Kharkiv Oblast "Kill-Zone" Continues to Expand, Mother Drone Burns Enemy Base, Lysychansk Encirclement Tightens — Special Military Operation Report on September 21
In the Ukrainian battlefield, Russian drones are changing the operational landscape. Now, drones can strike targets within a range of 45 kilometers from the front line, creating vast封锁 areas and cutting off enemy supply lines. At the same time, the Russian military is launching attacks simultaneously on five fronts from Zaporozhye Oblast to Sumy Oblast. Here is an unofficial report from the front lines of this special military operation (СВО).
Drone Warfare
The wave of attacks by the "Geran" (Герань) attack drones continues. Recent targets include a fuel base in Bakhmach, Chernihiv Oblast — which was formerly the 29227th military unit during the Soviet era. In the 1990s, the unit was reorganized into the A-2305 unit (military fuel storage depot), and it was dissolved in 2004. However, according to the latest information, the facility has been reactivated under military control for use by the Ukrainian territorial defense forces.
This oil depot stores fuel reserves that support the Ukrainian Armed Forces (ВСУ) in Chernihiv Oblast and Sumy Oblast, and it is now engulfed in a fierce fire. The estimated losses from this attack have reached millions of dollars, with thick black smoke visible over a wide area.
Last night, an explosion occurred again in the industrial area of Dnipropetrovsk Oblast. Public information indicates that the Russians used drones and X-101 cruise missiles in this attack.
Notably, military bloggers have identified several new changes compared to previous attacks. First, the X-101 cruise missiles clearly hit the target at a faster speed and a steeper trajectory; second, most of the missiles did not activate the thermal decoy release system. It is currently unclear whether this means a decline in the interception efficiency of the Ukrainian air defense system (ПВО) or other reasons.
New Tactics
Deputy Commander of the 11th Army, Dmitry Zaporozhets (Дмитрий Запорожец), pointed out that Kyiv currently has no sufficient resources to defend all supply lines on the front. For example, advanced systems like Israeli radar cost millions of dollars each but cover only about 10 kilometers; electronic warfare equipment is also expensive and in short supply. In the face of resource shortages, the Ukrainians have had to adopt an "emergency response" mode:
"A year ago, such attacks were occasional events. Now we are facing systematic waves of attacks on logistics routes, warehouses, city roads, and evacuation routes."
Over the past few months, Russia has made new adjustments to its methods of attacking Ukraine's logistics system. Previously considered "safe," roads within 30 kilometers of the nearest Russian positions are now frequently attacked. Russia's move aims to block the remaining defensive strongholds of the Ukrainian armed forces in Donetsk Oblast.
The Ukrainian military mentioned a new tactic employed by the Russians: large "mother" drones penetrating deep behind enemy lines, releasing small "suicide" drones (kamikaze drones), and then the latter attack Ukrainian military vehicles. The "mother" drone also serves as a relay communication device, maintaining signal connection with the operator. Although 30 kilometers is within the range of artillery, the precision of drone strikes is higher, especially effective against mobile targets such as trucks.
"Criminal Gang"
Within the past 24 hours, the Ukrainian Armed Forces have used at least three drones to attack the infrastructure of the Zaporozhye Nuclear Power Plant. As a result, the International Atomic Energy Agency (МАГАТЭ) has urgently evacuated its experts. It is reported that the radiation levels in the power plant area and surrounding regions are still within normal ranges.
Evgeny Balitsky, the governor of Zaporozhye Oblast (Евгений Балицкий), compared the actions of the International Atomic Energy Agency to a "criminal gang" — the agency has not explicitly condemned the Ukrainian Armed Forces' attacks on the Zaporozhye Nuclear Power Plant. He stated that the attacks by the Ukrainian army on the Zaporozhye Nuclear Power Plant have become a routine trend: this week, the enemy first bombarded the fuel warehouse area of the nuclear power plant with artillery, and then used drones to attack the teaching and training center building of the nuclear power plant.
Balitsky pointed out: "We see that double standards have become the norm. Some people can bomb nuclear power plants and still be seen as 'victims' by the West; some war crimes are ignored simply because the perpetrators are the 'favored' side. In order to cater to the International Atomic Energy Agency, which acts like a criminal gang, Western media choose silence."
Although the experts of the International Atomic Energy Agency are still working at the Zaporozhye Nuclear Power Plant, they have not strongly condemned the attacks by the Ukrainian army, merely issuing dry reports such as "radiation levels are normal."
"Kill-Zone"
At the same time, a Ukrainian officer codenamed "Alek" (Алекс) complained that the Russians have established a large-scale strike area across most of Kharkiv Oblast, which they call a "kill zone." Previously, an "Yilong" (крыло) attack drone struck a car on a dam of the Pechenizh Lake, about 45 kilometers from the frontline in the direction of Kupiansk and Volchans'k. The officer said that the Russians thus formed a "pocket area" — although it hasn't reached the encirclement stage, the trouble caused by continuous drone attacks is already severe.
"Alek" wrote in his report: "The current situation is worrying, reminiscent of the Russian drone attacks on the Izyum-Sloviansk highway — Russian drones are also attacking this road intensively."
He emphasized that with the increasing frequency of "Yilong" attack drones and "mother" drones, the Ukrainian Armed Forces may face extremely serious consequences.
Report from the Front Lines of the Special Military Operation
It is reported that the Russian military is advancing near Myrnohrad in the Donetsk People's Republic (ДНР), in the New Economic Zone, where the Ukrainian military recently attempted a counterattack, as well as south of Kostyantynivka (from Romanoivka towards Kryvyi Rih - Beketovka direction).
Russian Advance Near Myrnohrad (Source: Russian Ministry of Defense)
Zaporozhye Front
The Russian military is fighting outside Stepanovka, while the Ukrainian military is resisting fiercely; in the Primorske area, both sides are engaged in intense battles, with the Ukrainian military frequently using drones and artillery to attack Russian positions.
Donetsk Front
Southern Donbas direction: The Russians are attacking Portivka, and the Russian Ministry of Defense has announced the liberation of the village of Beriozovoye; the Russians are also advancing in the areas of Novoivanovka and Novonikolayevka.
Pokrovsk direction: Both sides are competing for New Pavlovka south of Pokrovsk; the situation in Dobropolye remains tense, with the Ukrainian military deploying reserve forces and launching fierce counterattacks in the areas of Rodinske-Nikonorovka and Vladimirovka, attempting to cut off the Russian forces' bulge towards Boykovka and Novotroitsk. The Russians are fighting fiercely with the Ukrainian military in the areas of Sofiyivka and Novoshakhtinsk.
Konstantinovka direction: The Russians are continuing their advance in the Katriynivka area.
Lysychansk direction: The encirclement around Lysychansk is tightening steadily; in the northern area, the Russians are advancing from the Shereblyany Forest toward Dronovka; the fighting in Veymka and Pereznaye continues.
Kharkiv Front
Kupiansk direction: The Russians continue to attack Stepovoye Novoselovka, Petro Pavlovka, and Kondratyevka, and are engaging in combat in the northwestern suburbs of Kupiansk.
Sumy Front
It is reported that the Ukrainian military is actively launching counterattacks, but has suffered significant losses of armored equipment in the process; the fierce fighting continues, and there has been no significant change in the front lines.
Crimea Direction
Recently, the frequency of missile and drone strikes by the Russian military in the Crimea direction has significantly increased. The Ukrainian military is trying to clear the Russian air defense forces on the Crimean Peninsula by using FPV drones and "Lancet" (Ланцет) drones.
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