2025 Belgorod Oblast incursion

On 18 March 2025, the Russian Ministry of Defence claimed that five attacks were carried out by the Ukrainian Armed Forces during the day. The governor of Belgorod Oblast, Vyacheslav Gladkov, said that the Krasnoyaruzhsky District had been repeatedly shelled in the preceding 24 hours and attacked by 49 Ukrainian drones, 12 of which were intercepted.{{cite web |title=Belgorod governor admits 'complex' situation amid reports of fresh Ukrainian incursion |url=https://novayagazeta.eu/articles/2025/03/18/belgorod-governor-admits-complex-situation-amid-fresh-reports-of-ukrainian-incursion-en-news |access-date=23 March 2025}} The Telegram milblogger "Zapiski Vеterana" stated that after the defeat of the Ukrainian Armed Forces in the Kursk region and the Russian recapture of Sudzha, the Ukrainian leadership decided to continue active military operations on the Russian-Ukrainian border "in order to tie down Russian combat-ready units in this section of the front".{{cite web |title=Ситуация в Белгородской области ночью 22 марта: накал боев не спадает |date=22 March 2025 |lang=ru |trans-title=The situation in the Belgorod region on the night of March 22: the intensity of fighting does not subside |url=https://news.ru/regions/situaciya-v-belgorodskoj-oblasti-nochyu-22-marta-nakal-boev-ne-spadaet/ |access-date=23 March 2025}} The Russian MOD claimed on this day the Russians inflicted 60 casualties, as well as knocking out one tank, seven other types of armored vehicles, three combat engineer vehicles, and one light vehicle.

Many Russian milbloggers claimed on the morning of March 19 that Russian forces repelled Ukrainian attacks toward Demidovka, Grafovka, and Prilesye. A Kremlin-affiliated Russian milblogger claimed that Ukrainian forces maintain positions in forest areas along the Sumy-Belgorod Oblast border, and a Russian insider source claimed that Ukrainian forces advanced near Grafovka later in the day.

Additionally, on 20 March, the General Staff of the Ukrainian Armed Forces reported that a Russian command post near Demidovka was destroyed.{{cite web|first1=Grace|last1=Mappes|first2=Angelica|last2=Evans|first3=Davit|last3=Gasparyan|first4= Olivia|last4= Gibson|first5=Daria|last5=Novikov|first6=Frederick W.|last6=Kagan|first7=Nate|last7=Trotter|first8=William|last8=Runkel|title=Russian Offensive Campaign Assessment, March 20, 2025 |url=https://www.understandingwar.org/backgrounder/russian-offensive-campaign-assessment-march-20-2025 |publisher=Institute for the Study of War |access-date=21 March 2025}}

The governor of Belgorod Oblast, Vyacheslav Gladkov, stated that "the situation in Krasnoyaruzhsky district remains difficult," noting that the shelling in that district resulted in one soldier killed and four wounded.

Russia's defence ministry claimed that the attack was repelled, as it did during the start of the Kursk offensive launched by Ukraine.{{cite web |title=Moscow says Ukraine has launched cross-border attack inside Russia |url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/article/2024/aug/06/moscow-says-ukraine-has-launched-cross-border-attack-into-russia |work=The Guardian |date=6 August 2024 |access-date=21 March 2025 |last1=Sabbagh |first1=Dan }} Andrii Kovalenko, head of Ukraine's Center for Countering Disinformation, denied this claim.{{cite web |title=Ukrainian forces attempted to enter Belgorod Oblast, repelled by Russian forces, Russia claims |date=18 March 2025 |url=https://kyivindependent.com/ukrainian-troops-allegedly-try-to-break-into-belgorod-oblast-russia-claims/ |access-date=23 March 2025}} The Russian response to the incursion involved a set of coordinated strikes, including 30 air and missile strikes, 13 strikes carried out by combat helicopters, one launch from an Iskander short-range ballistic missile system, a single strike using a Tornado-S multiple-launch rocket system, and two assaults employing the TOS-1A heavy flamethrower system. This response targeted Ukrainian forces positioned approximately five to six miles from the border in the Sumy region of Ukraine. The Russian MOD claimed that the Russians inflicted roughly 150 casualties on Ukrainian troops and destroyed four enemy tanks in its area of responsibility in the Belgorod direction on March 20.

On 21 March, the governor of Belgorod Oblast, Vyacheslav Gladkov, stated that one civilian was killed and two were wounded, with one hospitalized in serious condition, following a Ukrainian drone strike on the village of {{ill|Dobrino, Belgorod Oblast|ru|Добрино (Белгородская область)|lt=Dobrino}} in the Rakityansky District. Ukraine's General Staff has reported that the Ukrainian Air Force struck a command post of a Russian border guard outpost in the settlement of Glotovo.{{cite web |title=Ukraine's Air Force strikes command post in Russia's Belgorod Oblast |url=https://www.pravda.com.ua/eng/news/2025/03/22/7504096/ |access-date=23 March 2025}} The Russian MOD claimed that two drones were shot down by its air defence systems over Belgorod and Kursk. The Institute for the Study of War assessed that Ukrainian forces advanced during the day southwest of Demidovka. According to some Russian milbloggers, Ukrainian forces are consolidating positions on the outskirts of Demidovka and Prilesye, while Ukrainian infantry are attacking near Demidovka, Grafovka, and Prilesye.

By 22 March, the Ukrainian Armed Forces retained their positions near Prilesye and south of Demidovka. The Russian MOD claimed that the Ukrainian Armed Forces lost up to 95 servicemen, one tank, two armored combat vehicles, 14 cars, and six artillery pieces on 22 March.{{cite web |title=Ukrainian Armed Forces lost up to 95 servicemen in Belgorod direction in 24 hours |url=https://tass.com/politics/1932511 |access-date=23 March 2025}}

A military blogger, Yuri Podolyaka, said that "the Russian army knocked out the Ukrainian Armed Forces from the settlement of Demidovka, Belgorod region",{{Cite web |date=March 23, 2025 |title=Russian Offensive Campaign Assessment, March 23, 2025 |url=https://www.understandingwar.org/backgrounder/russian-offensive-campaign-assessment-march-23-2025 |access-date=2025-03-24 |website=Institute for the Study of War |language=en}} although the next day, geolocated footage indicated that Ukrainian forces had advanced into central Demidovka.{{Cite web |date=March 24, 2025 |title=Russian Offensive Campaign Assessment, March 24, 2025 |url=https://www.understandingwar.org/backgrounder/russian-offensive-campaign-assessment-march-24-2025 |access-date=2025-03-25 |website=Institute for the Study of War |language=en}}

Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskyy said for the first time that Ukrainian troops were operating in Belgorod Oblast.{{cite web |url=https://www.lemonde.fr/en/international/article/2025/04/08/zelensky-confirms-ukrainian-troops-active-in-russia-s-belgorod-region_6739940_4.html |title=Zelensky confirms Ukrainian troops active in Russia's Belgorod region |work=Le Monde with AFP |date=2025-04-08 |access-date=2025-04-08}}

The Russian Ministry of Defence claimed that the attack was launched "to discredit the peace initiatives of U.S. President Donald Trump."{{cite web |last1=Altman |first1=Howard |title=Putin-Trump Limited Ceasefire Deal Reached, Ukraine Now Has To Agree |date=18 March 2025 |url=https://www.twz.com/news-features/putin-trump-limited-ceasefire-deal-reached-ukraine-now-has-to-agree |access-date=21 March 2025}}

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• {{flagicon image|Ensign of the Ukrainian Armed Forces.svg}} Ukrainian Armed Forces
• {{flagicon image|Ensign of the Ukrainian Ground Forces.svg}} Ukrainian Ground Forces
• 20px {{ill|33rd Separate Assault Regiment (Ukraine)|uk|33-й окремий штурмовий полк (Україна)|lt=33rd Assault Regiment}}{{cite web |last1=Hardie |first1=John |title=Ukraine's Belgorod incursion makes limited gains |date=21 March 2025 |url=https://www.longwarjournal.org/archives/2025/03/ukraines-belgorod-incursion-makes-limited-gains.php |access-date=23 March 2025}}
• 17th NGU Brigade
• "Tac Team" UAS unit
• {{Air force|Ukraine}}{{cite web | url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/davidaxe/2025/03/27/ukraines-bridge-busting-su-27s-are-trying-to-isolate-russian-troops-in-belgorod/ | title=Bridge-Busting Su-27s Are Trying to Isolate Russian Troops in Belgorod | website=Forbes }}
• {{flagicon image|Flag of the Ukrainian Air Assault Forces.svg}} Ukrainian Air Assault Forces
• 20px 80th Air Assault Brigade{{cn|date=March 2025}}
• 20px 82nd Air Assault Brigade{{cn|date=March 2025}}
• 20px 95th Air Assault Brigade{{cn|date=March 2025}}
• {{flagicon image|Flag of the Ukrainian Naval Infantry.svg}} Ukrainian Marine Corps
• 30th Amphibious Corps
• 20px 414th Strike UAV Brigade
• 20px Territorial Defence Forces
• 20px 101st Territorial Defense Brigade{{cn|date=March 2025}}
• 20px 106th Territorial Defense Brigade{{cn|date=March 2025}}

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• {{flagicon image|Banner of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation (obverse).svg}} Russian Armed Forces
• {{flagicon image|Flag of the Russian Federation Ground Forces.svg}} Russian Ground Forces
• 20px 18th Combined Arms Army
• 20px 20th Army Corps
• 20px 3rd Motor Rifle Division{{cite web |title=Ukraine 'destroys' Russian command post in Belgorod Oblast, military claims |date=20 March 2025 |url=https://kyivindependent.com/ukraine-destroys-russias-command-post-in-belgorod-oblast-military-claims/ |access-date=23 March 2025}}
• 20px 44th Army Corps
• 128th Motorized Rifle Brigade{{cite web | url=https://www.understandingwar.org/backgrounder/russian-offensive-campaign-assessment-march-25-2025 | title=Institute for the Study of War }}
• 72nd Motorized Rifle Division
• 22nd Motorized Rifle Regiment{{cite web | url=https://www.understandingwar.org/backgrounder/russian-offensive-campaign-assessment-march-26-2025 | title=Institute for the Study of War }}
• 30th Motorized Rifle Regiment
• 20px 49th Combined Arms Army
• 20px {{ill|34th Guards Mountain Motor Rifle Brigade|ru|34-я отдельная гвардейская мотострелковая бригада}}{{cite web | url=https://www.understandingwar.org/backgrounder/russian-offensive-campaign-assessment-march-30-2025 | title=Institute for the Study of War }}
• 20px 11th Army Corps
• 20px 18th Guards Motor Rifle Division
• 9th Motorised Rifle Regiment
• 1st Battalion{{cite web | url=https://www.pravda.com.ua/eng/news/2025/03/26/7504716/ | title=Ukrainian defenders destroy Russian battalion command post in Kursk Oblast, killing its commander }}
• 20px Elements of the 6th Combined Arms Army{{cite web | url=https://www.understandingwar.org/backgrounder/russian-offensive-campaign-assessment-march-31-2025 | title=Institute for the Study of War }}
• 20px 3rd Guards Combined Arms Army
• 85th motorized rifle brigade
• 20px 88th motorized rifle brigade
• Orlan Detachment{{Clarification needed|date=March 2025}}
• {{flagicon image|Flag of the Russian Aerospace Forces.svg}} Russian Aerospace Forces
• {{air force|Russia}}
• {{ill|"Grom-Kaskad" UAV Brigade|ru|ГРОМ «Каскад»}}
• "Irlandtsy" detachment
• "Hateful Eight" UAV unit
• {{flagicon image|Flag of the Russian Airborne Troops.svg}} Russian Airborne Forces
• 20px 76th Guards Air Assault Division
• 20px 234th Guards Air Assault Regiment
• 20px 83rd Guards Air Assault Brigade{{cite web | url=https://www.understandingwar.org/backgrounder/russian-offensive-campaign-assessment-march-26-2025 | title=Institute for the Study of War }}
• {{flagicon image|Naval ensign of Russia.svg}} Russian Navy
• {{flagicon image|Flag of the Russian Naval Infantry.png}} Russian Naval Infantry
• 20px Russian Pacific Fleet
• 16px 40th Separate Guards Naval Infantry Brigade{{cite web |title=Russian Offensive Campaign Assessment, March 19, 2025 |url=https://www.understandingwar.org/backgrounder/russian-offensive-campaign-assessment-march-19-2025 |access-date=23 March 2025}}
• Arctic Battalion
• 16px 155th Guards Naval Infantry Brigade
• 20px Black Sea Fleet
• 16px {{ill|177th Naval Infantry Regiment|ru|177-й отдельный гвардейский полк морской пехоты}}{{cite web |title=Russian Offensive Campaign Assessment, March 21, 2025 |url=https://www.understandingwar.org/backgrounder/russian-offensive-campaign-assessment-march-21-2025 |access-date=22 March 2025}}
• 20px Caspian Flotilla
• {{flagicon image|Flag of the Russian Federal Security Service.svg}} Federal Security Service
• {{flagicon image|Флаг ПС ФСБ России.png}} FSB Border Service of Russia
• {{flagicon image|Flag of National Guard of the Russian Federation.svg}} National Guard of Russia
• {{flagicon image|Flag of the Chechen Republic.svg}} Kadyrovites
• {{flagicon image|Flag of the Chechen Republic.svg}} "Aida" Spetsnaz Detachment{{cite web |title=Russian Offensive Campaign Assessment, March 22, 2025 |url=https://understandingwar.org/backgrounder/russian-offensive-campaign-assessment-march-22-2025 |access-date=23 March 2025}}
• BARS
• BARS-Belgorod
• BARS-25 "Anvar" volunteer unit
• Stal'naya Brigadehttps://www.understandingwar.org/backgrounder/russian-offensive-campaign-assessment-april-15-2025

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• 2023 Belgorod Oblast incursions
• 2023 Bryansk Oblast raid
• March 2024 western Russia incursion
• Kursk offensive (2024–2025)
• Timeline of the Russian invasion of Ukraine (1 January 2025 – present)

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{{2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine}}

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Category:March 2025 in Russia

Category:Attacks in Russia in 2025

Category:Military operations of the Russian invasion of Ukraine in 2025

Category:Attacks in Russia during the Russian invasion of Ukraine

Category:Cross-border operations into Russia

2025 incursion

Category:April 2025 in Russia