes targeted Malomykhailivka, Novopavlivka, Pokrovske and Mezhova communities. Fires broke out, damaging 2 private houses, 2 outbuildings, a garage and a non-operational building.

Vinnytsia oblast

In Obodivka village, Haisyn region, residents welcomed home Oleksandr Bezverkhnyi, who was released from captivity. The defender had spent 17 months in russian captivity.

Kirovohrad oblast

In Kropyvnytskyi, a memorial ceremony was held for servicemen Denys Nikomarov, born in 1987, and Maksym Andreychenko, born in 1995. Denys Nikomarov was a specialist of the armored vehicle repair unit and carried out combat missions in Sumy oblast and in kursk direction. He was killed on 11 September 2025. Maksym Andreichenko was a machine gunner of an assault battalion. He was killed on 10 September 2025, near Novoiehorivka village, Svatove region, Luhansk oblast.

Poltava oblast

Poltava RMA reported that at night, the enemy attacked railway infrastructure in Myrhorod region. 1 person was injured.

Latest news from the front of the southern regions of Ukraine

Zaporizhzhia oblast

Ivan Fedorov,Head of Zaporizhzhia Regional Military Administration, reported that 4 people were injured as a result of a russian attack on Vozdvyzhivka in Polohy region. The occupiers dropped at least 3 aerial bombs on the village.

According to the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, defence forces repelled 3 russian assaults supported by aviation near Kamianske in Orikhiv region. In Huliaipole region, russian troops launched 1 unsuccessful attack in Poltavka area.

Ivan Fedorov, Head of the RMA, stated that on 17 September, russian forces carried out 551 strikes on 18 settlements in Zaporizhzhia oblast. These included 10 airstrikes on Rizdvianka, Hryhorivka, Veselianka, Kamianske, Huliaipole, Zaliznychne and Malynivka.

Mykolaiv oblast

Mykolaiv Regional Military Administration reported that on 17 September, the russian military attacked Ochakiv city by an FPV drone. A private house was damaged. There were no injuries reported.

Kherson oblast

According to the Regional Military Administration, in Bilozirka, a 57-year-old man was injured during shelling on 15 September. Today, he sought medical help and was hospitalised with a blast injury, concussion and brain trauma.

The police reported that in Beryslav city community, russian forces attacked a checkpoint by an FPV drone, leaving 2 police officers with concussions. Another 3 law enforcement officers were injured in a drone attack on a checkpoint in Bilozirka village community.

Based on the information provided by the Southern Defence Forces, yesterday, on Prydniprovske area, russian troops made 3 unsuccessful attempts to approach Ukrainian positions near Antonivskyi Bridge. In the south, the russian military lost 33 soldiers, 10 artillery systems, 23 vehicles, 5 electronic warfare systems and 4 ammunition storage sites.

Oleksandr Prokudin, Head of the RMA, stated that on 17 September, 7 people, including a child, were injured in Kherson oblast due to shelling. 3 high-rise buildings, 35 private houses, cars and a garage were damaged. The russian forces attacked 40 settlements in the oblast.

Latest news for today in the western regions of Ukraine

Volyn oblast

From 14 to 16 September, a delegation from Volodymyr paid a working visit to the partner city of Leczyca (Poland). During the trip, they discussed issues of housing and communal services, management of city structures, as well as aspects of local government development.

Zakarpattia oblast

A mobile exhibition War in Metal… War as It Is is underway in Mukachevo. The exhibition features artifacts from the russian-Ukrainian war: shells, body armor, a drone, fragments of mines and ammunition, chevrons and helmets of soldiers.

Ivano-Frankivsk oblast

Ivano-Frankivsk community sent an EcoFlow, a generator and a Starlink to the 91st Separate Anti-Tank Battalion.

Lviv oblast

The RMA reported that Park Kichang, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Republic of Korea to Ukraine, arrived on his 1st working visit to Lviv oblast.

In Boryslav, UAH 16,000 were raised for Natalia Solodka, wife of soldier Valerii Solodky, who is currently battling a serious illness. In Truskavets, a charity event was held as part of the Sing for Victory marathon with the participation of the Military Orchestra of the Black Forest Brigade. Over UAH 20,000 were raised for a car to the 77th Airmobile Brigade.

The Amulet of Kindness charity fund for the needs of the Armed Forces of Ukraine received over UAH 100,000 from Mykhailo Zolotukha, performer, composer and teacher at Strii Children’s Music School. The funds will be used to assist military units.

Rivne oblast

Rivne oblast has already received the 20th evacuation train this year. During August-September, 302 people arrived from Donetsk oblast. All of them were placed in communities of Rivne and Dubno regions. In total, 32 evacuation trains arrived in the oblast in 2024-2025, which is over 1,200 people.

Ternopil oblast

Ternopil Classical Lyceum student Yaroslava Havryshchuk purchased a Starlink terminal for her teacher Anna Chorna, who has been serving in the Armed Forces of Ukraine since the 1st days of the full-scale invasion. To purchase the equipment and transfer UAH 7,500 for its connection, Yaroslava baked cupcakes, made beaded bracelets and sold them during the summer.

A comprehensive practical training was conducted in Ternopil oblast to prepare citizens for national resistance. Participants practiced: tactical and fire training, mine safety, first aid and psychological assistance, terrain orientation and the basics of UAV control.

Khmelnytskyi oblast

Khmelnytskyi community received cogeneration plant and equipment worth UAH 27m from GIZ partners.

Chernivtsi oblast

In Chernivtsi, they said goodbye to Yaroslav Levytsky, a cameraman and entrepreneur who was killed in the war. Yaroslav was considered missing for almost a year and recently a DNA match was confirmed.

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

The US aid packages will include Patriot and HIMARS missiles. The order will increase support to over $3bn.

Wladyslaw Kosiniak-Kamysz, Polish Defense Minister, has arrived in Kyiv. According to the Polish ministry, the official, together with a delegation from the Ministry of Defense and the Armed Forces, plans to discuss military cooperation, further support for Ukraine, and the security situation against the backdrop of russian aggression with his Ukrainian counterpart. 

 

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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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