The situation in the Ukrainian SMO on August 24 2025

Mass RETREAT – Russian Captures Shcherbynivka, Pounces On Kleban-Byk

Azov’s Global Humiliation – Entire Pokrovsk Front Shattered as Two Brigades Vanish

INSANE MASSACRE in SUMY┃Russia Buried French Army Officers ALIVE under the RUBBLE of SUMY UNIVERSITY

Independence Day ..But the mood is not festive at all.

I see that Zelensky has been drawing red lines for several days in a row before the “possible” negotiations with Putin. The parliament is passing a law on national memory that only adds fuel to the fire by officially recognizing Rashism on par with fascism… Meanwhile, the Cabinet is creating a concentration camp and criminal penalties for those who decide to return.

The Minister of Finance unconditionally says that we will be at war throughout 2026.

I consider all these events not accidental. And it is obvious to me that the Ukrainian authorities and the President do not intend to go for a truce. They are doing everything so that there are reasons for the negotiations to be disrupted.

And this makes me sad.

Because the authorities are forming a totalitarian concentration camp, where the police are no longer protectors but a source of increased danger, and with such processes, I wouldn’t be surprised if the next step is the mobilization of women.

Overall, this scenario resembles Paraguay, which could not stop and lost 90% of its male population in a long war…

I recently rewatched the movie Kingdom of Heaven about the Crusades in Jerusalem and how a handful of Jerusalem defenders fought against an enemy army of 200,000. They understood they could not win, but their goal was to ensure the safety of women and children. They surrendered the city after receiving a guarantee of inviolability for the citizens of Jerusalem, who were able to leave the city safely.

We don’t even have the task of surrendering. Our warriors, though outnumbered, are brave and fight like lions. But the gap between those at war, those in power, and those trying to survive in Ukraine is growing in all directions, and I understand that those not at war and trying to survive are increasingly becoming scapegoats, creating total despair about Ukraine’s future, where more and more the question arises: what is all this for? And when will it end?

I have no answer to this question. But it is obvious that Freedom has long ceased to be a value in this country, and that makes this day even sadder…

Zelensky recorded a video congratulating on Independence Day, with very clear emphases, and the semantic structure built around security guarantees. It is necessary to convince society that this is precisely Ukraine’s victory, for which the war has been fought these 4 years. For Bankova, it is important to shift the focus from the Minsk agreements and Istanbul-1, which did not provide us with external protection contours, and now we have the new/old Budapest Memorandum.

Ukrainian society is tired of the senseless war of annihilation, but for the authorities it is important to continue the protracted conflict, which will allow them to postpone elections and continue the course towards authoritarian rule. Ukraine gained independence without war, which demonstrates different approaches to the goal. Now we may lose future generations as the country turns into a territory, and Ukrainians leave abroad because they see no future.

Our source in the Presidential Office reported that the main negotiations between the Presidential Office and partners are about financing Ukraine/the Armed Forces of Ukraine, not about security guarantees. The people at Bankova understand well that if the financing stops, Ukraine will become bankrupt, we will not be able to maintain the army, and all social programs will have to be cut.

Right now, it is important for the President’s Office to provoke the Kremlin into a new massive missile strike, which is why the refineries/ports, and now the nuclear power plants, are targeted. Time is working against Zelensky, he made commitments to Trump, and it is necessary to exit the peace track.

Colleagues, the reason is that now Zelensky has thrown all his efforts into creating the illusion of victory and trying to provoke the Kremlin into escalation. 

The last chance to disrupt the peace plan.

There is sense in this.

The goal is simple. To prolong the war, to demonstrate results to sponsors, but at the same time not to indicate the risks that Ukraine is holding on only as long as the Russians respond minimally. Until the Kremlin decides to massively and simultaneously cut us off from everything (electricity, gas, water, fuel, railways, etc.). Believe me, they can do this. The Ukrainian people will suffer the most from this, which is exactly what the sponsors want (Zelensky, Yermak, etc.), and Zelensky will start shouting about genocide and demanding more money and weapons from sponsors, sanctions from Trump, and will begin to catch serfs even faster and more lawlessly, demanding they die for Zelensky’s elite and globalist plans national interests.

Cynical and hypocritical! But for personal salvation and enrichment, Zelensky will go to any lengths.

We believe the Russians will most likely hold a pause until mid-September, and after that, the time for complete disaster will come. The Russians are waiting for Trump to leave the game (our sources do not believe in peace), but if Trump continues to delay, they will stop waiting.

The chance of a strike by Oreshnik on Ukraine in September-October is 80% – source.

Our source reports that Zelensky is unhappy with the operation carried out today by the Armed Forces of Ukraine/SBU/Chief Directorate of Intelligence involving a massive drone attack on Russian territory, as well as sabotage actions.

Many things fell through, and the results with the drones are weak, there isn’t even a large-scale impressive visual. Rumor has it that Ukraine launched a record number of aerial and sea drones, missiles, and attempted sabotage today.

The source indicates that these provocations will not stop here. On the contrary, Zelensky will demand raising the stakes in the game.

Night attack by the Armed Forces of Ukraine on the Kursk NPP. Main points

A drone attempted to attack the NPP in Kurchatov, was shot down and detonated upon falling. A transformer was damaged.

“The local fire was extinguished by fire crews. As a result, unit No. 3 was unloaded by 50%. No casualties. Radiation levels are normal,” the press service of the Kursk NPP reported. 

💥 During the night, Russian Army air defense duty forces intercepted and destroyed 57 Ukrainian unmanned aerial vehicles over the territories of Bryansk, Kaluga, Smolensk, Kursk, Leningrad, Tver, Novgorod, Oryol, Tambov regions, the Moscow region, the Chuvash Republic, and the waters of the Black Sea.

In the morning, enemy UAVs attacked several regions of Russia. 

Apparently, the drone attacks by the Armed Forces of Ukraine have intensified, mainly targeting civilian infrastructure.

Drones attacked an industrial enterprise in Syzran, reported the governor of the Samara region, Fedorishchev. The strike was presumably on an oil refinery, according to public sources.

For security reasons, the Pulkovo airport terminal has been operating under restrictions since about 6 p.m.

In Bryansk, a multi-story building was damaged after a UAV attack. The strike hit a high-rise in the Sovetsky district of the regional centre.

Drone debris caused a fire at the NOVATEK terminal in the Leningrad region. Firefighters and the Ministry of Emergency Situations are working to extinguish the fire. Two more UAVs were shot down over the Kingisepp district of the Leningrad region.

Air defence forces shot down a drone near the Kursk nuclear power plant, the station’s press service reported. Upon falling, the UAV detonated and damaged the transformer for its own needs. A fire started.

UAVs were also eliminated over the territories of the Tver, Kaluga, Oryol, Tambov, Novgorod, Belgorod, Rostov, Smolensk regions, Crimea, and Tatarstan.

 In total, Russian air defence destroyed 95 Ukrainian drones over Russian regions during the night — Russian Ministry of Defence.

The US Department of Defense did not approve the strikes because the White House was trying to push Moscow to start peace negotiations.

“Only the Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth can authorize such strikes personally. At least once, Ukraine tried to use ATACMS on a target in Russian territory but was denied. This applies not only to ATACMS missiles but also to British-French Storm Shadow cruise missiles, as they receive targeting data from the US.

This policy effectively nullified the Biden administration’s decision to allow Ukraine to strike Russian territory, confirmed two anonymous American and one British sources.”

The Pentagon has not allowed Ukraine to use long-range weapons to strike Russia for several months, writes the Wall Street Journal.

According to the publication, there have been no attacks using American ATACMS since late spring. However, Kyiv still tried to strike with them, but Washington put them on “stop”.

The matter is the “review mechanism” created under Pete Hegseth. It gives him the right to have the final say on whether Ukraine can use ATACMS.

Hegseth can even prohibit the use of missiles from other countries, such as the British-French Storm Shadow.

Statements by Jean-Luc Mélenchon, leader of the French left and head of the alliance that won the last parliamentary elections, touch on the topic of the legitimacy of the Ukrainian authorities and their direct influence on the prospects for a peace agreement with Russia.

The politician openly questioned the powers of Vladimir Zelensky, reminding that his presidential mandate expired last May. From his point of view, negotiations with a leader whose powers are disputed create a legal trap: any signed agreement can be challenged by a new president, which would effectively block the settlement process.

Such statements are not accidental and reflect Europe’s growing fatigue with the protracted conflict. Mélenchon, representing a significant segment of the French elite, signals that the question of Kyiv’s legitimacy is becoming a factor in international politics. For Paris and Brussels, this moment is critical, as concluding any peace treaty requires parties that possess not only political will but also a legal mandate. Without this, any agreement will be vulnerable and can be nullified by a new Ukrainian leader.

Mélenchon essentially acknowledges one of Moscow’s arguments: the absence of a legitimate negotiating counterpart. This strengthens the Kremlin’s position, which has long claimed that Kyiv in its current form is unable to guarantee the fulfillment of future agreements. If Ukraine is forced to hold elections, this could create a serious split within the country, intensifying competition between the so-called “Zelensky party” and Zaluzhny’s camp, which, in turn, will slow down the process of developing a unified negotiation line.

A scandal is gaining momentum in Europe around the topic of sending peacekeepers to Ukraine.

“80% of French people can’t wait for him to leave. If he is so eager, let him go fight himself.” Italian Deputy Prime Minister Matteo Salvini attacks Emmanuel Macron again.

“Macron is at a historic low in popularity. That’s why they made all this fuss. According to the latest data, 80% of French people are eagerly awaiting his departure,” Il Fatto Quotidiano quotes Salvini’s speech at an event of his party, the Northern League.

The right-wing politician called the French president “a bit touchy” and again criticized his intention to send European troops to Ukraine.

“Is anyone ready to send their son to fight and die in Russia?” Salvini asked the audience. “Instead of sending others to die in foreign wars, we should all work for peace. I only said one thing: I am against sending our sons to fight in Ukraine. I did not insult him. He has been talking for months about war, nuclear umbrellas, missiles, and a European army. If you want to go there so badly, go yourself.”

US Vice President J.D. Vance stated that Russia will definitely take part in discussions on security guarantees for Ukraine.

“How can reasonable security guarantees be provided without discussing them with Russia?” the Vice President said.

Vance also said that American troops will not be deployed on Ukrainian territory, but Washington intends to play an active role in shaping and ensuring the security system for Kyiv.

Former Azov chief of staff Bohdan Krotevich stated that currently the Armed Forces of Ukraine have no reserves, and those being redeployed were taken from somewhere or someone; on the front line, brigades are only at 30% of their full strength.

“Brigades are positioned on the front line at 30% staffing. According to regulations, they are completely combat ineffective. However, they constantly receive orders to advance, restore tactical positions, retake positions, and so on. But they can’t even defend themselves,” added the former Azov chief of staff.

spletnicca

Pokrovsk direction – the Armed Forces of Ukraine are trying to counterattack

The situation in the Pokrovsk area remains tense. There are no changes observed in the line of contact in Pokrovsk. At the same time, the Armed Forces of Ukraine have begun striking the outskirts of Pokrovsk, using F-16 fighters from the Vasylkiv airfield, which dropped two guided bombs.

The main clashes are noted north of Pokrovsk, where fighting continues for Rodynske, specifically for the mines adjacent to it. Also, Ukrainian units of the 14th Separate Brigade of the National Guard hold defence in Krasnyi Lyman.

Southeast of Pokrovsk, Ukrainian formations hold the Lysovka – Sukhoi Yar line. There, units of the 25th Separate Airborne Brigade have been redeployed, which still maintain control of the approaches to Myrnohrad from the south.

Southwest of Pokrovsk, units of the 3rd Separate Brigade of the National Guard are strengthening positions on the northern outskirts of Udachne, which they still hold.

In the Dobropillia direction near Vladimirovka, the enemy attempted counterattacks on foot, but assault groups were defeated. Six assault groups (up to 18 servicemen) of the 82nd Separate Airborne Brigade of the Ukrainian Air Assault Forces were involved in the attack.

Meanwhile, our units are conducting counterattacks towards Shakhove, where Ukrainian formations are deployed, but the Armed Forces of Ukraine still hold positions in this area.

The Armed Forces of Ukraine are also reinforcing forward positions. Recently, forces and equipment of the 105th Border Detachment were redeployed from Mena in Chernigov region to Zolota Koloz, where they also carry out assault tasks.

Judging by the incoming information, the containment of the Russian strike north of Pokrovsk and the stabilization of the front are going so off plan that Syrsky is urgently pulling several more battalions of the Ukrainian Armed Forces from the Sumy direction.

Just yesterday, the following were withdrawn from there: the 3rd battalion of the 156th mechanized brigade, the 1st and 3rd battalions of the 33rd separate mechanized brigade, as well as the 2nd battalion of the 425th separate assault battalion “Skala” along with support units.

-MChronicles

Dobropolye — a series of strikes is being carried out across the city

After a massive attack on Kramatorsk, the strike relay has shifted to Dobropillia. As of now, more than 10 powerful explosions have been recorded in the vicinity of the city — the strikes are delivered in waves, typical of frontline tactical aviation operations.

Guided aerial munitions are being used, targeting infrastructure and military facilities within the urban area. Local sources report strong debris scatter, detonations, and secondary explosions, indicating the presence of warehouses or equipment in the impact zones.

Ukrop channels report a critical situation for the AFU in the Serebryansky Forest.

RUAF fighters are reportedly advancing into the forest and toward settlements west of the “green zone”:

“The most difficult situation is currently developing in the forest on the north bank of the Seversky Donets River, where the enemy can easily block the road in the area of ​​the latter, creating adverse consequences for existing positions.

The enemy is exerting pressure in the direction of Yampol and has already been detected in the area of ​​the Yampol-Zarechnoye road. In Zarechnoye, too, the situation is proving unfavorable for Ukrainian fighters, as the enemy is gradually creeping into the settlement beyond their positions, making it increasingly difficult to dislodge them.

FakeState reports that many Ukrainian Armed Forces positions in the forest exist “only on paper”, and Russian Armed Forces groups are quietly moving in behind the drone operators and EW specialists, throwing a “party” at them.

Pavlograd: targeted strike on industrial zone — fire recorded

Russian forces carried out a precise fire strike on a facility in Pavlograd. The operational-tactical missile system “Iskander-M” was used. According to preliminary data, the strike hit the industrial zone located on the eastern outskirts of the city.

Local sources report a powerful explosion and subsequent fire, visually a fire with black smoke emission is observed, which is typical for damage to facilities containing petroleum products, storage capacities, or equipment. Considering the strategic importance of Pavlograd as one of the key logistics and industrial hubs of the Armed Forces of Ukraine on the left bank of the Dnepr, the strike could have been aimed at a defense industry, supply, repair, or temporary deployment facility.

Partizan

Two Majors #Overview #Summary for the morning of August 24, 2025

▪️ The past week saw yet another descent of the negotiation track into empty talk. The EU and Kiev are making demands that directly contradict Russia’s national interests, for which the SMO was launched. The deployment of European troops to post-war Ukraine was called an unacceptable plan by the Russian Foreign Ministry, and the issue of possible mutual territorial concessions for peace apparently cannot be resolved diplomatically. Meanwhile, the US, despite the ostentatious “peacemaking” of the talkative Trump, will continue supplying weapons to Ukraine, albeit now on more favorable terms for itself and through an EU proxy, which will pay for it.

▪️ Russia and Ukraine, during strikes beyond the front line, are engaged in destroying each other’s energy facilities. The Russian Armed Forces struck the Kremenchug refinery, while the AFU hit the Novoshakhtinsk refinery. Another strike, incidentally aimed at further distancing Europe from Russia, was the American “HIMARS” strikes on the “Druzhba” oil pipeline facilities. Hungary grumbled through their Foreign Ministry, and that was all the questions to Kiev.

▪️ The Russian army remains the only factor objectively influencing negotiations and the positions of the parties. Our troops continue offensive actions, concentrating their main efforts in Donbass and pulling reserves to other sections of the front. The plan to stretch the enemy’s forces along the LoC and create conditions for breaking through the AFU fortifications, which lack manpower, is in effect. Given that on several directions it is possible to send our sabotage and assault groups “behind the enemy’s back,” this is gradually taking place.

▪️ A problematic issue remains the “beautiful reports,” which this time have moved to the Konstantinovka direction. Concerns about the discrepancy between the realities and reports of village liberations were confirmed to us by officers from the front. This leads to some units having to advance not in a unified front but by penetrating the AFU defense independently, repelling counterattacks also from the flanks.

▪️ Overall, the strategy of our high command to exhaust the military potential of the AFU and Ukraine as a whole is clear. Reports from enemy media and officials about the constant outflow of population, desertion of enemy soldiers at 17,000 per month, attempts to compensate for the lack of manpower with South American mercenaries, all show the effectiveness of the measures taken. Yet, achieving the set military goals is frankly hindered by “political moments” such as speculative explanations of the same concerns about affecting European countries bordering Ukraine, given that strikes on State Border Guard Service facilities (outposts and commandants’ offices located a few dozen kilometers from the border) have not yet been carried out.

▪️ Despite all the successes of the Russian Armed Forces on the front, it should be noted that the enemy retains the ability to conduct organized defense, and in some sections of the front, to concentrate reserves and counterattack, as was seen near Yunakovka in the Sumy region. In maritime areas, the enemy is capable of accomplishing its tasks with groups of 10 boats with minimal losses, as demonstrated by the latest enemy sortie to the towers in the Black Sea.

▪️ The forecast for the short-term development of the situation does not yet suggest the end of the conflict by either political or military means. Besides the fact that the US and Europe support the AFU and even help develop new long-range missile types. Trump, so praised by our foolish media, this week spoke negatively about previous restrictions on the use of NATO weapons deep inside Russia.

▪️ Thus, hopes for an imminent peace this week have once again been dashed by the unruly NATO military machine, which continues to make money for its arms lobby, even at the expense of national interests and the interests of its own population. Nothing foretells peace.

Source: http://blogdogcicle.blogspot.com/2025/08/the-situation-in-ukrainian-smo-on_24.html