Source: DeepState

Quote: "The enemy has advanced near Novodmytrivka and Stepok."

Previously: On 14 April, DeepState reported that Russian forces continue to create a buffer zone along the state border in Sumy Oblast.

The newly formed area of Russian control and infiltration (red and grey zones) along the border in Sumy Oblast currently amounts to about 150 sq km.

Background:

• In March 2026, DeepState said Russian troops intensified their activity near the Ukrainian state border in Sumy Oblast, attempting to expand their zone of control in border villages.
• On 13 April, Russian forces advanced south from the village of Yablunivka in the Yunakivka hromada in Sumy Oblast. [A hromada is an administrative unit designating a village, several villages, or a town, and their adjacent territories – ed.]
• On 3 April, Russian forces advanced near the village of Riasne in Sumy Oblast, close to the border with Russia.

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Source: Oleh Hryhorov, Head of Sumy Oblast Military Administration; Artem Kobzar, acting Mayor of Sumy; State Emergency Service of Ukraine

Details: Hryhorov said Russian forces had launched drone attacks on petrol stations in the Sumy hromada twice on 16 April. [A hromada is an administrative unit designating a village, several villages, or a town, and their adjacent territories – ed.]

Following the first strike, a woman working at the petrol station suffered an acute stress reaction. In the other strike, one person was killed and another was injured. Information on the casualties is being gathered.

Kobzar said the Russians struck the second station with a Lancet drone, causing fire. The attack took place in the Zarichnyi district of the city.

The State Emergency Service of Ukraine released photographs from the scene of the strike on one of the petrol stations. It reported that the ensuing fire there has already been extinguished.

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Source: Oleksandr Hanzha, Head of Dnipropetrovsk Oblast Military Administration, on social media

Quote: "A 48-year-old man died in hospital after sustaining critical injuries in the overnight Russian attack on Dnipro. Doctors fought to save his life until the very end, but sadly, they were unable to save him."

Details: Hanzha said that the Russian strike on the city has now claimed four lives.

Background: It was reported earlier that three people had been killed in Russian strikes on Dnipropetrovsk Oblast. Another man was killed in the Nikopol district. Another 34 people in the city of Dnipro and Dnipropetrovsk Oblast were injured.

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Source: 1st Azov Corps of Ukraine's National Guard

Quote: "Strike UAV pilots are hunting Russian logistics in the deep operational zone. Drones are keeping all logistics routes around Donetsk under control."

Details: The military said active UAV operations along the routes of Zuhres, Andriivka, Starobesheve, Horlivka, Lysychansk and the Donetsk ring road indicate the ineffectiveness of Russia's airspace control system.

"Not long ago, the occupiers felt completely safe there. But now all military targets moving along roads around Donetsk will be destroyed," the Corps said.

Background: On 15 April, Oleksandr Syrskyi, Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces, said that Russian forces have intensified offensive operations along almost the entire 1,200 km front line following changes in weather conditions, while Ukrainian defenders are engaged in active defence.

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Source: Ukrainska Pravda correspondent, citing Klymenko

Details: Responding to journalists' questions about the possibility of a notice of suspicion being served on Yermak, Klymenko said the prosecution's position must be as well substantiated as possible and supported by the maximum amount of evidence.

Quote: "Ninety-five per cent of the searches we conduct do not end with notices of suspicion. In this category of cases, the position must be as well substantiated as possible and supported by as much evidence as possible. We must not enter proceedings with a weak position – we must begin them exclusively with a strong one."

Details: Klymenko noted that the agency's approach is based on actual evidence and legal grounds rather than public expectations.

He added that SAPO must be guided exclusively by the law and preserve its independence.

In response to a follow-up question from the Ukrainska Pravda correspondent, Klymenko said that SAPO cannot make such procedural decisions public in advance because doing so would violate the presumption of innocence.

"We cannot violate the law and then lose cases because we violated the law," Klymenko concluded.

Background: Ukrainska Pravda learned that businessman Tymur Mindich, suspected of corruption in the energy sector, and Yermak had been summoned to a hearing at the High Anti-Corruption Court regarding the seizure of assets following a search in Kyiv.

Read more: The president's men: how Zelenskyy's friends plundered Ukraine during the war

Previously:

• On 28 November 2025, Ukrainska Pravda reported that detectives from the National Anti-Corruption Bureau (NABU) and prosecutors from SAPO had conducted searches at Yermak's residence in the government quarter. Yermak confirmed the searches and said he was willing to cooperate with the investigation.
• President Volodymyr Zelenskyy later announced Yermak's resignation. On 2 January, Zelenskyy appointed Defence Intelligence head Kyrylo Budanov as head of the Office.
• Yermak later declared that he would go to the front line after resigning amid a corruption scandal and the investigative actions by NABU at his residence.
• According to ZN.UA, Yermak visited the office of Ukraine's Foreign Intelligence Service on 5 December 2025, although Ukrainska Pravda sources did not confirm this report.

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Source: UkrAvto Group's press service

Details: The group did not specify the number of fatalities. The company building was also damaged, and a significant fire caused major material losses.

A source within the company told Ekonomichna Pravda that the attack damaged showrooms of Mercedes-Benz, Kia and Ducati and that a large number of vehicles were destroyed by fire.

Emergency services and law enforcement are working at the scene.

Background:

• Following a large-scale attack in Kyiv, a production site belonging to DTEK, the largest private energy company in Ukraine, was damaged and one employee was injured.
• Multiple Russian strikes also caused fires in the ports of Greater Odesa, the collective name for the three ports of Odesa, Chornomorsk and Pivdennyi.
• Eight people were killed and 16 injured in a Russian missile and drone attack on Odesa on the night of 15-16 April.
• Four people, including a child, were killed and 54 injured in Russian strikes on Kyiv on the night of 15-16 April. Damage was recorded in Kyiv's Podilskyi, Obolonskyi, Shevchenkivskyi and Desnianskyi districts. Parked cars caught fire and a warehouse, a tyre service centre and a shop were damaged.

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Source: the Dnipro Art Museum on Facebook and in a comment to Vidomo, a local media outlet

Details: The museum administration said not a single window remained intact in the building. The museum's exhibits were not damaged.

The museum said that it will close temporarily and that details of its reopening will be announced in due course.

This is not the first time the museum has suffered from Russian strikes. On 30 September 2025, a Russian attack blew out almost all the windows and doors in the building.

Background:

• Russia struck the city of Dnipro and Dnipropetrovsk Oblast on the night of 15-16 April. Explosions were heard at about 03:00 in the morning. Damage was recorded at 11 locations. Four people were killed and 34 were injured as a result of the Russian strikes on Dnipropetrovsk Oblast.
• Buildings of two universities were damaged in the Russian attack – academic and student accommodation buildings of the Ukrainian State University of Science and Technology and Dnipro Polytechnic.
• The Dnipro City Council Cultural Heritage Protection Department said a heritage building was also damaged for the second time as a result of a Russian strike. The department said the building had kept its original entrance layout, valuable interior design elements and authentic stair railings.

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Source: European Pravda

Details: Kubilius said that Ukraine has requested defence assistance totalling €28.3 billion for 2026, adding that the first supply plan will focus on drones produced by Ukraine's advanced defence industry.

He also noted that the EU expects greater involvement of the European defence industry in subsequent supply plans.

Background:

• The European Commission expects the first tranche of the €90 billion package for Ukraine to be disbursed in the second quarter of 2026.
• Following the defeat of Hungary's ruling party in the 12 April elections, the EU hopes to swiftly unblock both the €90 billion loan for Ukraine and the 20th sanctions package against Russia.
• The European Commission has proposed allocating €45 billion to Ukraine in 2026, including €16.7 billion for budgetary needs and €28.3 billion for the military, defence and weapons production.

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Source: European Pravda, citing the Austrian Foreign Ministry; Ukraine's Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha on X (Twitter)

Details: Austria became the 20th country to announce its participation in the agreement.

Quote from the Austrian Foreign Ministry: "Accountability is a key trajectory of Austria's foreign policy. There can be no lasting peace in Ukraine without accountability."

More details: Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha welcomed Vienna's decision to join the agreement.

Quote from Sybiha: "I am grateful to Austria and my colleague Beate Meinl-Reisinger for once again proving that neutrality does not mean indifference. To the contrary, accountability is critical to ensure a lasting peace on our continent."

Read more: Saving Putin from justice. Who in Europe is stalling the trial and who is helping Ukraine

Background:

• Earlier, Sybiha said Ukraine had secured the "legal minimum" of Council of Europe member states required to put the agreement to a vote. Such a vote is possible at a meeting of the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe on 14 and 15 May in Chișinău.
• France has announced its readiness to join the Enlarged Partial Agreement, which will make it possible to launch the work of the Special Tribunal on Russia's crime of aggression.
• The European Union has allocated the first €10 million towards the work of a special tribunal for the crime of Russia's aggression against Ukraine, which is being created under the aegis of the Council of Europe.

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Virtual reality helps reduce symptoms of anxiety, stress, insomnia, and PTSD more quickly. But most importantly, it changes the very logic of psychological care.

Why We Avoid the Term "Mental Health"?

When we talk about digital immersion -a technology designed to assist psychotherapists we're often asked, "Is this about mental health?"

The answer is both yes and no.

In the public consciousness, the term "mental health" is firmly associated with illness, diagnosis, and crisis. It implies that something has already gone wrong. But most of the people we work with veterans, medical professionals, and people living under chronic stress are rarely "patients" in the classical sense.

They live, work, and go about their business. But under immense pressure. That is precisely why we talk about human resilience as a phenomenon. Not "how to treat," but how to make people stronger preventively and on a large scale.

A Conversation That Shocked Me

I recently spoke with the director of one of the rehabilitation centers that is already using our VR technology. Her words struck me: never before, during the full-scale war, has the situation been this dire. The number of people in critical psychological states is shocking. Prolonged shelling, the loss of loved ones, the destruction of homes all of this leaves invisible scars. And with each passing day, these scars multiply.

Psychological support is falling short of the need. Pain, fear, and despair are building up, creating a real psychological crisis. Helmets are needed, new stories are needed, but there are fewer resources than requests.

How it all began?

From the first days of the full-scale invasion, we filmed the aftermath of Russian crimes and surviving architectural landmarks in 360° video format. Then our friends who served in Kyiv's territorial defense units began returning to civilian life. And we saw how difficult this transition was for them.

A desire to help them gave rise to a new VR technology. It is based on scientifically proven methods for treating PTSD, anxiety, insomnia, and chronic stress.

How it works in practice?

The essence of the technology is simple: it helps psychologists work more effectively.

Here's what a typical session looks like:

• The psychologist assesses the person's condition using proven clinical methods.
• They select a video based on the diagnosis it is viewed through a virtual reality headset.
• The person is immersed in a controlled environment designed to reduce anxiety and improve emotional regulation.

Results are measured before and after the session.

Sessions can be conducted individually or in a group. And importantly, the psychologist can work with several people simultaneously.

Statistics that prove effectiveness/ Clinical results confirm: the technology really works.

Anxiety levels decrease by 15% after the course. Depressive symptoms improve in one out of every ten patients. But the key benefit is scalability. The technology does not replace traditional psychotherapy but enhances it. This is especially true in a situation where there is a catastrophic shortage of qualified specialists. The scale of the problem: 15 million Ukrainians

According to Health Minister Viktor Lyashko, approximately 15 million Ukrainians require psychological assistance due to the war. Of these, 3–4 million require medication.

Against this backdrop, the rehabilitation system remains fragmented, underfunded, and understaffed - especially in the regions. Studies show that the risk of PTSD among veterans reaches 52.6%, but there is no systematic approach to their psychological rehabilitation. Add to this what people face every day: long lines, mistrust, and a lack of specialists and funding.

But there is another problem that is rarely discussed: the traditional "one psychologist one patient" model simply cannot scale when the need is measured in the millions.

The Invisible Barrier: Men Don't Go to a Psychologist

Although seeking psychological help has become less stigmatized, we are still a long way from completely overcoming the stigma. Men, who still view psychologists as something "not for them," are more likely to respond to a "cool gadget." And this isn't manipulation at all. It's a way of engaging. We seek approaches that work for everyone regardless of fears, biases, or perspectives.

Why not yoga? (answer to a common question)

We're often asked: "Why not yoga and breathing exercises?"

They're useful. But they have limitations:

• they require self-discipline;
• they require proper technique;
• they require consistency;
• and most importantly they require the ability to engage even when under stress.

And in the midst of a real crisis, simple techniques often don't work. You need something more straightforward and predictable. Something you can "turn on" and "turn off." Like an inhaler for asthmatics. But people already spend their lives staring at screens

That's another common criticism. And it's valid. Most modern services compete for our attention and increase our anxiety. We do things differently: we use immersive technologies to reduce cognitive load, not increase it.

The difference is enormous. It's like fast food and medicine. Both are consumed. But only one is designed to help.

We're not building an app or just another wellness tool. We're building an infrastructure a system that makes large-scale psychological support possible. Just as cloud computing made it possible to scale software.

Here's what that means in practice:

• a platform that clinics and organizations can connect to;
• standardized therapy sessions;
• tools that allow a single specialist to work with many more people.

Virtual reality technology is already in use at public and private rehabilitation centers across Ukraine. And importantly, the service is free for patients. This is a matter of principle.

It is crucial to ensure that evidence-based methods are accessible to those who need them most, regardless of their life circumstances or financial means. We are working on this all the time.

Viktor Samoilenko, Co-founder and inventor of VR technology

Source: State Emergency Service of Ukraine; Oleksandr Hanzha, Head of Dnipropetrovsk Oblast Military Administration, on Telegram

Quote: "Fires broke out at several locations in Dnipro as a result of a large-scale missile and drone attack yesterday evening and overnight… Sadly, two people have been killed and 30 injured."

Update: After 11:00, Hanzha reported that the death toll in Dnipro had risen to three.

"Rescue workers recovered the body of a woman from a building destroyed by the enemy strike. The Russian attack has claimed the lives of three women," Hanzha said.

Details: Another man was killed and three people were injured in the Nikopol district.

Residential buildings, an office building, garages and cars caught fire in Dnipro. A fire also broke out on the premises of an educational institution. Russian strikes damaged high-rise residential buildings, houses, office buildings, an educational institution, a care home for elderly people, a business facility, garage units and cars.

Russian forces attacked three hromadas in the Nikopol district and the city of Nikopol itself, causing fires in residential areas and in a disused building. A five-storey residential building and a car were damaged. [A hromada is an administrative unit designating a village, several villages, or a town, and their adjacent territories – ed.]

A drone strike damaged a house and destroyed a building attached to it in the Novooleksandrivka hromada in the Dnipro district. A 14-year-old girl was injured in the attack.

Background: It was previously reported that Russian forces had launched strikes on the city of Dnipro on the night of 15-16 April, causing several fires, killing two people and injuring 27.

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Source: European Pravda, citing Rutte at a press conference on 15 April after a meeting of the Ukraine Defence Contact Group (also known as the Ramstein format)

Details: Rutte was asked whether he has received clear assurances from the US that Washington will continue prioritising supplies for Ukraine rather than diverting some types of weapons to its own stockpiles.

Quote: "Well, the good news is that the flow continues, and that there is a broad understanding on both sides of the ocean that we do have to do 'and/and'. That is, make sure that we refill all our stockpiles, because this is not only a US problem, but also a European problem. We have to ramp up defence industrial production. But at the same time, we have to make sure that Ukraine has what it needs to stay in the fight. So, there is a broad agreement on that on both sides of the Atlantic."

Background:

• Rutte also said he is optimistic that Ukraine's partners will continue to find the necessary funding to finance purchases of US weapons through the Prioritised Ukraine Requirements List (PURL) programme.
• Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has said the continuing war in the Middle East has led to a major shortage of interceptor missiles for Patriot air defence systems protecting Ukraine's skies.

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Source: Suspilne Cherkasy, a local branch of the Ukrainian public broadcaster, citing Valentyna Hulianytska, an eyewitness who called an ambulance

Quote from Hulianytska: "The other children scattered, but he was holding two balls so they wouldn't roll away. He was thrown about two metres into the air and then fell. I called an ambulance. Sadly, nothing could be done – he was very badly injured."

Details: Ihor Fesun, head of the regional emergency medical centre, said medics battled to save his life for over an hour, but were unable to do so.

Many of Bohdan's classmates were not at school the next day. His form teacher, Tamara Mahlovana, said the children are struggling to cope with the loss.

Quote from Mahlovana: "Everyone was devastated. Even today, some didn't come to school because it's so hard. Bohdan was very kind and sociable. He loved sport. He never argued or fought with anyone. He was a lovely child, very cheerful."

School No. 25, where Bohdan studied, plans to create a memorial corner in his honour.

Quote from the school: "The school community has suffered a painful loss with the death of Bohdan Serheiev, a second-grade student. A young life cut short by a Russian drone on 14 April 2026 is a tragedy that leaves a deep wound in every heart.

He was a wonderful boy, a ray of sunshine, a bright and successful student and a beloved classmate."

Bohdan will be laid to rest on 16 April at 14:00 at the House of Mourning in Cherkasy.

Background:

• Cherkasy came under a Russian drone attack on 14 April. An eight-year-old boy was killed and 14 people were injured. The following day was declared a day of mourning in the city.
• On the night of 14-15 April, Russia carried out another strike on Cherkasy Oblast, injuring at least four people.

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Source: Oleh Syniehubov, Head of Kharkiv Oblast Military Administration, on Telegram

Quote from Syniehubov: "The invaders attacked Merefa in the morning. A woman has been killed as a result of the strike by an enemy UAV; her age is being clarified. Six other people have been injured."

Details: According to Syniehubov, a 40-year-old woman sustained serious injuries, while women aged 30, 42 and 24 are in a moderate condition. All of them have been hospitalised.

Two men aged 26 and 29 were suffering from shock and were treated at the scene.

The premises belonging to a civilian company were damaged in the attack.

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Source: Kherson City Military Administration on Telegram

Quote from the city authorities: "At around 09:00, the enemy used a drone to attack a car in the Dniprovskyi district – two people have been injured."

Details: A 73-year-old man and a 71-year-old woman sustained blast injuries and multiple shrapnel wounds. They are in a serious condition, and doctors are currently battling to save their lives.

Update: At about 10:00, the Russians attacked another vehicle with a drone, this time in the Korabelnyi district of the city.

A 53-year-old man and a 52-year-old woman were injured in the strike. They sustained blast injuries and concussion. The man also suffered a shrapnel wound to the back. Both are currently in hospital.

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Source: a Ukrainska Pravda article, "Servants of Midas: why spring will NOT reveal who stole what"

Details: Sources in political and business circles have told Ukrainska Pravda that Yermak still maintains control over most appointees at the Office and has full awareness of what is going on.

"One signal from the president and everyone would stop taking calls from Yermak," a UP source in political circles said. "But that signal never came. On the contrary, there is a signal confirming Andrii's authority."

Another source within the government said Yermak's influence has not gone anywhere – it's just become less public: "Yermak's not here, yet he is here" was how the source put it.

Sources also noted that a number of key government figures have retained their positions, and Yermak's influence continues to be felt in terms of personnel decisions.

One experienced politician remarked ironically that it is impossible to "gain access to any brigades or enter the Bar Association" without the president's approval.

"We thought Yermak was the problem, so we fought Yermak – but it was the president," a senior member of Zelenskyy's team told Ukrainska Pravda journalist Mykhailo Tkach off the record two months after Yermak's resignation.

Some sources said, however, that it has been "easier to breathe" and access to leadership has improved since the recent changes at the Office.

Nevertheless, the sources said this apparent decentralisation of influence may be temporary and does not indicate any real change in the decision-making system.

Background:

• On 28 November 2025, Ukrainska Pravda reported that detectives from the National Anti-Corruption Bureau (NABU) and prosecutors from the Specialised Anti-Corruption Prosecutor's Office (SAPO) had conducted searches at Yermak's residence in the government quarter. Yermak confirmed the searches and said he was willing to cooperate with the investigation.
• President Volodymyr Zelenskyy later announced Yermak's resignation. On 2 January, Zelenskyy appointed Defence Intelligence head Kyrylo Budanov as head of the Office.
• Yermak later declared that he would go to the front line after resigning amid a corruption scandal and the investigative actions by NABU at his residence.
• According to ZN.UA, Yermak visited the office of Ukraine's Foreign Intelligence Service on 5 December 2025, although Ukrainska Pravda sources did not confirm this report.

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Source: Serhii Lysak, Head of Odesa City Military Administration, on Telegram; Oleh Kiper, Head of Odesa Oblast Military Administration

Quote from Kiper: "Sadly, nine people have been confirmed dead in Odesa following the nighttime attack, with another 23 injured. Search and rescue operations and efforts to deal with the aftermath are ongoing at the scene."

Details: Lysak said the strikes had damaged infrastructure facilities and a residential building in the Khadzhybeiskyi district. The blast wave shattered over 300 windows in several buildings.

Damage was also reported in one of the parks in the Prymorskyi district. Emergency services are working at the scene.

Oleh Kiper, Head of Odesa Oblast Military Administration, reported later that port, critical and residential infrastructure facilities had been damaged in Odesa as a result of the nighttime Russian attack.

Quote from Kiper: "The façade walls and windows of at least three high-rise buildings have been destroyed, and student accommodation and adjacent buildings have been damaged. Fires have broken out at some infrastructure sites as a result of the strike. Work is ongoing to contain the damage."

Background: Early reports indicated that five people had been injured in the Russian attack on Odesa on the night of 15-16 April.

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Source: Bessent at a briefing in the White House, as reported by European Pravda

Quote from Bessent: "We'll not be renewing the general licence on Russian oil, and we will not be renewing the general licence on Iranian oil. Again, that was oil that was on the water prior to 11 March. So all that has been used."

Details: European Pravda notes that on 12 March, the US lifted sanctions on Russian oil that had already been loaded onto tankers at sea at the time. These exemptions were in place until 11 April.

Bessent said Washington does not intend to renew the sanctions waivers on Russian and Iranian oil.

The exemptions for Tehran are set to expire on 19 April.

Background:

• US Energy Secretary Chris Wright said earlier that the administration is unlikely to grant a new exemption allowing countries to purchase sanctioned Russian oil as part of any measures to curb high fuel prices.
• It was also reported that the US administration has extended an exemption from sanctions, allowing petrol stations operated by Russia's Lukoil outside Russia to continue operating until the end of October.

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Source: Ukrainska Pravda investigation "Servants of Midas: why spring will NOT reveal who stole what"

Details: Sources in political circles told Ukrainska Pravda that Mindich, co-owner of Kvartal 95, the Ukrainian TV production company Volodymyr Zelenskyy founded before he became president, had received a summons to the High Anti-Corruption Court.

Yermak was also called to attend the HACC hearing.

Ukrainska Pravda learnt from sources in law enforcement that the hearing concerned the seizure of property as part of criminal proceedings.

Particular attention has been drawn to the unusual list of items seized during searches at an address at 9A Hrushevskoho Street.

It was there that law enforcement officers searched premises linked to Mindich in November last year.

Sources told Ukrainska Pravda that the seized items were not phones, laptops or other data storage devices, but rather remote controls for household appliances, personal hygiene items, footwear and clothing.

This selection of items may indicate preparations for biological examinations aimed at establishing ownership of these objects.

However, neither Mindich nor Yermak appeared at the HACC hearing.

Read also: The president's men: how Zelenskyy's friends plundered Ukraine during the war

Background:

• On 15 April, Ukraine's High Anti-Corruption Court also extended the pre-trial detention by two months for former Ukrainian energy minister Herman Halushchenko, who, together with Mindich, is a suspect in the Midas case regarding corruption in the energy sector.
• Mindich said earlier he could return to Ukraine, but believes he would be arrested and given bail so high that he would be unable to pay it.

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Source: Ukrainska Pravda sources in the defence forces

Details: Sources told Ukrainska Pravda that one of the reasons for Bratishko's dismissal, as in the case of the removal of 11th Corps commander Serhii Sirchenko, was the loss of Siversk in December 2025.

Bratishko has been replaced by Major General Viktor Nikoliuk who, Ukrainska Pravda has found, has established a strong record as commander of the 20th Corps.

For reference: Viktor Nikoliuk was born on 19 October 1975 in Kirovohrad Oblast. He graduated from the Kharkiv Guards Higher Tank Command School and the Ivan Cherniakhovskyi National Defence University of Ukraine.

He previously commanded the 92nd Separate Mechanised Brigade, the 169th Desna Training Centre and Operational Command Pivnich (North). At the start of the full-scale invasion, he led the defence of Chernihiv Oblast.

On 10 March 2022, Nikoliuk was awarded the title Hero of Ukraine. In March 2023, he was appointed commander of the Training Command of the Ukrainian Ground Forces.

In 2025, he replaced Brigadier General Oleksandr Tarnavskyi as commander of the Donetsk Operational Tactical Group. Following the transition of the Armed Forces of Ukraine to a corps-based structure, he took command of the 20th Army Corps.

Background:

• On 22 December, the 7th Air Assault Corps reported that Russian forces were attempting to move personnel across the Siverskyi Donets River, with the situation in Serebrianka described as extremely difficult.
• DeepState, a Ukrainian group of military analysts, reported that as of 22 December, Serebrianka was under Russian control, Siversk was partially occupied and most of the city was in the grey zone.
• On 25 December, Ukrainian forces withdrew from Siversk in Donetsk Oblast, citing the Russians' significant advantage in manpower and equipment and continued offensive operations.

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