Don's Weekly, 24 March 2025: Part 2

by Donald Hill

(…continued from Part 1…)

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Belgorod

The village of Demidovka is 18 km south of Plekhovo and 2 km from the border with Ukraine and the Russians say the Ukrainians captured it, though not without loss. A Bradley is hit by a drone south of the village. At least 10 Ukrainian AFVs were damaged or destroyed. Videos showed the attacks on these two vehicles, this Bradley disabled by a mine, another attacked by a drone and by shellfire. Infantry was attacked by drones, too.

The Ukrainians crossed the border and occupied Prilesye but an engineering vehicle was damaged and an AFV and infantry were attacked by artillery. Russians lost at least one tank and one other AFV.

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Kupiansk

There were several Russian assaults in the Kamianka sector that resulted in gains of up to 1 km. South of Zapadne, a Russian-occupied building is shelled.

Somewhere near Kupiansk, a Russian and Ukrainian fight at close range in a trench. Russians in a trench dugout are bombed by a drone.

South of Pischane, the 3rd Assault Brigade reclaimed three square kilometers of land in a 30 hour operation.

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Terny

Reports from Terny were minimal but DeepState shows that there was a 4 km advance north of Ivanivka.

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Toretsk

Because of the difficulties, Russia is sending mule teams with ammo into forward positions. Then experienced storm troops try to advance from these positions. There are also reports that Russians are attacking in civilian clothes as a deception operation. For all the intense fighting, there are no clear changes in control.

A Russian position in central Toretsk is destroyed by artillery and drones hunted Russians in the center of the city, on the outskirts, and several kilometers behind the front lines. The Kurt and Company drone unit of the 28th Brigade also participated in the attacks.

A Russian rocket launcher is detected and eliminated but another rocket attack destroyed an M113.

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Pokrovsk

Russia is attacking without progress while Ukraine’s assaults are limited to pushing back any infiltration by Russian assault teams. In grand total: the front lines remain static.

Ukraine shells Russians on the eastern edge of Udachne. The coal mine near the village is a natural defensive position.

Russians in the Kotlyne cemetery are targeted. Cluster munitions end an assault south of the village.

A Ukrainian M777 crew shells Shevchenko and Russia drops bombs on the village.

Members of the 12th Azov Brigade blows up bridges where Russians were reported last winter.

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Velyka Novosilka

Russia advanced almost two kilometers between Novosilka and Pryvilne. Russia bombs Komar and Ukrainian drones drop bombs in Skudna and Dniproenerhiia.

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Zaporizhzhia

Russia has been bombarding this sector for weeks. Recently, there’s been small assaults by both sides. This week, Russia advanced 300-1000 meters across a 9 km front.

Ukraine discovers an ammo depot somewhere in the region. Russians advancing from Zherebianky are eliminated by drones. The Russians shell Lobkove.

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Kherson

Russia continues to hunt civilians with drones. This child explains how he and his friends were attacked.

Ukraine dropped the rest of the Oleshky bridge.

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Odesa

Odesa was hit by one of the largest airstrikes since 2022. And it was a particularly well-coordinated strike, groupping attack-drones that came in at an altitude of 2,000 metres, before diving upon their target. That way, the Russians evaded the fire of the mass of Ukrainian anti-aircraft artillery, while forcing the Ukrainians to spend yet more of their precious surface-to-air missiles. Of course, Ukrainian anti-aircraft fire was heavy, but so was the damage, striking a high-rise apartment building, a shopping center and several infrastructure targets. Children count the explosions.

A woman dies after detonating a bomb in a police station.

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Occupied Territories

Ukrainians in the occupied territories have until September 10th to become Russian citizens or leave. This is part of a trend throughout history in which Russia expels or kills the inhabitants of lands they took while encouraging Russian citizens to settle in the occupied territories. It is likely that the displacement, torture and killing of Ukrainian citizens in the occupied territories will increase on September 11th.

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Unknown Locations

Russians survey a 122mm howitzer after it was attacked.

In addition to radio-controlled drones, some units create their own fiber optic cables to prevent jamming. It is understandable how, in at least one case, a Ukrainian drone team was able to trace the cables back to a Russian drone team and attack them.

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(…to be continued…)