Don's Weekly, 28 July 2025: Part 1

by Donald Hill (intro by Tom Cooper)

Hello everybody!

By side that it’s beyond frustrating to watch Ukraine’s ‘car crash in slow motion’ - the failure to reform the leadership, so to reform the armed forces, converting them into an effective tool of fighting this war…and/or the collective Ukrainian-West’s failure to bolster the nation’s air defences to counter new threats on time (i.e. 2-3 years ago), but: the last week, it was both funny and tragic to monitor Zelensky winding himself out of self-made troubles caused by his (read: Yermak’s) attempts to bring NABU (National Anti-Corruption Bureau) and SAPO (Specialised Anti-Corruption Prosecutor’s Office) - two authorities meant to combat corruption, and that while the chieftains of NABU were on a business trip in the UK - under Ze… erm… Yermak’s direct control.

Read: Zelensky, effectively, doing what Pudding already did in Russia, and Dumpf’s doing in the US of A (and many others are doing elsewhere)…

(…where, just for your orientation: the NABU is tasked with investigating government corruption, while the SAPO is responsible for overseeing investigations run by the NABU…)

Sure: the SBU (the Ukrainian top security service) claims that the Ukrainian anti-corruption institutions have been infiltrated by the Russians. Obviously: if that is the case, that’s very bad, because - between others - the NABU has the (theoretic) powers to investigate both Zele and Yermak. I.e. the ability to find out about ultimate state secrets of Ukraine. And, let’s not forget: one of primary reasons why Ukrainians are fighting this Russian attempt to exterminate them is the fight against Russian-style corruption.

But,

a) where is the evidence for what the SBU is claiming about the NABU and SAPO (that their officials ‘have links to Russia’), and

b) why then not legally prosecute those who are corrupt?

Why than sending the SBU to open probes against at least 15 NABU employees, detail (at least) two of them), conduct at least 70 searches in the NABU’s premises, doing similar in the SAPO…. and all of this without a court warrant? Why seeking to either dismantle them or bring them under the control of very people they are supposed to control?

Or, we take a look at few matters of fact. Foremost the one that in Ukraine, under a president declaring himself ‘anti-corruption’, exactly nothing is happening for years already. At most, people are blamed for corruption, sometimes even removed from their positions, but never juridically prosecuted, never punished… Just like incompetent commanders of the ZSU ware rarely fired, merely ‘investigated’, but these ‘investigations’ never ending, never bringing any kind of crystal clear conclusions….?

Precisely because Zele-Yermak wouldn’t let that happen.

Moreover: everybody I know in Kyiv - and I repeat for emphasis: EVERYBODY - says the same: Zele’s attempt to subject the two institutions to his control (or dismantle them, if he can’t) was nothing else but attempt to protect Yermak. ….and, the affair went so far, Zelensky actually signed the bill, even if not making this public…

What’s at least as bad: the law received massive support in the Verkhovna Rada (Parliament), too. Indicating the political corruption is as widespread there (or at least that the Parliament is little else but a bunch of Yermak’s yes-sayers), as it is in the government and in anti-corruption authorities.

Simply a fantastic mix.

…’and still’, Zele-fans are promptly falling all over anybody ‘daring’ to ‘publicly criticise’ their hero. Primarily because, ‘he didn’t ran away, he’s a hero’, and ‘politicians can be fought after the war’, and of course, ‘he’s just a human, and humans are making mistakes’, you know.

(That’s like when Austrian journos are complaining that the war between Cambodia and Thailand is ‘nothing else but a showdown between the local elites’: something ‘fought because of a disagreement between the rich, on the backs of the poor’… where Austria is a nation built on little else but that concept: indeed, a country ruled that way for 100+ years now.)

Seriously? You are firmly convinced Zele ‘couldn’t simply veto that idiotic law’? Couldn’t hold back the SBU? And that he, and that unelected, unapologetic, uncompromising Yermak can and should just continue like this, bringing decisions at own discretion, hand-picking officials (or dismiss them) depending on their loyalty to himself (yes, to Yermak; not even to Zele), resulting in constant spread of corruption, incompetence - and Ukraine losing this war…?

Sigh… face it, people: Zelensky-Yermak admin just sucks.

That’s ‘not pleasant’ to realise, to ‘know’, but is a matter of fact.

Just like it’s a matter of fact that if there would be no war, they would find 1897 other reasons why they would have to remain in power, and continue with their political corruption and incompetence… as ‘confirmed’ by thousands of Ukrainians braving the circumstances to go out to the streets to protest their wrong-doing.

Have explained why - at least a dozen of times since around September-October last year - and I grew fed up of repeating myself. It’s on you to accept and live with that: at least the fact that the majority of Ukrainians serving with the ZSU are not fighting ‘for Zelensky’, but for their own ideals - which are not including Zele-Yermak’s political corruption, but the opposite of that.

…and it’s on Ukrainians to kick that (yet another) gang of corrupt incompetents out. In a high loop, please.

Over to Don.

***

Sumy/Kursk

The 425th Skala Assault Regiment, which had worked for months to stabilize the Pokrovsk sector with counter attacks, was moved to Yablunivka. Ukraine is attacking Oleksiivka and Yunakivka. Russian reports say Oleksiivka is under siege and northern Yunakivka is ‘stably tense’, but Ukrainian drones are outnumbering Russian drones there 3:1.

Choosing to live so close to the front is a high risk decision, especially when Russia has the rich history of intentionally targeting civilians. 3 were killed and 20 wounded when a Russian drone hit a civilian bus.

Russian airstrikes and shelling attack Ukrainian positions in Kindrativka and Ukrainian drones hit Russian targets in Kindrativka. 3 km north of Kindrativka, Ukrainian drone operators spotted an unexploded Russian bomb on the ground with Russian walking nearby.

***

In that sense… few words on the 225th Assault Regiment

The 225th Assault Regiment was one of the units used to attack or counter-attack Russian positions when Ukraine was in Kursk. When Ukraine was pushed out of Kursk they were withdrawn from the sector. When Russia advanced into Sumy they were returned and took the villages of Andriivka and Kindrativka on Ukraine’s left flank. Russia lost three battalions worth of troops in these operations. In the last 12 months, the Russian 155th Naval Infantry Brigade and the 76th Air Assault Division, the 810th Naval Infantry Brigade and the 30th Motor Rifle Brigade have been reconstituted four times due to heavy losses. The mass of these caused by the 225th Assault Regiment.

How comes?

Here’s one example. While still deployed inside the Kursk Oblast of Russia, and still a battalion, the 225th was attacked by a regiment (average regiment is comprising three battalions) of the 76th Division at Darino. They blocked the two bridge crossings and mined the approaches. The Russians lost eight vehicles in just one attack. The Russians continued their attacks with infantry so the Ukrainians released the water from the dam at Bilovody (in Ukraine) and the Russians were wading in water chest high in -10 C temperature. Prisoners said once they crossed they tried to hide and warm themselves up with a trench candle but they didn’t have dry clothes, and radio intercepts and reports from the front indicated that many suffered from frostbite on their limbs. They were given the order to cross the river at a certain point and they carried out the order with the example of Alexander Matrosov on their minds...

Another example?

The Russian 30th Brigade was in Andriivka and established the command post for one of their battalions in the village. They were beginning to continue their advance when the 225th arrived and established defensive positions and started to probe the Russian defenses. They found a weakness and attacked the northern side of the village, cutting the Russians off. When they killed the battalion’s commanding officer and its intelligence officer, the Russian battalion lost its command and control ability. The 225th also kept a high tempo of operations which helped overwhelm Russian defenses.

Whenever possible, the 225th likes to attack in the rain, because rain is making things difficult for drone operators. Supporting artillery crews that receive a fire mission during a thunderstorm now assume the 225th is conducting an assault.

The operation was not without difficulties. At a treeline, a small unit was being attacked and there was just one Ukrainian left, firing the last of his ammo. A drone killed a Russian soldier and the Ukrainian used the dead man’s ammo to continue his attack. The fighting degenerated to a point were several Russians were killed by knives.

How comes?

The mass of people recruited into the ZSU are only receiving basic training before being sent to a unit. If as much. In the case they’ve been picked for the 225th, the Regiment first sends them to one of its own training camps, for another month of training, using airsoft guns, training grenades and drones during exercises. Then they spend a month in the unit to develop relationships, and learn procedures and the details of warcraft before taking part in operations.

Discipline is a key part of their success. The 225th is nowadays one of very few ZSU units where the command staff is allowed to have and use smartphones. The rest of the regiment can make one call a week for one hour so that the signals aren’t detected and targeted by the Russians. Some units used to allow phone usage ten kilometers from the front line but the ability to detect and attack has increased over time. Phones can also distract from the details needed to survive in combat.

The staff of the 225th is also constantly reinforcing its own culture. Every Sunday the chaplain holds service. Every day they remind each other that they are the Ukrainian army, that they are the 225th Separate Assault Regiment, and that they are a team, an assault team. Just as the expression, “Slava Ukraini” binds the country together, the 225th has their own unit slogans used before each operation that binds them together as a unique tribe fighting for a higher purpose: sure, it is ‘just another element’, but this pledge says they are responsible for each other. Works miracles: at a medical stabilization point where there were some 40-50 wounded, a soldier of the 225th who almost lost his leg, explained the medical staff that he has to get back to the front because they needed him….

Before conducting an operation, the 225th conducts thorough preparations with such details as logistics, medical support, reconnaissance, planning and coordination with supporting units. They try to isolate or neutralize Russian positions with mines or direct attacks prior to the assault, and they make sure everyone knows their roles so that once the operation begins, it continues at a fast pace to get inside Russia’s OODA loop. The commander uses the phrase, “Amat victoria curam”, often interpreted as “Victory loves preparation”. They took three days to prepare the assault on Andriivka and ten days to clear the village.

Because of its proficiency, the 225th is regularly deployed as a fire brigade, being rushed from one critical situation to another. These “attacks from the wheels” don’t allow for careful preparations and contribute to the fatigue of the soldiers and staff. This is when they suffer the most casualties. Trying to manage fatigue while under constant high-paced operations, because of the constant demands placed on them, is one of their hardest challenges for commanders of the unit.

They are constantly outnumbered when they attack, and when the Russians learn that they are facing the 225th, the airstrikes increase. So much so, single positions - for example: those including two or three soldiers from the 225th - are regularly targeted by up to eight UMPK (i.e. ‘KABs’) a day. The enemy is constantly searching for information through digital reconnaissance and the 225th scans all their systems, applications and devices 1-2 times a week for spyware.

While operating in Kursk, the 225th added three T-72s, seven light vehicles (MTLBs and BMPs) to their own inventory after capturing them. None of the assault rifles they captured from the Russians had any ramrods for simple barrel maintenance. They also have Bradleys, HUMMWVs and Oshkosh MRAPs, which is better than Soviet equipment, but because of drones they were using more quadbikes and motorcycles.

A Russian sabotage group tried to infiltrate the rear areas of the 225th and attack their logistics but they were eliminated five kilometers south of Andriivka by their 225th’s intelligence unit. One of them had an NRS-2 scout knife that has a sheath to cut wire and a silenced single shot capability, something even the regimental commander thought was a myth. The 225th also infiltrates groups to mine rear areas and attack Russian logistics while being replenished by drones, and such units were used prior to the attack on Andriivka.

The commander of the 225th repeats what many have said, that those who wanted to join the military have already done so. Conscription must continue to replenish the army and he’s convinced that there will be enough people to maintain the army but it is very important to train them before they enter combat. The problems with the creation of the 150-series of brigades have been addressed. His unit has worked with battalions detached from the 156th and 158th Brigades and he says they are normal guys “with balls” that were acting decisively and following the examples of his 225th soldiers. Even people that were caught at the border trying to leave Ukraine have performed well in combat once they were properly trained and led.

Unsurprisingly, the 225th Assault Regiment is a brilliant example for how combat-effective could all of the ZSU become - if only trained and commanded in a way demanded by so many of its officers and other ranks. Something that’s not happening, because Yermak and his buddies - foremost Syrsky - wouldn’t let this happen.

***

(…to be continued…)