The situation in the Ukrainian SMO on April 24 2025

Ukraine says Russia launched massive drone attack on Kyiv

Zelenskyy calls for more pressure on Russia after massive Kyiv attack

Russia Fires 215 Drones, Missiles at Ukraine’s Kyiv, Zelensky Posts Trump’s 2018 Crimea Declaration

Trump blasts Zelenskyy as tensions escalate, peace talks falter

The Konstantinovka front of the AFU has collapsed – the RUAF has invaded Sumy from another direction

20 km breakthrough! Russian offensive on Sumy! Putin used agreements with Trump to gain time!!

Russian troops storm Dnipropetrovsk, close in on Dnieper – Zelenskyy prepares escape

The situation at the front remains difficult, the enemy continues to push through the positions of the Ukrainian Armed Forces, and there are no systemic solutions. 

The main problem is the lack of basic preparation for defense on the part of the authorities and the Ukrainian command. Neither Zelensky nor Syrsky have taken systematic steps to strengthen positions in places where it has long been obvious that Russian troops will press.

As a result, the Seversky direction began to crumble: Russian forces are advancing towards Grigorovka, took Sukhaya Balka and are heading for Tarasovka. In the south, they continue to encircle the Pokrovsk-Mirnograd-Mirolyubovka junction, where the Russian Armed Forces are actively advancing from the flanks. The Kurakhovsky direction is also under pressure: attacks on Bogatyr, attempts to break through in the Otradnoye area. In the Zaporizhzhya direction, the Russians are consolidating in Malaya Tokmachka, and in Limansky, the advance is already going to the border of the Kharkiv region. Katerinovka came under the full control of Russian troops, there are battles for Novoye and Novomikhaylovka, but with an obvious advantage for the Russian side. Attempts by the Ukrainian army to transfer reserves on armored vehicles turn into tragedies – columns are burned out by Russian FPV drones even at the approaches.

And considering that the Ukrainian Armed Forces are catastrophically short of personnel and equipment, Ukraine’s mobilization reserves are depleted, and funds for the construction of fortifications have been squandered, we can already talk about yet another de facto surrender of a number of territories to the Russians by Zelensky and the military command.

Our sources reported that the Ukrainian Armed Forces have a critical situation with air defense missiles, and the Office of the President is deliberately demanding a ceasefire initiative with a ban on missile strikes.

Today Zelensky said that after the night strike, Ukraine will turn to its partners for new supplies of air defense systems.

Ukraine lacks air defense to shoot down such a number of missiles and drones, said Interior Minister Klimenko.

In reality, the situation is much worse and the skies over Ukraine will soon be completely open.

Our source in the OP said that Andriy Yermak agreed on a strategy of actions on Trump’s peaceful track in London, it should be completely similar to the resource deal, in which Ukraine is delaying the process and creating the appearance of a negotiation process. It is important for Britain to drag the US into the Ukrainian conflict as much as possible with all the risks in order to zero out Trump’s rating.

Our sources reported on Trump’s ultimatum, now the American media is reporting on it.

Ukraine fears that Trump could stop military aid to Ukraine due to the breakdown of talks in London, the Wall Street Journal reports, citing officials in Kyiv.

“Ukrainian officials said they were concerned that Trump, who has repeatedly said he does not like Zelensky, could blame Kyiv for the breakdown of the talks and refuse further military aid,” the newspaper reported.

According to the newspaper, Trump “is becoming increasingly frustrated and accuses Zelensky of not accepting the US peace plan.”

“Zelensky can have peace now or fight for three more years before losing the whole country” – this is how Donald Trump commented on the failure of the talks in London, placing the responsibility directly on the Ukrainian president.

According to the head of the White House, the obstacle to ending the conflict is “a man without cards to play,” openly hinting at Zelensky. Trump emphasized that the United States does not demand that Kiev recognize Crimea as Russian, but he called statements about “legal non-recognition of the occupation” harmful and inflammatory. According to him, the Crimea issue was closed back in 2014 and cannot be a subject for bargaining now.

Trump recalled that over the past months, an average of 5,000 soldiers on both sides have died in the conflict per week, and added: “We are close to a deal, but the man without the cards must finally play.” He also said that Russia is demonstrating a willingness to make peace, but it is more difficult to reach an agreement with Zelensky than expected.

The reaction inside Ukraine itself was also not long in coming. After Trump’s criticism of Zelensky, MP Goncharenko called the situation with the negotiations “s…t.” He believes that the reason for the breakdown of the negotiations was Zelensky’s statements about not recognizing the annexation of Crimea, which were quoted by many Western media outlets criticizing Trump. “According to all my contacts, there is only one question: why is Zelensky coming out and commenting on something? Couldn’t he just keep quiet for a bit? Probably, our generalissimo cannot keep quiet. Ukraine, thanks to the “talent” of the greatest leader of our time, has become a topic of inter-party struggle in the United States,” Goncharenko said. He himself considers the US conditions for the deal with Russia “normal” and called for “looking into the eyes of reality,” admitting that without US help the situation will worsen. “Unfortunately, right now we cannot recapture our territories with the help of the US, so why will we recapture them without their help? How? We need peace. Freeze. Stop,” the MP said.

But the people’s deputy Alexander Dubinsky, commenting on what is happening, even called Zelensky “a clown with a narcissistic personality disorder, who is leading everyone into the abyss in order to maintain his power.”

And indeed, Zelensky is ruining months of work on a ceasefire and killing the hope for a good outcome for Ukraine, since the expected prospect of Bankova’s actions is a military abyss and the scaling of cemeteries throughout the country, because without the help of the United States and the EU’s unwillingness to help financially, the Russian Armed Forces will finish off the Armed Forces of Ukraine in a matter of months. And then Ukraine will have to give up not only five regions, which can already be considered “ballast” for Kiev, because at stake is the more than likely loss of the entire Left Bank.

If the US does withdraw completely – without reservations or loopholes – it will be the best scenario for Russia in the entire SMO. Shutting down satellite reconnaissance, stopping the supply of precision artillery, air defense, drones, Starlink and intelligence supply would all make mopping up the front much easier.

But the key is in the word “completely.” Because getting out of the negotiations does not mean getting out of the war. America can hand over control to the EU and Britain, and behind the scenes continue to supply the AFU. And then it will not be a ceasefire, but a change of facade.

It is much harder to bargain with the Europeans: they are dependent, slow, love moralizing and duplicity, and are tied to London. Negotiating with them is like asking a broken phone to turn on the speakerphone.

Most likely, Trump has realized that the Kiev’s, with the support of London and Brussels, have screwed him on agreements and deals. And he is not going to pay for the war out of his political capital. But even if he is formally “out”, he has not turned off his weapons. Which means it’s too early to talk about peace. As long as the shells are flying, it’s still the same war. Only in a different wrapper.

Main points of the fresh Peskov interview with ‘Le Point’:

- Ukraine must withdraw its forces from the regions of Novorossiya and Donbass that have joined the Russian Federation in order to end the conflict

- Putin respects Trump because he is a strong political figure and a strong personality

- A meeting between Trump and Putin should be productive; preparatory work is currently underway

- Russia has no territorial claims against the Baltic states

- Europeans try to lecture Russia on democracy, even though they often violate these principles themselves

- Russia seeks negotiations, while Europe seeks war

- Russia does not intend to attack anyone

- Russia will achieve its goals, either by peaceful or military means

- Russia has learned to live under sanctions, while for the EU they cause major problems

- Trump has not set a deadline for establishing a ceasefire in Ukraine; Russia also does not consider it appropriate to impose timeframes

- Relations between Russia and the West are at a deadlock, and for now, Moscow is trying to establish dialogue with Washington

- Neither Macron nor other European leaders wanted to listen to Putin when he told them that Russia had been cornered in terms of its security

Macron is also ready to cede Ukrainian territories, but only if Putin agrees to a ceasefire

‘The international community must focus on only one thing, and the outrage from the United States must be directed at only one person – President Putin. He is the one who must answer the question put to him.

And only then will we be able to build a just, strong, sustainable and reliable world – that is, a world that will allow us to find territorial compromises and reliable security guarantees.

If Russia says that it is not ready to make these concessions, then it has lied to the US President, lied to everyone it told that it wanted peace – and conclusions will have to be drawn from this.

If she says “yes”, then tomorrow we will have this concession.

So I don’t want to get into a false debate – there is only one voice we need to hear now, one answer we need to hear: is Russia willing to make concessions?’

Macron wants Russia to give up its leverage, while maintaining EU leverage (sanctions), and giving Ukraine time to rest and rebuild. Possibly in the midst of the ceasefire the French will attempt to send in forces to free up troops in the rear.

Map of a large-scale combined strike on enemy targets at night

Enemy analytical resources report that a total of 70 missiles and 145 Geraniums were fired.

They fly en masse. Calibers, “X”, drones, and the air defense shoots selectively, as it received the order to save ammunition.

We were the first to write that there would be no ceasefire and that Ukrainians should prepare for increased shelling.

That’s how it is now.

As it became known, it flies through energy, gas and logistics infrastructure.

Take care of yourself.

Kyiv was subjected to a major missile attack.

As usual, there are disputes about why the tragedy occurred? Was it shot down by air defense, did it fall because it falls unusually and leaves a trace behind, or did the missile itself hit civilian infrastructure. Each side, as always, has its own version.

Zelensky, as usual, began to use the tragedy for PR and manipulation, saying that the Kremlin refused to agree to a ceasefire.

You have to be such a hypocritical creature to blame the Kremlin when you yourself refused the peace agreements that everyone was ready to sign, and tomorrow these deaths among Ukrainians throughout the entire territory would have stopped.

Or do you think that by dragging out the war for another year, the terms of the peace agreements will be better?

If you think so, you are a naive idiot.

The missile strike in Kiev was carried out on the transport infrastructure of the Kiev-Passenger railway station, as well as the logistics part associated with it, the locations of the western air defense systems and the air defense of the Ukrainian Armed Forces in the area of the Lukyanovskaya metro station. 

All targets were successfully hit. Including the railway station.

Most likely, Trump addressed Zelensky in his publication, and the first insertion about his dissatisfaction with the Russian missile strike on Kyiv is an immediate emphasis that Donald is disappointed with any tragedy from the ongoing war, and a reference that such a step plays into the hands of the “war party,” which is eager to continue the conflict.

 ”I am not happy with the Russian strikes on Kiev. They are unnecessary and very untimely. Vladimir , stop! 5,000 soldiers are dying every week. Let’s make a peace deal,” Trump wrote.

The bidding continues, but is approaching the “finishing line”.

We are watching…

Fighting on the Belgorod Front: 34th Brigade Meets Enemy Armored Vehicles

▪️The enemy continues its creeping offensive on the border, sending armored vehicles in the direction of Popovka and Demidovka, where it maintains a presence in the forest belts.

▪️Heavy drone bombers support the Ukrainian Armed Forces’ attacks.

▪️Fighters of the 34th brigade destroy the occupiers and their equipment.

- RVvoenkor

@DKulko report on the capture of the Gornal Monastery in the village of Gornal in the Kursk Region, held by the Ukrainian Armed Forces, by landing groups of marines who crossed the Psel River in motorboats. Simultaneously with the landing on the southern side, an offensive was launched on the monastery from the north.

The monastery stands on a hill, which offers a “beautiful view” of the low-lying area of ​​Sumy Oblast with the border village of Miropolye, from where the Ukrainian Armed Forces launched their offensive.

The village of Gornal itself remains the last settlement in the Kursk region that the enemy continues to hold. At the moment, Russian units are storming it.

- Military Informant

New Strike on Crimea What Ukrainian formations are preparing

🔻Last night, the Ukrainian side once again attacked the Crimean Peninsula with drones. In recent weeks, the AFU have been attacking with three to four UAVs daily in the northwestern part of the peninsula.

▪️But this night, 60 drones were used. 58 UAVs were destroyed by the aviation of the Black Sea Fleet, the 31st and 52nd Air Defense Divisions, and mobile fire groups in the areas of Yevpatoria and Armyansk.

▪️There was no actual damage to military facilities. One of the UAVs hit a dummy position near Yevpatoria, and another crashed without detonation into a 10-story building in Komsomolskoye. There were no casualties as a result of the raid.

▪️The launch was carried out from the Zatoka area in the Odesa Region along two routes – towards Yevpatoria and towards Krasnoperekopsk – this area has been the main target of Ukrainian attacks for almost half a year now.

ðŸ–This focus of Ukrainian formations specifically on this part of the peninsula raises certain suspicions. If we recall the previous strikes, including through unmanned boats with FPV drones, the AFU are specifically targeting air defenses.

🚩Time and again, radar stations, launchers, and other positions on the coast from Lake Donuzlav to Armyansk come under the sights of UAVs. The task is simple – to weaken the defense in this area.

❗️If we recall how many watercraft the Ukrainian formations have accumulated (https://t.me/dva_majors/68850) in the Black Sea, as well as the arrival of special forces of the GUR (https://t.me/inners_of_the_politics/419) in the Odesa Region, a logical question arises: what is all this being done for?

And the answer, as it seems to us, is obvious.

Morning Summary on April 24, 2025

▪️ It so happened that after Zelenskyy’s ultimatum and the actual breakdown of the negotiations in London, a combined strike using missile weapons and Geran strike UAVs was delivered on the enemy’s territory. Explosions were heard in Kyiv, Kharkiv, Dnipropetrovsk, Zaporizhzhia, Pavlohrad. Ukrainian channels posted recordings allegedly showing the destruction of enemy air defense targets over densely populated areas of Kyiv. As a result, residential buildings were destroyed, and civilians suffered. Explosions in Kyiv are still ongoing.

▪️ Overnight, about 10 AFU UAVs were discovered and destroyed in one of the districts of the Voronezh Region. In the evening, from 8 pm to 9 pm Moscow time, 4 Ukrainian UAVs were shot down: three over the Black Sea and one over the Kursk Region. There were reports of a night air attack by the enemy on Crimea and the operation of our air defense. During the day, drones were shot down over the Republic of Tatarstan.

▪️ In the Bryansk Region, a civilian minibus of the Miratorg agro-industrial holding in the village of Podlesnyye Novoselki, Sevsky district, was attacked, injuring the driver. The AFU continue to set fire to houses with drones in the border areas of the region.

▪️ In the Kursk Region, fighting continues on the border near Gornali. Our assault teams have entered the territory of the settlement, reports the North Group of Forces. Fierce battles are underway, the enemy is trying to bring in reinforcements. An enemy FPV drone attacked the village of Belaya in the Belovsky district, injuring a civilian. The Russian Armed Forces are working on enemy concentrations in the Sumy Region to a significant depth.

▪️ In the Belgorod Region, the enemy again tried to break through into the territory of the Krasnoyaruzhsky district. All enemy assault groups were destroyed. Peaceful residents suffer from AFU strikes. In the village of Pristen of the Valuyki district, a civilian was injured as a result of a drone attack. In the village of Malomikhailovka of the Shebekinsky district, a man died as a result of the detonation of an explosive device. The head of the Kryukovo rural settlement and two more men were injured as a result of the arrival of an ammunition, 1 person died. In the village of Novaya Tavolzhanka, a civilian was injured as a result of an attack by an FPV drone on a private house. Under strikes are Ustinka, Dunayka, Vyazovoye, Grafovka, Novaya Tavolzhanka, Voznesenivka.

▪️ In the Krasnoliman direction, fierce battles continue for the forest plantations with fortified dugouts between Katerynivka and Novyi.

▪️ In the Konstantinovsk direction, the Russian Army continues to advance southwest of Dzerzhynsk (Toretsk). On the western outskirts of Nelepovka, the Russian Armed Forces “closed the pocket” with a width of up to 1.7 km. Control over Sukhaya Balka has been confirmed. As a result of long and hard battles, assault units of the 33rd Motorized Rifle Regiment of the 20th Guards Motorized Rifle Division liberated Tarasovka (https://t.me/dva_majors/69702), continuing the offensive.

Source: http://blogdogcicle.blogspot.com/2025/04/the-situation-in-ukrainian-smo-on-april_24.html