Victory Chronicles-DAY 1218

NATO: Heavy Russian losses in Sumy Oblast undermine strategic goals, highlights limits of offensive capacity

Despite a new renewed push in the northeastern Sumy region, NATO intelligence assessments suggest that Russia’s broader strategic ambitions – that of encircling key Ukrainian cities to destabilize the northeast – are being thwarted by catastrophic battlefield losses. 

A senior NATO official, citing allied intelligence, confirmed Ukraine’s estimates that Russian forces have suffered over one million casualties, including around 250,000 killed and have reached unsustainable levels. 

The intensity of daily losses average about 1,300 troops, largely due to costly frontal assaults, including in Sumy, that only lead to limited tactical gains.

Russia aims to create a buffer zone after operations in its Kursk region but is facing high attrition. While some tactical progress has been made, NATO sees no realistic prospect of surrounding Sumy soon. Instead, Russia may attempt to bypass the city and expand the frontline to the north and northeast, though past efforts have failed.

The frontline has remained largely unchanged in recent months. NATO also confirmed Ukrainian gains near Tyotkino in neighboring Kursk Oblast, further complicating Russia’s advance.

Deaths in Dnipro from Russian strike in Dnipro climbs to 18, with nearly 300 civilians injured. Eighteen civilian fatalities were recorded in the southeastern city of Dnipro on June 24 following Russian bombardment that included ballistic missiles, with two more fatalities reported in the surrounding region, regional governor Serhii Lysak said on June 25. Nearly 300 people were injured in the attack, which also damaged civilian infrastructure, including a passenger train. Additional strikes overnight hit Nikopol with first-person view drones and Novopavlivka with guided bombs, sparking fires but causing no further casualties. Local officials declared a day of mourning as rescue efforts and damage assessments continue.

Rescue operation completed after Russian strike on educational facility in Odesa region. Emergency crews have completed search and rescue operations in Bilhorod-Dnistrovskyi, Odesa Oblast, following a Russian missile strike on a local educational institution on June 23 .

The operation involved 74 rescuers, 16 State Emergency Service (SES) vehicles, canine teams, local fire units, and volunteers from the Ukrainian Red Cross. Their coordinated efforts enabled the swift removal of rubble and the provision of aid to victims.

In total, three civilians  were confirmed killed and 14 injured, including two children. Responders worked through the aftermath to stabilize the site and ensure no one remained trapped.

Ukrainian border guards destroy Russian armor and vehicles in Kharkiv region. Border guards from the “Phoenix” unit of the “Revenge” Brigade have destroyed multiple pieces of Russian military equipment and dispersed enemy infantry in the Kharkiv region, according to the State Border Guard Service of Ukraine.

The strikes reportedly took out an infantry fighting vehicle a BTR armored personnel carrier, several heavy armored units, trucks, and Russian “Bukhanka” vans. On the Kupiansk front, another BMP, BTR, two armored vehicles, a motorcycle, and three trucks were destroyed.

Key Takeaways:

• NATO General Secretary Mark Rutte assessed that Russia is the largest existential threat to NATO members today and that Russia is preparing for a protracted war with NATO.
• The Kremlin continues efforts to augment Russian combat power by setting conditions to subsume forces from Russia’s Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO) allies under a Russian military command.
• Russian forces are expanding their use of motorcycles along the frontline in Ukraine — a tactic that the Russian military may leverage in future wars beyond Ukraine, possibly including operations against NATO states.
• NATO General Secretary Mark Rutte highlighted NATO’s plans to invest more in its own defense capabilities, including by investing in the Ukrainian defense industrial base (DIB) — in line with US President Donald Trump’s initiative for Europe to shoulder more of the burden of collective security.
• Ukraine’s European partners allocated military aid to Ukraine and financial support for drone production during the NATO summit on June 24.
• Russian forces conducted a series of drone strikes against Ukraine on the night of June 23 to 24 that resulted in over 100 civilian casualties.
• Ukrainian forces recently advanced near Toretsk and Kherson City, and Russian forces recently advanced in northern Sumy Oblast and near Chasiv Yar, Pokrovsk, and Novopavlivka.

In Memoriam: Pavlo Bordyuhov, a hero of Ukraine’s defense forces

Cpt. Pavlo Bordyuhov, a helicopter commander, was killed in action on July 2, 2022, during a combat flight near the village of Novomaryanivka in the Kryvyi Rih district of Dnipropetrovsk region. He was 28 years old.

Bordyuhov was born in the Donetsk regional town of Sloviansk and later lived mostly in Kherson. He served as part of Ukraine’s peacekeeping contingent under the United Nations.

At the start of Russia’s full-scale invasion, he evacuated his parents and fiancée to Oleksandriia, then returned to the front lines to carry out combat missions.

During his military service, Bordyuhov was awarded the Medal “For Military Service to Ukraine.” He was posthumously honored with the Order “For Courage,” 3rd class.

He was laid to rest in the Oleksandriia community located in the Kirovohrad region. He is survived by his parents and fiancée.

*Bordyuhov’s story on the Heroes Memorial – a platform for stories about the fallen defenders of Ukraine.

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