Ukraine: April updates
A summary of the changes to control in Ukraine over the month of April
Occupation figures
Over the course of April, Russian control in Ukraine has continued to expand at a gradual pace. The net change to verified Russian control is an increase of approximately 214 km². This is lower than the average for the previous 12 months, of just over 300km². These advances were primarily focused within the Oblasts of Donetsk and Kharkiv, with small advances in Zaporizhzhia. There were relatively large expansions of the ‘Russian forward operating area’ within Zaporizhzhia and along the border regions in Sumy, though in both of these areas, the increase to verified control last month was minimal.
Russia currently controls an estimated 4,173 settlements in Ukraine. (1,881 of those since before the February 2022 invasion). At least 158 further settlements are currently being fought over. This does not include recon groups crossing the northern and northeastern borders.
As has been the case for some time, limited manpower has forced the Russian Armed Forces to focus operations on a limited number of sections of the front. This focused effort has allowed Russia to make gradual and somewhat consistent progress and has largely prevented Ukraine from being able to bring sufficient forces together to reclaim territory on a large enough scale.
Kupiansk
Russian advances into the areas southeast of the city of Kupiansk have continued with forward units now confirmed to be present in the south of the settlement of Kupiansk-Vuzlovyi and the north of Kivsharivka. This area has been an awkward one for Ukraine due to the difficulty of supply. The salient backs onto the Oskil River, and when Russian forces entered parts of Kupiansk and reached the Oskil at Kruhliakvika (further south) in 2024, it looked as though the area would fall.
It has managed to hold on, though, for quite some time, and the Russian advances in Kupiansk and further south both stalled. Recent Russian attacks, though, show that the area is now gradually being taken.
This new progress, and a lack of any Ukrainian forces being spotted further northeast of these positions, confirms that the area under Russian control has also moved with the expansion of their operational area.
Sloviansk
The most significant changes to the map over the course of April have been on the approaches to Sloviansk and Kramtorsk. The Russian forward forces here have continued to advance south of their positions along the Siverskyi Donets and west from their positions near Siiversk. They have now reached the eastern buildings of Rai-Oleksandrivka.
Further south, they have also crossed the canal near Malynivka. This combination of advances and new forward positions brings the Russian line of control forward to include the territory between the city of Siversk and the village of Bondarne.
Kostiantynivka
Another area of continued Russian advances in April has been in the vicinity of Kostiantynivka. While advances within the city itself have been minimal since Russia first entered the settlement several months ago, they now operate more extensively on the southwestern and northern flanks of the city. Russia has pushed through Stepanivka and into the eastern side of Dovha Balka while also advancing into Illinivka. Russian forces also continue to clear and secure the fortified positions south of the city.
Huliaipole
Russian advances also continued west of Hulyaipole. Russian forces were spotted in the south of the settlement of Novoselivka, directly along the first Ukrainian fortified line. This advance will likely force the Ukrainians positioned in Charivne to withdraw to the fortified line before retreat becomes even more challenging.
The Ukrainian attacks north of the city of Hulyaipole earlier in the year, though they did stall advances in the immediate sector, appear not to have been able to prevent the progress further down the line, where Russian forces continue to advance parallel to the fortified positions.
Sumy and Kharkiv
Along the Sumy and Kharkiv borders with Russia, Russian forces have been carrying out small attacks on the settlements and Ukrainian positions there. These have been small-scale and brief raids and are therefore recorded on the maps as expansion of the forward operating area, rather than new areas of Russian control.
These may be sectors to keep an eye on as Russia has previously crossed these Oblast borders to seize territory and continues to hold on to some of that near Vovchansk and Lyptsi in Kharkiv, and Bilovody and Ynakivka north of Sumy.