War in Ukraine today: latest news, 23 July 2025 (photo)

It has been the 1246 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 the day, 72 combat engagements have taken place along the frontline.

The enemy, from the territory of the Russian Federation, carried out artillery shelling on the areas of the settlements of Velykyi Prykil, Sosnivka, Malushyne, Popivka, Korenyok, and Khliborob in Sumy region.

In the Northern Slobozhansky and Kursk directions, Ukrainian forces repelled six enemy attacks, and three more clashes are ongoing. The enemy also conducted seven airstrikes using 11 guided aerial bombs and carried out 207 shelling attacks, five of which were from multiple rocket launch systems.

In the Southern Slobozhansky direction, four combat engagements occurred near the settlements of Vovchansk, Kamyanka, and Dvorichna, with one more ongoing.

In the Kupiansk direction, the enemy attempted to advance toward our positions seven times during the day in the areas of Stepova Novoselivka, Borivska Andriivka, Zahryzove, and Novoplatonivka. The Defense Forces successfully repelled four enemy attacks; three more clashes are still ongoing.

In the Lyman direction, Ukrainian defenders repelled 14 offensive actions of the enemy army in the areas of Hrekivka, Zelenyi Hai, Serednie, Shandryholove, Dronivka, and Shypylivka. Four combat engagements are still underway.

In the Siversky direction, the enemy attacked our defenders’ positions twice near Hryhorivka.

In the Kramatorsk direction, the enemy did not conduct offensive operations.

In the Toretsk direction, the invaders made one advance attempt toward our positions near Toretsk.

In the Pokrovsk direction, the enemy attempted to advance 26 times during the day near the settlements of Popiv Yar, Myroliubivka, Zatyshok, Lysivka, Myrnohrad, Zvirove, Udachne, Oleksiivka, Novoukrainka, and toward Pankivka, Volodymyrivka, and Sukhietske. Five engagements are still ongoing.

In the Novopavlivka direction, the aggressor attacked five times near the settlements of Zaporizke, Zirka, Piddubne, Oleksandrohrad, and Vilne Pole.

In the Huliaipole and Orikhiv directions, the enemy did not conduct offensive operations, but carried out an airstrike on Mala Tokmachka.

In the Dnipro River direction, four enemy attempts to advance on Ukrainian positions failed.

In other directions, no significant changes in the situation have been reported at this time.

Ukrainian forces are exhausting the enemy along the entire line of contact and in the rear.

The updated “Defense of Ukraine” subject will become mandatory in every school starting in 2027. More than a thousand updated educational centers have already been created, where over 280,000 high school students are studying. This was reported by Minister of Education Oksen Lisovyi.

In the Kherson region, nearly 70% of the right bank has been demined — more than 470,000 hectares. If active fighting were not ongoing in some parts of the region, demining could have been completed this year. However, due to constant shelling, it is currently not feasible. This was reported by the Head of the Regional Military Administration, Oleksandr Prokudin.

Recent war events in the east of Ukraine

Kharkiv oblast

Frontline

During the past day, 167 combat engagements were recorded.

In the Southern Slobozhansky direction, the enemy attempted once to break through the defensive lines of our defenders near the area of Zapadne.

In the Kupiansk direction, four enemy attacks took place yesterday. Our defenders repelled assault actions in the areas of Holubivka, Stepova Novoselivka, and Zahryzove.

Shelling

During the past day, the city of Kharkiv and three other settlements in Kharkiv region came under enemy fire.

As a result of the shelling, five people were injured.

In Izium, a 38-year-old and a 51-year-old woman were injured; in Kupiansk, a 56-year-old man and a 50-year-old woman; and in the village of Velykyi Burluk, a 65-year-old woman was wounded.

The enemy attacked Kharkiv’s Industrial District with two UAVs.

The enemy actively used various types of weapons against the Kharkiv region:

▪️ 12 unguided aerial rockets
▪️ 9 “Shahed”-type UAVs
▪️ 6 “Geran-2”-type UAVs
▪️ 1 “Molniya”-type UAV
▪️ 3 UAVs (type being identified)

In the Kupiansk district, a private house and a car (Kupiansk), a bus station, a post office building, an emergency medical base, market stalls, and two vehicles (Velykyi Burluk) were damaged.

In the Izium district, a warehouse building (Izium) was damaged.

Since the beginning of July, Russian forces have carried out over 3,000 strikes on the territory of the Kupiansk community, according to the head of the Military Administration, Andriy Besedin. He reported that Russians are using guided aerial bombs, missiles, artillery, MLRS, and FPV drones. As of July 22, seven people were killed and 39 injured due to the shelling. The enemy targets civilian infrastructure, which is currently impossible to restore. There is no water supply; electricity remains for now. Yesterday, 54 people were evacuated from the Kupiansk direction, but about 1,300 residents still remain.

Harvesting continues in the region, proceeding as planned in rear communities. However, in the Kupiansk, Izium, and Lozova districts, the enemy is deliberately targeting agricultural machinery and setting fields on fire.

Six more memorial plaques will be installed at educational institutions in Kharkiv to honor residents who died during Russia’s full-scale invasion, according to the press service of the Kharkiv City Council.

Donetsk oblast

Frontline

The Defense Forces managed to hold Pokrovsk from a Russian offensive in August 2024 thanks to the determination of Ukrainian troops and the use of mined fields, where 30% of Russian armored vehicles were destroyed, said Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, Oleksandr Syrskyi, in an interview with The Washington Post.

Fighting continues on the southern approaches to Pokrovsk, near the village of Shevchenko. Russian troops have built up reserves and are attempting to break through to the city, reported Artem Prybylnov, an officer of the 155th Separate Mechanized Brigade “Anna Kyivska.”

The Russian army has increased the number of attacks in the Toretsk section of the front. Over the past day, the occupiers launched 13 assaults on Defense Forces positions near Rusyn Yar, Oleksandro-Kalynove, in Toretsk, and near Dyliivka toward Kostiantynivka, according to the General Staff’s morning briefing.

The highest number of assaults during the day was recorded in the Pokrovsk direction, where the enemy launched 74 attacks.

Shelling

At night, Kramatorsk was attacked by four strike UAVs. The occupiers hit an industrial facility, and the full extent of the damage is still being assessed, according to the Military Administration. During the day, the enemy also attacked a residential area in the city with another drone.

One person was injured in Kostiantynivka due to a kamikaze drone strike, according to the Military Administration.

Russian forces attacked 13 settlements in Donetsk region — one person was killed, and 20 others were wounded.

On July 22 alone, police recorded 3,160 strikes.

The Russian army shelled the cities of Kostiantynivka, Kramatorsk, Lyman, Rodynske, Sloviansk; the towns of Oleksiievo-Druzhkivka, Raiske; and the villages of Vodyanske, Drobysheve, Illinivka, Serhiivka, Staroraiske, and Shakhove.

Russia dropped a “KAB-250” bomb on Kramatorsk — a 10-year-old child was killed, nine people were injured, and three apartment buildings, an educational institution, and a car were damaged.

Two aerial bombs and four “Geran-2” drones were used in the attack on Sloviansk — seven residents were injured. The attack damaged six private houses, 13 apartment buildings, an educational institution, four administrative buildings, a dormitory, two stores, and 20 vehicles.

Kostiantynivka was shelled with artillery and drones — three people were injured, and five homes, a garage, and a vehicle were damaged.

In Lyman, a civilian was wounded in a drone strike, and a civilian car was damaged.

Other

Law enforcement is investigating the shooting of a civilian by Russian soldiers in Torske as a war crime, according to the Donetsk Regional Prosecutor’s Office.

A police evacuation team evacuated five people — four women and a man — from front-line Kostiantynivka. The occupiers attempted to hit the evacuation vehicle with a drone, but missed, according to the Donetsk Regional Police website.

In Sloviansk, due to the security situation, the DozoR Citi app — which allows residents to track trolleybus routes — has been shut down, reported the Sloviansk Military Administration.

In Kramatorsk, similar shutdowns are not currently under consideration, said Ihor Yeskov, Head of the Department for Information Policy at the Kramatorsk Military Administration.

The Mariupol City Council won 14 lawsuits against Russia for the destruction of municipal equipment and property during the battle for the city. The court awarded compensation of nearly USD 30 million, announced Mayor Vadym Boichenko.

Luhansk oblast

Starting in September, schools in the occupied part of Luhansk region will launch a pilot project to assist wounded Russian militants: children and teachers will be required to care for Russian soldiers in hospitals, according to the Head of the Regional Military Administration, Kharchenko.

What is happening now in the north of Ukraine

Kyiv oblast

According to Israeli Ambassador to Ukraine Michael Brodsky, Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar arrived in Kyiv on July 22 with an official visit. The visit agenda included meetings with Ukrainian leaders and the Jewish community. Gideon Sa’ar also planned to visit the Babyn Yar Holocaust memorial site, where Nazi forces executed over 33,000 Jews during World War II.

Kyiv has received a supply of rehabilitation equipment worth $2 million from the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA). The supply came as part of the Emergency Recovery and Reconstruction Programme for Ukraine, started by the Japanese government. The equipment will be distributed among Kyiv’s medical institutions.

On July 26, the Kyiv Regional Center for Civil Resistance Training in Brovary will host a free one-day training session. All residents of Kyiv oblast are welcome to register. The training will be conducted by veterans of the 3rd Assault Brigade and the Azov Brigade. The program includes tactical training, tactical medicine, and engineering preparation.

Zhytomyr oblast

Captain Zakhar Makovskyi, a serviceman of the 13th Separate Air Assault Battalion from Zhytomyr, has been awarded the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine’s honorary decoration – the “Steel Cross” badge.

As the head of the planning group from the very beginning of the Kursk operation, he ensured effective coordination of the unit’s actions. Thanks to his experience, the headquarters operated swiftly, cohesively, and accurately. His actions directly influenced the success of operations, as well as the destruction of enemy personnel and equipment.

A 65-year-old volunteer cyclist, Oleksandr Kanibolotskyi, arrived in Zhytomyr from the village of Opishnia in Poltava oblast. Cycling across Ukraine, he is raising funds to support the Armed Forces of Ukraine. This is his second time visiting Zhytomyr. The city welcomed him previously at the end of August last year.

Sumy oblast

On the morning of 23 July, the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine reported that Defense Forces repelled 11 attacks on Northern–Slobozhanskyi and Kursk fronts. Enemy troops launched 15 airstrikes using 28 guided aerial bombs and carried out 293 shelling attacks, three of which involved multiple rocket launch systems. The russian army attacked towards Tiotkino (russia), Oleksiivka, Vodolahiv, Yablunivka, Yunakivka, and near the villages of Hornal and Oleshna (russia).

The Regional Military Administration informed that overnight, russian forces carried out an attack on civilian infrastructure in Sumy oblast. As a result of strikes on critical infrastructure, part of Sumy region lost power. Medical facilities and other essential sites switched to backup power. Restoration work is ongoing.

According to Ukrainian Railways (Ukrzaliznytsia), due to a russian drone attack on Sumy oblast, railway energy infrastructure facilities were damaged. Power supply has been restored on most sections, while repair work continues on others.

In Ulyanivka village, Mykolaivka community, agricultural enterprise warehouses were damaged by airstrikes. No casualties were reported. According to the community’s Telegram channel, russian forces attacked the village overnight on 23 July using two drones.

The Regional Military Administration reported that as a result of russian shelling in Sumy oblast over the past day, a civilian woman born in 1953 was killed and nine people were injured.

Between the morning of 22 July and the morning of 23 July, russian forces carried out 85 attacks on 36 settlements across 19 territorial communities in the oblast. The highest number of strikes was recorded in Sumy and Shostka regions. The enemy actively used guided aerial bombs (20 strikes), dropped VOG grenades from UAVs (5 strikes), and launched multiple rocket system attacks (5 strikes), as well as FPV-drone and UAV strikes.

As a result of russian attacks on Sumy oblast, the following damages were reported:

• A private household in Vorozhba community;
• A civilian infrastructure facility and a non-residential building in Hlukhiv community;
• In Sumy community: a medical facility, an educational institution, administrative buildings (window and door glazing), three private residential houses, three stores, window glazing in three ten-story apartment buildings, non-residential premises, 14 private vehicles, and other civilian infrastructure facilities;
• In Popivka community: a civilian infrastructure facility;
• In Okhtyrka community: a private residential house and two vehicles.

According to Sumy Police, a local resident of Mykolaivka community was injured in a russian guided aerial bomb (GAB) attack. ‘White Angels’ police crew provided first aid and urgently evacuated the wounded person to Sumy. Alongside him, officers also evacuated three others — a 71-year-old woman and a married couple. Additionally, a small kitten was rescued from the rubble and evacuated to safety with the people.

Over the past day, 27 people were evacuated from border communities by local authorities in cooperation with units of the State Emergency Service, National Police, and public organizations.

Chernihiv oblast

Chernihiv Border Guard Detachment reported that on 22 July, russian forces attacked four border communities in Chernihiv oblast — Novhorod-Siverskyi, Semenivka, Horodnia, and Snovsk. The enemy carried out mortar shelling (28 explosions), fired barrel artillery (6 explosions), launched FPV-drone strikes (8 explosions), and dropped explosive devices from UAVs (29 explosions). In Snovsk community, a residential building in Huta-Studenetska caught fire due to the shelling.

Recent events in the central regions of Ukraine

Dnipropetrovsk oblast

Air defense forces were active in the region — Ukrainian defenders shot down 8 enemy UAVs.

It was loud in Kryvyi Rih: as a result of an enemy attack, five private houses, an enterprise, an unused building, and solar panels were damaged. The enemy also struck the Synelnykove district, damaging an agricultural enterprise, equipment, a store, a gym, an outpatient clinic, an administrative building, an educational institution, and a cultural facility. Late at night and into the morning, the enemy continued shelling the Nikopol area, targeting the Pokrovska and Marhanets communities. Two private homes were damaged.

The enemy attacked two districts of the region — Nikopol and Synelnykove. The Nikopol area suffered more than 15 strikes. The occupiers used drones and artillery, targeting the district center, the Myrivska and Marhanets communities. A fire broke out, destroying an outbuilding. A private house and a power line were also damaged.

Additionally, the enemy attacked the Mezhova community in the Synelnykove district with a drone, damaging a farm.

Vinnytsia oblast

It has been reported that eight defenders from Vinnytsia region have been killed in action. They are: Mykhailo Petrachenko, Andriy Pavlov, Ruslan Syvenyuk, Oleksandr Ovcharenko, Roman Kolibabchuk, Oleksii Rodin, Vladyslav Hrech, and Oleh Furman.

Kirovohrad oblast

In the village of Velyka Vyska, within the Maryanivka community of Novoukrainka district, a farewell ceremony was held for 34-year-old serviceman Oleksii Bruyaka, who was killed on July 14 while carrying out a combat mission in the Dnipropetrovsk region.

Poltava oblast

At night, the Russian army attacked the Poltava region with drones. As a result, energy infrastructure facilities of Ukrzaliznytsia were damaged.

Two soldiers, Valerii Rud from the Khorol community and Oleh Suvorin from the Hrebinka Territorial Community, were killed in the war.
Valerii Rud died on July 14, 2025, in a firefight with Russian occupiers near the village of Dachne in the Dnipropetrovsk region.

Oleh Suvorin was killed on July 3, 2025, while carrying out a combat mission near the village of Oleksandro-Shultyne in the Donetsk region.

At the Kremenchuk District Military Administration, state awards were presented to the families of two fallen servicemen — Artem Bratko and Serhii Popovych. The soldiers were posthumously awarded the Order “For Courage” III class.

Cherkasy oblast

During the night attack on Cherkasy region, three “Shahed” drones were shot down. There were no infrastructure damages or casualties. This was reported by the head of the Regional Military Administration, Ihor Taburets.

Latest news from the front of the southern regions of Ukraine

Zaporizhzhia oblast

Yesterday, 22 July, the occupiers carried out 456 attacks on 12 settlements in Zaporizhzhia oblast. russian forces launched 3 airstrikes on Plavni, Huliaipole, and Novoandriivka. 318 UAVs of various modifications (mostly FPV) attacked Malokaterynivka, Hryhorivka, Bilenke, Kamianske, Huliaipole, Malynivka, Shcherbaky, Novodanylivka, Mala Tokmachka, and Charivne. Six MLRS attacks targeted Kamianske, Novodanylivka, Mala Tokmachka, and Shcherbaky. 129 artillery strikes were launched on Kamianske, Huliaipole, Shcherbaky, Novodanylivka, Mala Tokmachka, Malynivka, and Charivne. Nineteen reports were received about damage to apartments, private houses, cars, garages, and infrastructure facilities.

The occupation authorities transported 39 children from temporarily occupied Berdiansk to the russian federation for “rehabilitation.” In total, 120 children from Berdiansk are planned to be taken. According to the Berdiansk City Military Administration, the occupiers disguise the forced deportation of children as “tourist trips” and “educational programs.”

Female activists from the Ukrainian resistance group “Zla Mavka” distributed pro-Ukrainian posters in temporarily occupied Melitopol. The posters were placed along a route frequently used by workers of the occupation administration.

The first regional shooting competition among veterans and their families was held in Zaporizhzhia. Forty participants from various communities of the region took part in the competition.

Mykolaiv oblast

On the night of 23 July, air defense forces destroyed two Shahed 131/136 UAVs or decoy drones of various types over Mykolaiv oblast.

Yesterday, 22 July, at 11:30 am, the enemy launched an artillery strike and carried out three FPV drone attacks on Kutsurub community. As a result of the shelling a private house and an outbuilding were damaged in the village of Dmytrivka, and a grass fire broke out in an open area. A power line was also damaged, leaving 24 households without electricity. In addition, one of the strikes damaged six buildings on the premises of a recreational facility in the village of Parutyne. No casualties were reported.

Odesa oblast

As a result of the strike launched by russia on 14 July on Odesa region, dry vegetation caught fire between the villages of Hrybivka and Karolino-Buhaz. According to the press service of the State Environmental Inspectorate of the South-Western District, the fire caused environmental damage estimated at nearly 4.5 million hryvnias.

A major renovation is planned in the apartment building damaged by the shelling of Odesa on 3 July this year. More than 11 million hryvnias will be allocated to eliminate the consequences of the destruction.

Kherson oblast

On the morning of 23 July, 2025, russian troops launched a drone strike on a civilian car traveling along a road between the villages of Nezlamne and Romashkove in Kherson region. As a result of the attack, two men were killed, and two other civilians sustained varying degrees of injuries and were hospitalized.

Later the same day, russian occupation forces targeted another civilian vehicle with a drone near the village of Klapaia. A 53-year-old man was injured, suffering from blast and head trauma as well as a concussion.

At approximately 1:30 pm, russian forces shelled Bilozerka. A 38-year-old man riding a bicycle was injured, sustaining a blast injury, concussion, and brain trauma. In a subsequent strike, the facade, doors, and windows of a local preschool were damaged.

Around noon, the russian army shelled Inhulets in Dariivka community with artillery. The attack partially destroyed a residential building, and a 73-year-old woman suffered a concussion, blast injury, and closed head trauma.

A 60-year-old man who was injured in a russian shelling of Kherson earlier that morning was hospitalized with a concussion and blast injuries.

In total, russian aggression in Kherson oblast on 23 July led to the deaths of two people and injuries to nine others, including two medical workers. russian forces struck multiple locations, including Kherson, Inzhenerne, Antonivka, Kizomys, Stanislav, Sofiiivka, Sadove, Shyroka Balka, Veletenske, Chornobaivka, Nezlamne, Zymivnyk, Berehove, Molodizhne, Bilozerka, Prydniprovske, Beryslav, Stepne, Zolota Balka, Novooleksandrivka, Urozhaine, and Dudchany. The attacks damaged an apartment building, 14 private homes, a healthcare facility, a gymnasium, critical infrastructure, a production facility, and a vehicle.

According to the General Staff, as of 4:00 pm on 23 July, four russian attempts to advance toward Ukrainian positions on Prydniprovskyi front were unsuccessful. In the past day, the enemy launched seven failed attacks in the same area. russian losses included 26 personnel, 8 artillery systems, 15 vehicles, 3 reconnaissance UAVs (“Zala,” “Supercam,” and “Orlan-10”), 1 electronic warfare system, 1 buggy, 1 boat, 1 Starlink terminal, 2 Starlink antennas, 1 communication antenna, 20 shelters, and 4 observation posts.

Latest news for today in the western regions of Ukraine

Volyn oblast

Vitalii Voytovych from the village of Zelene, Lutsk region, released from captivity, received the For Wounding award by the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine. 60-year-old Vitalii returned to Ukraine from russian captivity on 15 January during the first exchange of prisoners of war in 2025.

Zakarpattia oblast

Uzhhorod City Council has granted 12 minors the official status of children who have suffered as a result of hostilities and armed conflicts. This decision will allow the children to receive the necessary social, psychological, and material support.

Ivano-Frankivsk oblast

The President of Ukraine awarded the Order of the Golden Star (posthumously) to Junior Sergeant Roman Holub, soldier of the National Guard. In a fierce battle, Roman destroyed an enemy infantry fighting vehicle with a crew, discovered and neutralized dozens of ammunition. Being wounded, he covered the retreat of ten comrades. He was killed while saving others.

Lviv oblast

Lviv RMA held a meeting of the Barrier-Free Council. The event discussed key areas of implementation of the National Strategy for Creating a Barrier-Free Space in Ukraine for the period until 2030, as well as intersectoral interaction as the basis for effective implementation of barrier-free space at the regional level.

Rivne oblast

Oleksandr Koval, Head of the RMA, held a meeting with Kestutis Bilius, Richardas Juska and Valdas Rakutis, representatives of the Lithuanian Seimas Committee on Public Administration and Self-Government. They discussed cooperation and attracting foreign investment.

Ternopil oblast

In Ternopil, 32 families whose homes were damaged by missile and UAV attacks on 25 May and 6 June, 2025, will be able to receive one-time cash assistance from the community budget reserve fund. In total, the city has already allocated more than UAH 2.2m for the restoration and support of Ternopil residents after these attacks.

Ternopil community sent anti-drone rifles and anti-drop devices to the 105th Separate Territorial Defense Brigade of the Armed Forces of Ukraine. Everything was made in Ternopil oblast and purchased through the regional program, in accordance with the brigade’s request.

Khmelnytskyi oblast

60 children from the front-line town of Izium rested at the Coast of Hope center this year. In addition to a 14-day nature vacation with rehabilitation programs, they had the opportunity to receive psychological support, inclusive activities, and participate in patriotic and environmental projects.

Chernivtsi oblast

Chernivtsi received humanitarian aid – a powerful solar power plant for medical facilities, bilingual children’s books for younger schoolchildren and bed linen for Polyclinic №2. Assistance was provided by the twin city of Mannheim

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

Boris Pistorius, Defense Minister of Germany, announced that Germany and the US have agreed to transfer 5 Patriot systems to Ukraine “in the near future”.

Britain plans to provide Ukraine with £4.5bn in military aid this year, the highest level ever. This includes £700m for artillery, long-range missiles and defensive missiles, with £150m of this support already provided in the past 2 months.

 

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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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