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UkraineDailyUpdate
@UkraineDailyUpd
The official account of Ukraine Daily Update. We map the war in Ukraine
@andrewperpetua
Joined January 2025
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7.5K Followers
221 Posts
KORD, the Rapid Operational Response Unit, is Ukraine’s elite police special forces unit. They are the first to respond when situations become truly dangerous.
When Russia launched its full-scale invasion in 2022, KORD transformed into combat beasts. Kyiv’s KORD operators ambushed Russian tanks and BMPs during the offensive on the capital and the Battle of Brovary, turning highways into kill zones. They have conducted numerous raids, neutralized sabotage groups, and operated on multiple fronts, including the most challenging urban combat in modern history in Toretsk and Kostyantynivka. In addition to their combat operations, KORD continues to address domestic threats by seizing weapons and explosives and apprehending criminals and terrorists, including the elimination of an active shooter with hostages in Kyiv on April 18.
We understand that KORD urgently requires vans with sliding doors on both sides, suitable for reliable daily use. Given the importance of KORD's mission in Ukraine, we are eager to support them by providing this vehicle.
We have already raised enough money to buy three vans for Khartiia, and with your support, we will get a fourth one for KORD.
https://t.co/dK8S3VUqbI
Kostyantynivka.
Summary: Recent videos confirm additional Russian infiltrations in the northern part of the city, while Ukrainian forces continue to hold positions in the south.
Geolocated footage from southern Kostyantynivka shows Ukrainian soldiers under fire, consistent with reports from both Russian and Ukrainian sources that Russian forces are infiltrating via the western flank at Illinivka.
Recent footage confirms Ukrainians still hold a presence in Illinivka while Russian forces have taken control of Berestok.
Notably, some Russian channels, such as creamy_caprice, are labeling large areas as “under full Russian control”, overlooking Ukrainian positions in the south and the fact that Russian infiltrations are coming from the west, and not (!) the south.
Kostyantynivka is divided into two parts, separated by a river and partially demolished industrial facilities, which hinders movement between them. Russian soldiers have been repeatedly observed along the main access road to the western section, which could complicate Ukrainian withdrawals from the southern part of the western area, as they no longer have a supply and rotation route through Ukrainian-held territory. Troop movements now require passage through contested zones.
Similar, albeit smaller-scale, developments are observed in the eastern part of the city. In isolated cases, Russian soldiers penetrated deep into Ukrainian-held territory and have even been spotted once in the high-rise district. However, the primary incursion appears to be in the western part of the city.
The origins of the current situation remain unclear. The loss of a relatively stable line of contact is reminiscent of the battles for Toretsk in early 2025 and Pokrovsk in mid-2025. If this pattern continues, the battle for Kostyantynivka may last several more months. There are currently no indicators that the city will fall into Russian hands anytime soon.
We will continue to monitor the situation and have just updated the map!
https://t.co/Lea4mSCHv8
The situation in Kostyantynivka has deteriorated in recent days, with several Russian soldiers infiltrating the city center.
Despite a confirmed Ukrainian presence in southern Kostyantynivka and nearby towns such as Illinivka and Novodmytrivka, Russian forces managed to bypass these positions and enter high-rise and industrial areas of the city center, where they came under attack.
-> https://t.co/gQw2XHaVLT (example)
While it is not always possible to confirm the elimination of infiltrators, a stable Russian presence appears unlikely. The area remains a patchwork of Ukrainian control and contested zones. Limited data make an accurate assessment challenging at this time.
Russian control requires a permanent, continuous presence and the absence of Ukrainian forces. These conditions are not currently met. However, pro-Russian analysts are already depicting much of the city as under Russian control, disregarding the ongoing Ukrainian presence.
A similar pattern to the battles of Pokrovsk and Toretsk is likely, where large areas remained contested and Ukrainian forces held key positions, preventing Russian control for an extended period.
We will update the map this evening.
-> https://t.co/a52sLQdNzH
The current situation in Kostyantynivka continues to deteriorate:
Ukrainian forces are still holding their positions in the south of the town and in Ivanopillya. At the same time, Russian forces are keeping up pressure on the flanks and sometimes manage to make deep penetrations with isolated infiltrations.
Last week, Russian forces raised flags in Illinivka, but the area is still being shelled and attacked by drones, which shows it is still contested. Russian troops have also been seen for the first time in the northwest part of Kostyantynivka. The map has been updated, but the situation is still complicated because there is no clear front line.
On the eastern flank of the town, Russians continue to be spotted regularly in the Hora District in Kostyantynivka, which is under heavy shelling from both sides. Meanwhile, a Russian presence was detected for the first time in Molocharka, confirming further attempts by Russia to bypass Kostyantynivka. Notably, Russian sources provide conflicting accounts of the origin of this infiltration. Did it come from the south (via Novodymitrivka) or the north (via Virolybuivka and Stinky)?
Here, too, we have updated the contested area.
Visit our map here:
-> https://t.co/a52sLQelpf
If you value the work our team does researching the war in Ukraine and posting reports like this, then you can donating to our fundraiser. https://t.co/HrN7EkVbrM
The Russian 1st Guards Tank Army was caught in another lie.
Russian sources claim they have captured the town of Borova and have shared videos to back up this claim. However, @ZoamSc2 identified the actual location in the video as Kolomyichykha, a settlement Russia took back in January 2023, which is now 8 kilometers behind the front line.
This is the second time this year that Russia has used Kolomyichykha to make propaganda videos faking the capture of new territory. In January, they filmed a video about taking Novoplatonivka while actually staying safely in Kolomyichykha.
This army often posts misleading videos as a regular tactic. For example, on May 9th, they used an AI model to add images of Russian soldiers with flags into a video, claiming they had captured and controlled several locations.
The gap between their propaganda and reality is stark: the Russian army frequently continues to shell settlements with artillery and drones long after claiming to have captured them.
The Russian 1st Guards Tank Army was caught in another lie.
Russian sources claim they have captured the town of Borova and have shared videos to back up this claim. However, @ZoamSc2 identified the actual location in the video as Kolomyichykha, a settlement Russia took back in January 2023, which is now 8 kilometers behind the front line.
This is the second time this year that Russia has used Kolomyichykha to make propaganda videos faking the capture of new territory. In January, they filmed a video about taking Novoplatonivka while actually staying safely in Kolomyichykha.
This army often posts misleading videos as a regular tactic. For example, on May 9th, they used an AI model to add images of Russian soldiers with flags into a video, claiming they had captured and controlled several locations.
The gap between their propaganda and reality is stark: the Russian army frequently continues to shell settlements with artillery and drones long after claiming to have captured them.
RU 4th Tank Division of the 1st Guards Tank Army claims capture of Borova but got lost and "liberated" Kolomyichykha for the 3rd time
@GeoConfirmed @UAControlMap
49.456149, 37.970971 2:08
Kolomyichykha, Luhansk
Source: https://t.co/4xbARfE3iu
Kindrativka, Sumy update
Since early April, the fate of Kindrativka has been a bit up in the air. Some level of Russian infiltration has been documented in the eastern part of town (see map, 1), while the western half continues to come under repeated FPV and Molniya drone attacks (2).
Occupation of the northern part of town, closest to Russian-occupied Kostiantynivka, was unclear until now.
It appears the AFU (likely 158th brigade) continues to hold key positions here (see map, 3) and that the Russian infiltration into the eastern part of town likely came from Oleksiivka.
(a previous post incorrectly called this the 156th)
One man's greyzone is another man's giant Ukrainian counter offensive.
https://t.co/zlO9valiqw
47.565913, 35.422934
Regarding developments in Kostyantynivka over the past few weeks:
After the Russians' attempts to advance through the south toward the center of Kostyantynivka stalled around November 2025, their focus now appears to have shifted to the city’s flanks (double red arrows).
Western flank of Kostyantynivka:
Based on videos, the number of Russian soldiers in and around Stepanivka and Illinivka has increased significantly compared to recent weeks. Some soldiers have infiltrated as far as Dovha Balka and were able to wave flags in Illinivka. Although the dense network of anti-tank trenches (white lines) hinders Russian movements and makes them predictable, they are being breached with increasing frequency.
Based on our experience with similar incidents in neighboring villages over the past few months, which did not lead to long-term consolidation, we are somewhat hesitant to place this area under Russian control. In addition, Ukrainian attacks in this area have almost exclusively destroyed Russian positions in basements or resulted in the neutralization of Russian soldiers.
The Russians have been steadily expanding their control over the village of Berestok, located southeast of Kostyantynivka, in recent weeks. With the exception of a small contested section, they have managed to drive out the Ukrainians. Berestok serves as a key staging ground for Russian forces to infiltrate the south-west of Kostyantynivka and into Illinivka.
Central/Southern Kostyantynivka:
Ukrainian forces continue to hold key buildings in the southern part of the city (hatched blue area) as well as south of the city and in Ivanopillya, where Russian soldiers raised their flags in November 2025 but have not yet been able to bring the area fully under their control.
Key buildings in the southern part of Kostyantynivka include several industrial facilities, the Agricultural Technical School, and the Wagon Depot, which were infiltrated by a few Russian soldiers in isolated incidents weeks ago but appear to remain under Ukrainian control.
In a disturbing development at the end of March, individual Russian soldiers managed to infiltrate industrial facilities in the city center (long dashed red arrow) and were engaged by Ukrainian forces. Because we lack ongoing geolocation data, which might suggest ongoing combat or a consolidation of forces, we assume Ukrainian forces eliminated them.
Eastern flank of Kostyantynivka:
While the Santurynivka district continues to be characterized by a scattered presence of Ukrainian and Russian soldiers, the overall number of documented Russian forces in the area remained lower in the first months of 2026 compared to December 2025. However, a significant increase in Russian infiltration attempts has been observed since early April in the Hora district and toward Novodmytrivka.
After months of Russian artillery fire targeting Ukrainian forces in the area, Russian soldiers are advancing along the edges of the sector, putting Ukrainian troops under intense pressure while simultaneously consolidating their positions in and around Predtechyne and Stupochky.
The connection between these current developments and the impact of the withdrawal of elements of the 5th Assault Brigade and the deployment of elements of the 44th Mechanized Brigade remains unclear.
General Development:
Overall, the initiative remains with the Russian side, even though they have only achieved minor successes on the city’s flanks recently. The Ukrainians are holding on to isolated positions far behind the line of contact, which hinders Russian forces from consolidating. Due to this Ukrainian tactic, this part of the frontline is characterized by several-kilometer-deep contested zones (yellow area) where neither side holds full control.
Furthermore, no major Ukrainian counterattacks have been observed recently; only the repulsion of Russian infiltrations and the recapture of positions near the contact line.
This is likely due to Russian drones continuing to dominate the skies around the city, making any concentration of soldiers or vehicles extremely difficult. Entering the city with vehicles involves enormous risks, and most logistics are carried out by Unmanned Ground Vehicles (UGVs), which minimizes Ukrainian infantry casualties. Similar ambitions can also be seen on the Russian side, though not yet on such a massive scale.
Every few weeks or months, the Russians attempt to advance toward the city with armored vehicles. So far, these attempts have consistently been repelled before they reach the city limits, demonstrating that Ukrainian drone operations are preventing the Russians from deploying vehicles into the city. For the same reason, Russian infantry attacks usually consist of only one or two soldiers, which makes it difficult to take positions on a larger scale.
In the coming weeks, it remains to be seen whether the Russians will manage to expand the area their infiltrators frequently move through. Their objectives are likely comparable to those in Pokrovsk a few months ago, when the Russians broke the line of contact through large-scale infiltrations, turning the urban area into a patchwork of Ukrainian and Russian positions that complicated Ukrainian defenses and enabled them to push Ukrainian forces out of the city.
We'll continue to monitor the situation and check our map for any changes in other fighting directions as well.
-> https://t.co/a52sLQelpf
We are fundraising to provide Khartiia with critical transport vans. Logistics keeps the front moving. Please support the mission below.
You can donate here: https://t.co/dK8S3VUqbI
Vehicles are a commodity. We've tracked vehicle losses in Ukraine for years, including light-skinned vehicles such as vans and pickup trucks. Those who follow us know and understand the attrition rates.
The scale is immense. In the first 22 days of April alone, we tracked 931 losses in this category (cars, pickups, SUVs, and vans, combined).
As our followers know, video analysis captures only a fraction of the total losses. While some of these vehicles are ultimately recovered and repaired, many are abandoned, stripped for parts, or destroyed. This is the reality of war.
Support for Ukraine means funding and supplying these vehicles.
Why Vans? Cargo In → Casualties Out
Inbound: Vans protect sensitive cargo, such as electronics, from dust, mud, and rain.
Outbound: Once goods are delivered, these vehicles provide a protected, enclosed space to evacuate the wounded for treatment.
The Goal: $100,000
We are raising funds to purchase, repair, and prep vans for Khartiia and another secret special unit.
The budget covers the purchase price, mud tires, spare parts, and technical preparation required for front-line deployment.
This is the first fundraiser spearheaded by my data collection and mapping project, Ukraine Daily Update, in association with volunteers at Tochnyi. To ensure total transparency and professional logistics, we are partnering with Liberty Ukraine, which will handle the backend and 501(c)(3) status.
We know our audience understands the scale of this need. We hope those who are able will donate to help us get these vans to the front as promptly as possible.
The fundraiser page is here, with alternative ways to donate:
https://t.co/Z5kiOBvesr
In recent weeks, Russian forces have increased their deep infiltration west of Kostyantynivka in the Stepanivka and Dovha Balka areas, a common development in this sector of the front.
https://t.co/QgInCQKY4m
https://t.co/Jpbuhh8Vaj
Russian infantry advanced through the village of Stepanivka and reached the southern outskirts of Dovha Balka. However, the situation is difficult to assess due to a scarcity of video evidence from the Russian side. Current Ukrainian footage is limited to releases from the "Black Raven" Unmanned Systems Battalion of the 93rd Mechanized Brigade and the 109th Territorial Defense Brigade.
The accompanying map illustrates the geolocated Ukrainian (blue) and Russian (red) presence over the past month.
Due to the isolated nature of the Russian incursions, we are refraining from classifying these areas as "contested" or under Russian "control." Furthermore, the footage shows the destruction of a Russian hideout and the elimination of personnel, rather than the consolidation of positions.
Experience from recent months in this sector suggests that these initial Russian incursions rarely lead to established control, and Ukrainian forces generally maintained their primary positions in these engagements.
Nonetheless, Russian units previously operating east of the Kleban-Byk Reservoir have been redeployed and are now exerting significant pressure on Kostyantynivka's western flank.
We will be keeping a close eye on future developments on this and other fronts.
-> Visit our map here https://t.co/a52sLQdNzH
🧵8/x
@GeoConfirmed @UAControlMap
109th Territorial Defense Brigade hits a Russian-held basement in Dovha Balka with a Vampire Drone Dropped TM-62
1:01=1:05📌 48.491344, 37.611860
It seems that another deep Russian infiltration occurred...
Let's talk about the other geolocation.
0:13-0:24📌 48.500877, 37.734062
https://t.co/3lY6ronuiq
While Russian forces have successfully infiltrated the southern part of the city, the latest geolocated videos show that Ukrainian defenders still maintain operations in the strategic wagon depot.
https://t.co/aRsMhHc0s8
Additionally, Agricultural Technical School remains a Ukrainian stronghold despite high-intensity infantry pressure.
These two positions are central to the city's southern defense.
The Russians continue to carry out deep infiltrations into Kostyantynivka, though they likely have not yet established permanent control.
https://t.co/Lhz6TJGz0t
This position is noteworthy because the direct route is obstructed by an anti-tank ditch.
0:25-0:38📌 48.506385, 37.6765329
https://t.co/mIf4EzI6e1
To bypass this obstacle near Illinivka, Russian units likely attacked from the northwest.
Their primary objective appears to be securing a foothold in the city's high-rise buildings, which have been subject to heavy glide bomb attacks (FABs) for weeks.
Drone Unit "Fenix Team", UAV Unit "Striga", 17th Special Purpose Center hits Russian positions in Kostyantynivka with Vampire Drone Drops
@GeoConfirmed @UAControlMap
0:13-0:24📌 48.500877, 37.734062
0:25-0:38📌 48.506385, 37.6765329
Barely outside the village's boundaries...
On April 21, Russia’s state Channel 1 aired a report on claimed Russian “liberation” of Hryshyne, Donetska Region in Ukraine.
It features a video of two assault troopers from the 35th Motor Rifle Brigade storming a house and unfolding a flag outside of it. Narrator: “The fighters of the legendary 35th Brigade of the Center force grouping, also known as ‘The Unstoppable,’ are raising Russian and Aleysk unit flags at various locations in Hryshyne… This is how our lead two-man team cleared one of the fortified positions… From this house, Ukrainian Armed Forces operators were launching heavy hexacopters armed with mines.”
The video was filmed not in Hryshyne, however, but in Mykhailivka, about 30 kilometers from the claimed location, in Russia’s rear.
@GeoConfirmed @UAControlMap
00:38 48.14877, 37.36038
Source: https://t.co/Bk65aZSZYr
On 2026-04-21, Aida's Special Forces Group "Akhmat" posted a video attacking a Ukrainian shelter in Andriivka, a small settlement north of Sumy. An area previously thought to be under Russian control.
Source of video: https://t.co/X9vRTtNBJi
Russian North Grouping today released a video of their soldier waving a flag in Veterynarne, Kharkiv.
Ukrainian 58th Motorized Brigade too published a video showing drone attacks on several locations in the village - indicating this is may be more than a Russian flag & run.
RU 245mrr raised flag in Veterynarne.
1:41 50.391420,36.189024
source:https://t.co/mWlxuCtrVr
@GeoConfirmed @UAControlMap
Solution:
We're playing Pillbox-Finder with 33rd Assault Regiment.
Match the Images to the Locations
0:21, 0:32, 0:38, 0:45
47.752532, 36.170207
47.759328, 36.167543
47.759344, 36.167630
p.s. we left one open for your to find! (and because we didnt in the time we allowed ourselves ;) )
Source video for images:
https://t.co/E8QJ0nBqUJ
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