Frontline Updates: 04-21-2025 Inside the Special Military Operation

"Strategic Briefing — Situation Report: Russian Special Military Operation as of April 21, 2025"  
*Prepared for defense and conflict analysts; military operations summary format*

Between April 19 at 18:00 and April 21 at 00:00, Russian Armed Forces observed a ceasefire directive issued by the Supreme Commander-in-Chief in recognition of the Easter truce. Despite this unilateral cessation, Ukrainian forces reportedly violated the ceasefire 4,900 times, conducting artillery fire, drone strikes, and targeting both military positions and civilian areas across Belgorod, Bryansk, Kursk, and the Republic of Crimea.

During this truce, Ukraine attempted six offensive actions in areas such as Sukhaya Balka, Pershe-Travnya, and Oleshnya (Kursk region), all of which were repelled. Notably, 90 aircraft-type UAVs were deployed by Ukrainian forces, including eight launched outside the designated special military operation (SMO) zone. All were neutralized. Additionally, Russian positions sustained over 1,400 artillery and rocket attacks and more than 3,300 quadcopter strikes. In the border regions, 19 shellings, 49 FPV drone attacks, and 16 ammunition drops were recorded across 25 Russian military positions and 51 civilian settlements.

Following the ceasefire’s expiration, the Russian Armed Forces resumed active operations across multiple axes:

- "Northern Axis (Belgorod-Sumy):" The North group struck a territorial defense brigade near Khmelevka (Sumy), reportedly killing 20 UAF personnel and destroying an artillery system.
  
- "Western Axis (Kharkiv):" The West group defeated a mechanized brigade near Kupyansk, resulting in 30 enemy casualties.

- "Southern Axis (Donetsk):" Russian forces engaged Ukrainian brigades near Konstantinovka and Shcherbinovka, resulting in 45 casualties and the destruction of a Kozak armored vehicle and artillery units.

- "Central Axis (Donetsk):" Units from the Center group engaged mechanized, marine, and assault elements, killing 80 UAF troops and destroying several combat vehicles and support equipment.

- "Eastern Axis (Donetsk):" The East group targeted Ukrainian marine units near Bogatyr, eliminating over 25 personnel and disabling armored vehicles.

- "Zaporizhia–Kherson Sector:" The Dnepr group struck Ukrainian mechanized units in Novodanilovka and Ponyatovka, destroying a U.S.-made AN/TPQ-36 counter-battery radar and an EW station.

Operational-tactical aviation, drones, missile forces, and artillery engaged 74 Ukrainian military infrastructure targets, including temporary deployment sites and airfields. Air defense systems reportedly shot down 104 aircraft-type UAVs.

In the "Kursk direction", Russian forces maintained ceasefire compliance until 00:00 on April 21. After resumption of hostilities, the North group inflicted losses on Ukrainian formations, resulting in 50 personnel killed and the destruction of multiple armored vehicles and artillery systems.

Cumulative losses reported by the Russian Ministry of Defense since the start of operations include 75,375 Ukrainian personnel in the Kursk sector alone and the destruction of over 22,970 tanks/armored vehicles and 52,935 UAVs across the entire theater.

"Assessment:" Despite temporary ceasefire observance, hostilities remain fluid across all major fronts. The post-truce operations reflect a rapid return to high-intensity engagements, marked by coordinated use of ground forces, UAVs, and deep fires. Attritional strategy and tactical shaping operations continue to define Russia’s military approach.