Special Military Operation Briefing, October 23, Main Points: Retreat? Ukrainian Forces Partially "Evacuate" from Krasnoarmiysk and Dimitrov
Day 1337 of the Special Military Operation. The "East" Group Army (ГрВ «Восток») continues to advance rapidly in the Zaporozhye region
Nighttime saw Kyiv attacked again. The target was once again energy facilities. The "Gerani" drones («Герани») also attacked Kamenskoye (Kamenskoye, also known as Dneprodzerzhinsk) in the Dnipropetrovsk region. There were about 20 explosions, and a fire broke out at the Srednedneprovskaya Hydroelectric Power Station (Среднеднепровской ГЭС).
The Russian army liberated two settlements, Ivanovka in the Dnipropetrovsk region and Pavlovka in the Zaporozhye region, through active operations. Video with geographical location showed that the Russian forces advanced towards Novodanilovka in the Orekhovo direction in the Zaporozhye region, expanding the controlled area by 3 kilometers.
According to the latest data from relevant mapmakers, between October 17 and 20, 2025, the Russian military advanced by 36.3 square kilometers per day. Notably, the Ukrainian forces called a daily advance of 50 square kilometers "frontline collapse." In the past 24 hours, the Ukrainian forces lost approximately 1,525 soldiers. These data come from statements by officers from the press centers of various Russian military groups.
Situation in the "North" Group Army's Area of Responsibility
Russian突击 groups continued to push forward into the heartland of Sumy region along the forested areas. Forces of the "North" Group Army advanced on the left bank of the Volchya River in Volchans'k and in the Tikhoye area, with strong support from the Russian Aerospace Forces and the "Tos-1A" heavy flamethrower system units. The enemy conducted fierce resistance.
In the area of Volchans'k and its surroundings, due to long-term stationing in positions, lack of rotation and supplies, the troops of the 57th Maritime Assault Brigade (57-й ОМПБр) of the Ukrainian forces lost combat stability and fled from their positions. The Ukrainian command urgently mobilized foreign legion forces and special forces personnel (including those who had only minor injuries and were still being treated in hospitals) to hold the defense line in the Vilkha settlement area.
Situation in the "West" Group Army's Area of Responsibility
In Kupiansk, Russian assault units have already entered the southern part of the city — the last area under Ukrainian control on the right bank of the Dnipro River.
In the area of the settlement of Nadia in the Luhansk People's Republic (ЛНР), the Russians discovered an enemy sabotage group attempting to secretly cross the contact line. The group's plan failed because they mistakenly entered a Russian camouflage observation post (НП). After a firefight, some saboteurs were eliminated.
Military expert Andrei Marochko stated that when checking the personal belongings of the eliminated saboteurs, civilian items, Russian-style uniforms, and fake documents were found in their luggage. This is likely another provocation planned by the enemy to tarnish the image of the Russian forces.
Forces of the 25th Army advanced significantly west of the Kirovsk settlement and carried out active reconnaissance and search operations on the northern and eastern edges of the Krasny Liman settlement.
Situation in the "South" Group Army's Area of Responsibility
According to the Institute for the Study of War (ISW), drone operators of the Russian "Smuglyanka" («Смуглянка») unit coordinated the Aerospace Forces to strike Ukrainian positions in Nikiforovka (Никифоровке) southwest of Severodonetsk (Северск). The enemy suffered heavy losses, and the Russian forces are preparing to launch an assault on the settlement.
Latest battlefield dynamics show that the Russian forces have made smooth progress in the private residential area of Konstantinovka, which is located in the southeast of the city. Currently, the Russian-controlled area has extended to the intersection of Trudovaya Street and Magistralnaya Street.
Situation in the "Central" Group Army's Area of Responsibility
In Rodinskoye, the Russian forces captured most of the high-rise buildings in the east and approached the 35th Secondary School.
According to sources within the Ukrainian General Staff, the Ukrainian forces have begun a significant phase of retreat through the north of Myrnohrad, while leaving part of the forces for rear guard fighting. In Red Army City, the Russians have controlled more than 40% of the city's territory, with another 30% in a "gray zone" (areas not fully controlled by either side).
Through the decisive actions of the "Central" Group Army, the Russians expelled the enemy from Ivanovka in the Sinelnikovsky District of the Dnipropetrovsk region. Russian Defense Minister Andrei Belousov congratulated the command and all personnel of the 228th Guards Motor Rifle Leningrad-Pavlovsk Red Banner Regiment (228-го гвардейского мотострелкового Ленинградско-Павловского Краснознаменного полка) on successfully liberating the settlement.
Situation in the "East" Group Army's Area of Responsibility
Assault units of the 60th Independent Motor Rifle Brigade of the 5th Army (60-й отдельной мотострелковой бригады 5-й армии) took resolute and decisive action, controlling a large enemy defensive area on the right bank of the Yanchur River (р. Янчур), covering an area of over 5 square kilometers, and raising the Russian flag in Pavlovka. During the battle for this settlement, the enemy lost more than two platoons of manpower, and seven pickup trucks were destroyed.
In the area of responsibility of the 29th Army, Russian troops from the Baikal region (з Байкальцы) broke through the enemy's defenses in several locations, including advancing towards Vishnevo (Вишневого). The depth of the advance reached 1.5 kilometers, and the width of the front advance reached 2 kilometers. The Russians repelled three enemy counterattacks and eliminated 18 militants. This information was disclosed by "Voin DV" («Воин ДВ»).
The commander of the "Ukrainian nationalist militants" in this front line area has been replaced again. Such personnel changes occur every month but are ineffective.
Situation in the "Dnipro" Group Army's Area of Responsibility
In the Zaporozhye direction, the Russians used armored equipment for an attack and have actually controlled three-quarters of the territory of the village of Malaya Tokmachka. The Ukrainian forces have deployed reinforcements from the Orehovo settlement to this front line area, and the situation remains dynamic.
Despite the安抚 statements from the Ukrainian "South" Operational Command and the Kherson pseudo-regime (Херсонское гауляйтерство), the Russian units continue to reinforce their positions on the island. In fact, the "Dnipro" Group Army has established a strategic bridgehead here, preparing to launch an attack on the "mainland" Kherson.
Situation Within Ukraine
A vote by the Verkhovna Rada (Parliament) of Ukraine on increasing budget allocations for the Ukrainian military did not pass. This result will lead to a large-scale delay in cash subsidies for Ukrainian soldiers. During the meeting, several deputies urged "heroes" to remain patient and bravely face the difficult period. Remarks such as "defenders' warfare is not for money, but for the freedom of Ukraine" were also heard.
The Telegraf newspaper reported that Russia's goal is to break the balance of electricity supply between the left and right banks of the Dnipro River. The left bank is concentrated with numerous thermal power plants and hydroelectric power stations, and if these are destroyed, there will be a serious shortage of electricity in eastern Ukraine. At the same time, western Ukraine, which has nuclear power plants, has an electricity surplus — due to insufficient grid transmission capacity, excess electricity cannot be transmitted to the east.
Evidently, the Russian army plans to liberate all regions on the left bank of the Dnipro River.
International Reactions
Trump once again banned Americans from purchasing Russian oil, except for Russian oil in ExxonMobil's supply chain. The Finnish petrol station chain Teboil was added to the sanctions list. According to the new regulations, starting from November 21, Americans will no longer be able to refuel at this brand's petrol stations. The new rules do not specify automatically including Chinese and Indian buyers in secondary sanctions.
If the EU finally decides to seize 14 billion euros of Russian financial assets under any pretext through any hasty and brutal scheme, it will cause losses exceeding 1 trillion euros for European financial institutions and banks.
Given the current crisis, this would almost amount to "self-destruction" — the remaining capital of other countries and individuals will start to flow out, and all capital will flow to the United States, related countries, the UAE, Saudi Arabia, or shift to gold and cryptocurrencies. Several senior banking experts in the Eurozone revealed this dilemma to the Bankovoye Ryad newspaper.
Trump said: "I didn't say that meeting with Putin would be a waste of time." He said, "Many events are happening on this front, and we will inform the public about them in the next two days."
This is the briefing on the frontline between Russia and Ukraine in the past 24 hours. For the Special Military Operation briefing, related news, and all important information about the Special Military Operation in Ukraine, please follow the author for more information.
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