THE RUSSO-UKRAINE WAR BRIEF
Day 1142 of the full scale invasion
Slava Ukraini! In early 2022 I began a Telegram channel aggregating news from a number of sources daily on the war in Ukraine. In June 2023 I began providing a daily draft for the Ukraine War Brief Podcast collecting news from over 70 sources daily, which formed the basis of the script. While the Podcast no longer exists I have continued to make this Brief available for my followers here on Substack for those who wish to keep up with the news from the war.
All the latest news on the Russo-Ukraine War 6 days per week
ALONG THE CONTACT LINE
GSAFU Morning Report
For: Apr 10, 2025
The General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine in its Operational Information update at 08:00 on Apr 10 stated that 1142 day of the full-scale invasion of the Russian Federation against Ukraine had begun.
The situation on the line of combat remains tense in some sectors. Ukrainian defenders continue to actively counteract the Russian aggressor, causing them significant losses in personnel, equipment and technology. Exhausting the enemy along the entire front line and continuing to disrupt the plans of Russian occupiers to advance deeper into the territory of Ukraine.
During the past day,149 combat engagements took place.
Over the past 24 hours, the enemy carried out 94 air strikes, used 2,868 drones and fired approximately 6,300 artillery shells across the positions of Ukrainian forces and civilians.
Air Force Daily Report
85 ENEMY UAVS SHOT DOWN, 49 SIMULATOR UAVS FAILED TO REACH THEIR TARGETS (LOCATIONALLY LOST)
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On the night of April 10, 2025 (from 7:00 p.m. on April 9), the enemy attacked with 145 Shahed attack UAVs and simulator drones of various types from the directions: Kursk, Orel, Millerovo, Primorsko-Akhtarsk - Russia, Chauda - Crimea.
The air attack was repelled by aviation, anti-aircraft missile troops, electronic warfare units, and mobile fire groups of the Defense Forces of Ukraine.
As of 09:00, 85 Shahed attack UAVs (and other types of drones) have been confirmed shot down in the north, south, east, and center of the country.
49 enemy drones-simulators - lost in location (without negative consequences).
The Donetsk region, Kharkiv region, Kyiv region, Khmelnytsky region, Poltava region, and Mykolaiv region were affected by the Russian attack.
Combat Operations in the Russian Federation
The Institute for the Study of War (ISW), a US based think tank, in its Apr 9 Russian Offensive Campaign Assessment reported that:
Kursk Salient: Russian forces continue to marginally advance in the Sumy-Kursk Oblast border area, but the Russian force grouping in the area will likely be unable to launch a major offensive operation against Sumy City in the near term without receiving significant reinforcements.
Ukrainian Commander-in-Chief General Oleksandr Syrskyi stated during an interview with Ukrainian outlet LB UA published on Apr 9 that Russian forces have intensified assaults in "all main directions" and begun offensive operations in Sumy and Kharkiv oblasts.
ISW has observed gradual but consistent Russian gains and attacks along the Volodymyrivka-Zhuravka-Novenke line (north to northeast of Sumy City) in northern Sumy Oblast and ongoing Russian efforts to push Ukrainian forces from remaining positions south of Sudzha in southern Kursk Oblast since early March 2025.
Belgorod Incursion: Russian forces continued efforts to push Ukrainian forces from positions in northwestern Belgorod Oblast on Apr 9.
The Khortytsia operational-strategic group
(Responsible for the northeastern part of Ukraine. )
Sumy Sector: ISW has observed gradual but consistent Russian gains and attacks along the Volodymyrivka-Zhuravka-Novenke line (north to northeast of Sumy City) in northern Sumy Oblast and ongoing Russian efforts to push Ukrainian forces from remaining positions south of Sudzha in southern Kursk Oblast since early March 2025.
(See Kursk map)
Kupyansk Sector: Russian forces recently advanced northeast of Kupyansk.
Geolocated footage published on April 8 indicates that Russian forces recently advanced in eastern Kamyanka (northeast of Kupyansk near the international border).
Lyman Sector: Russian forces recently advanced in the Lyman direction.
Geolocated footage published on Apr 9 indicates that Russian forces marginally advanced in a forest east of Zelena Dolyna (north of Lyman).
Toretsk Sector: Ukrainian and Russian forces recently advanced in the Toretsk direction.
Geolocated footage published on Apr 8 indicates that Ukrainian forces recently advanced northeast of Druzhba.
Geolocated footage published on Apr 9 shows that Russian forces recently advanced in northwestern Toretsk and in Zabalka Microraion in southern Toretsk.
The Tavria operational-strategic group
(Responsible for the central-eastern and southeastern part of Ukraine.)
Pokrovsk Sector : Ukrainian and Russian forces recently advanced in the Pokrovsk direction.
Geolocated footage published on Apr 9 indicates that Ukrainian forces recently advanced in northeastern Kotlyne (southwest of Pokrovsk).
Geolocated footage published on Apr 8 and 9 indicates that Russian forces recently advanced in southern Tarasivka (northeast of Pokrvosk), and south of Bohdanivka (southwest of Pokrovsk).
Zaporizhia Sector: Russian forces recently advanced in western Zaporizhia Oblast.
Geolocated footage published on Apr 9 indicates that Russian forces advanced in central Shcherbaky (northwest of Robotyne).
The Odesa operational-strategic group
(Responsible for Kherson, Qırım, (also known as Crimea) and the Black Sea.)
There have been no major changes to the combat environment since our last report.
TEMPORARILY OCCUPIED TERRITORIES
Nothing major to report.
THE HOME FRONT
Ukraine, EU prolong transport visa-free regime until end of 2025.
Ukraine and the EU on April 10 extended the transport visa-free regime until the end of this year, Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal announced the Kyiv Independent reports.
This is the fourth extension of the agreement since 2022. The deal helps speed up Ukrainian exports to the EU by easing bureaucratic requirements and avoiding delays at customs.
Exporters can issue transit declarations in Ukraine and travel to the EU without any obstacles.
"Transport visa-free regime is a part of Ukraine's sectoral integration into Europe and a prerequisite for our membership in the European Union," Shmyhal said.
In the past three years, Ukraine's exports to the EU have increased by 42% and imports to Ukraine by 37%, Shmyhal said.
The Polish media reported in February that the EU does not plan to extend the preferential trade agreement framework in its current form past its June 5 expiration date and is considering a new set of rules instead.
The newly proposed framework would establish specific export and import volumes, potentially aiding Ukraine's integration into the EU single market while addressing concerns from member states about agricultural imports.
Forty-eight individuals accused of corruption have voluntarily enlisted in Armed Forces of Ukraine.
Currently, there are 48 individuals involved in SAPO and NABU corruption cases in Ukraine who have chosen to voluntarily join the Armed Forces in order to avoid punishment. Censor.net reports.
This was reported by the Specialized Anti-Corruption Prosecutor’s Office (SAPO), according to Censor.NET.
"Unfortunately, the enlistment of defendants in SAPO and NABU cases has become one of the current and popular ways to evade criminal liability. At present, 48 individuals have voluntarily mobilized into the Armed Forces after the indictments in their cases were submitted to court," the statement reads.
As a result, the trials have been suspended, and the statute of limitations is running out — which increases the likelihood that the defendants will avoid punishment, SAPO explained.
OnApril 9, 2025, the accused former State Fiscal Service (SFS) head Nasirov did not come to the HACC hearing. The defense noted that Nasirov was drafted into the Armed Forces during mobilization, so he could not come to court.
Subsequently, the Armed Forces canceled the order to mobilize Nasirov and launched an internal investigation.
The court extended the bail for the former head of the Fiscal Service, Roman Nasirov, for two months.
RUSSIAN WORLD
Zelenskyy Accuses Moscow of Dragging Beijing Into Ukraine War Amid Chinese Recruitment Claims.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on Wednesday accused Russia of dragging China into the war and alleged that Beijing knew dozens of its citizens had been recruited to fight for Moscow, the Moscow Times reported on Apr 10.
According to Zelensky, Ukrainian intelligence services have identified more than 150 Chinese nationals fighting on the front lines, a day after Kyiv claimed its forces had captured two Chinese citizens in the eastern Donetsk region.
Ukraine is prepared to exchange the captured fighters for Ukrainian prisoners of war held in Russia, Zelensky said.
“Such an overt involvement of Chinese citizens in combat operations on the territory of Ukraine is a deliberate step towards expanding the war,” he told reporters. “This is yet another indication that Moscow simply needs to drag out the fighting.”
His comments came hours after Beijing denied claims that large numbers of its citizens had joined Russian forces, urging Chinese nationals to “avoid involvement in armed conflicts.”
“The ‘Chinese’ issue is serious,” Zelenskyy said. “There are 155 people with names and passport details who are fighting against Ukrainians on the territory of Ukraine.”
A document shared with AFP by a senior Ukrainian official listed 168 Chinese citizens allegedly recruited by Russia, according to Ukrainian intelligence.
Zelensky said he believed the true number was “much higher,” and that more information was being gathered.
While he did not accuse Beijing of directly sending soldiers, he said Chinese authorities were aware of the recruitment.
“It is clear how they recruit them. One of the schemes is through social media, in particular TikTok and other Chinese social networks, where Russians distribute commercials,” Zelenskyy said. “Beijing is aware of this.”
RELATED INTERNATIONAL NEWS
US, Russia delegations arrive for talks in Istanbul on diplomatic missions.
U.S. and Russian delegations arrived on Thursday for talks in Istanbul on normalising the work of their diplomatic missions after the war in Ukraine triggered the biggest confrontation between Moscow and the West since the depths of the Cold War.Reuters reported on Apr. 10.
Reuters footage showed several cars entering the Russian consulate building in central Istanbul.
The talks will be led by Russia's new ambassador to Washington, Alexander Darchiev, and Deputy Assistant Secretary of State Sonata Coulter, Russia's foreign ministry said.
The main focus, according to Moscow and Washington, is restoring the work of diplomatic missions after years of rows, mutual claims of intimidation and even the freezing of diplomatic property complicated relations between the two nuclear powers.
"Ukraine is not, absolutely not on the agenda," State Department spokesperson Tammy Bruce said on Tuesday.
"These talks are solely focused on our embassy operations, not on normalizing a bilateral relationship overall, which can only happen, as we've noted, once there is peace between Russia and Ukraine."
Both Moscow and Washington have complained in recent years about the difficulties of getting credentials for their diplomats, making the operation of their embassies extremely difficult.
Russia has said that even paying diplomats has become difficult due to Western restrictions, while U.S. diplomats say their movements are restricted in Russia. Both sides have complained of intimidation.
Among the issues is diplomatic property.
Washington has put six Russian properties under restrictions, including the Killenworth estate on Long Island, the Pioneer Point "dacha" in Maryland, the Russian consulates in San Francisco and Seattle and the trade missions in Washington and New York.
MILITARY & TECH
Why the Transfer of 86 T-72 Tanks from the Czech Republic to Ukraine Took More Than Two Years.
The Czech press reports that during the first months of 2025, the Czech Republic completed the transfer of the final 20 T-72 tanks in the possession of its armed forces to Ukraine. The shipment of these tanks by rail was captured in photographs. Defense Express reports.
On one hand, this is good news in itself, as it means that Ukraine will soon receive 20 additional Soviet-designed tanks. On the other hand, the entire process of transferring 86 T-72 tanks from the Czech Republic - the last 20 of which were sent only recently - began in August 2022 and ultimately took more than two years.
According to an article by the Czech outlet HN, the final batch of T-72 tanks transferred to Ukraine came from the 73rd Battalion, which had continued to operate these vehicles earlier this year. Although the tanks were manufactured in the 1980s, they remained in good technical condition and therefore did not require additional refurbishment.
Defense Express emphasizes that, based on the situation described above, there appear to be two key reasons - one objective and one subjective - why the transfer of 86 T-72 tanks from the Czech Republic to Ukraine took so long.
The objective reason may lie in the limited capacity of the Czech defense industry to refurbish tanks that had been in storage for a prolonged period. The subjective reason, in turn, may be rooted in the Czech military’s desire to retain the tanks in the best technical condition for as long as possible.
In this context, it is worth recalling that by the end of 2023, the Czech Republic reported the direct transfer of 62 tanks to the Armed Forces of Ukraine - some of which were produced as early as 1968 - which also raised questions about the specific types of vehicles delivered.
That’s it for today’s Brief folks if you would like to keep up with events in Ukraine daily please consider subscribing, it’s free!