The war in Ukraine 2025-10-21

By /

Russian losses:

1130 KIA

8 Tanks

37 AFVs

23 Artillery systems

235 UAVs

134 Vehicles & Fuel tanks

SLAVA UKRAINI

facebookShare on Facebook
TwitterPost on X


Don't forget to donate, Ukraine's cause is ours! Support Ukraine!

62 thoughts on “The war in Ukraine 2025-10-21”

  1. MXT
    AFU reports:
    202 combat clashes
    63 aviation strikes
    136 KAB
    4364 shelling (97 from MLRS)
    4335 kamikaze drones
    Many battles but not so many grenades and unusually few drones. I wonder if maybe the weather has been bad. The loss reports with unusually high armor indicate attempts at larger offensives, in connection with that it would be strange if they did not use both artillery and drones.
  4. MXT

    “Russia-Ukraine War Map update for 18-20 October 2025.
    Key events:

    🟣No major changes in Kupiansk, but the situation is extremely difficult for Ukrainian forces

    🟣Russian DRG advances in the forest east of Lyman

    🟣Russian troops could not consolidate gains in Fedorivka and Kuzmynivka

    🟣Last week, we were overly pessimistic about the situation in the Dobrobillia tactical area of operation: Novoekonomichne, Mykolaivka, and Myrolyubivka were recoded as contested

    🟣Russian forces enter southern Pokrovsk, Russian DRGs in the western and central parts of the city

    🟣Russian and Ukrainian forces trade territorial control in the Pokrovske AO

    🟣In the Huliaipole AO, Russian troops cross the Yanchur River at Poltavka”

    War Map:
    https://www.google.com/maps/d/u/0/viewer?mid=1z8gA8JdncNKT4uSkbmnVvB9yrbyBDNg&hl=en_US&ll=48.69512362128874%2C40.17080010279459&z=7

    https://bsky.app/profile/malcontentnews.bsky.social/post/3m3oirfrcms27

  5. MXT

    Ukraine attacked both Bryansk and Rostov. We will see if there are more reports on the outcome during the day.

    “⚡️’Massive air attack’ — Drones attack Russia’s Bryansk, Rostov oblasts, causing damage, injuring 2, authorities claim. Drone attacks against Russia overnight on Oct. 21 caused damage and injured one in Russia’s Bryansk Oblast and another in Rostov Oblast, authorities claimed.”
    https://bsky.app/profile/kyivindependent.com/post/3m3oiky3jgs26
    https://kyivindependent.com/massive-air-attack-drones-attack-russias-bryansk-rostov-oblasts-causing-damage-authorities-claim/

    Night drone map showing Ukraine’s drones.
    “🇺🇦00:20 | 21/10 Approximate flight routes of our UAVs:
    🔴Red arrow – directions of strike UAVs movement; Temporary restrictions on the reception and release of aircraft have been introduced at Krasnodar airport (Pashkovsky)”
    https://bsky.app/profile/babayagafella.bsky.social/post/3m3ntr6bbbs2g

      1. N Eklund

        The difference between being the attacking party and the one being attacked. The Ukrainian people may be tired of RU and their attacks but they have no other choice but to keep fighting. The people in RU accept the war in many ways because most volunteers are sent to the front and the war is in Ukraine. But when the war hits close to home, the suffering increases. It is important that Ukraine can continue to target military objectives in RU.

  6. MXT

    Off-Topic

    They have certainly chosen the right equipment for the demolition!

    “JUST IN: The White House has begun DEMOLISHING portions of the East Wing of the White House to build Trump’s $250 million ballroom — despite earlier claiming it wouldn’t “interfere” with the existing White House structure. (Washington Post)”
    https://x.com/MeidasTouch/status/1980345889471549711
    https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2025/10/20/white-house-begins-demolishing-east-wing-facade-build-trumps-ballroom/

    1. Proxima

      The Gripen E was delivered yesterday to the Swedish Armed Forces. But how many were not revealed. A Swedish division contains x number of planes. I think it’s probably classified. But yesterday I observed a lot of activity in the air 25 kilometers south of Såtenäs. Two different types of aircraft heading down to an airfield that used to be a wing. Could there be a connection?

  7. MXT

    Off-Topic, Swedish industry

    Next green project to fail?

    “Investors in Stegra are becoming increasingly nervous that the green steel mill will become the second green European industrial project with a billion-dollar budget to go bankrupt in a year, writes FT.

    The company is calling for an emergency meeting with its lenders on Tuesday, according to several sources.

    Loans from Citibank pose a particular concern for Stegra, as the bank has placed its loans of around 29 million euros in a “special working group.” Several other banks share Citibank’s concerns and have classified Stegra as a “special action.”

    – This is starting to resemble more and more Northvolt. It’s hard to see anything other than the shareholders almost completely losing their investments, says a person familiar with the matter.”
    https://omni.se/kallor-stegra-kallar-till-akut-mote-med-langivare/a/73XdPw

    They are trying to downplay the situation themselves:
    “Stegra is convinced that the ongoing issuance will be carried out in an orderly manner. The company stated this in a comment to FT, adding that they have received “strong capital commitments” from the company’s founders and major shareholders, with the goal of raising 1 billion euros.

    – We have several ways to manage our cash flow, the company said in a comment.

    Furthermore, CEO Henrik Henriksson stated last week that he did not recognize “the very one-sided picture being portrayed” about Stegra.”
    https://omni.se/stegra-tonar-ner-oron-flera-satt-att-hantera-kassan/a/63p6qr

      1. Proxima

        “In Norrland, we have an India if only we understand how to exploit it correctly.” Axel Oxenstierna said this when he realized how many natural resources there were in the north.
        LKAB could not start mining until the transportation issue was resolved. The state showed a lukewarm, if not nonexistent, interest in co-financing the ore railway. Private initiatives were formed, including with English money, but it ended in bankruptcy. How it turned out after that, we know.
        Now we have Northvolt and Stegra. It is excellent timber in Norrland, which is why they will successfully complete this project too.

        1. N Eklund

          The agenda is driven by grant-receiving PowerPoint entrepreneurs living in Stockholm, not people in Norrland who are experts in the process industry.

           

          That’s why I’m pessimistic.

        3. Flurrevuppen

          Can’t help but make a sarcastic comment about how visionary the statement about India in Norrland was from a climate perspective…

    2. Umlaut

      A hot tip is not to invest in anything that Harald Mix is involved in, unless you do it in the early stages when willing politicians pour billions over the project.

      1. Proxima

        You are most likely right, N Eklund, Johan, and Umlaut. But today, no one questions the ore railway, even though many municipalities and private individuals along the railway became poor. In 50 years, Stegra and Northvolt may be considered good and forward-thinking investments.

  8. MXT

    Off-Topic, Swedish industry

    They are unlikely to stop selling products with gasoline-powered engines, the question is where they plan to outsource production.
    Fingers crossed it won’t be in China.
    Hope some journalist can get them to answer that.

    The shutdown is not supposed to be completed until the beginning of 2027, but by now they should already have an idea of how to solve it (otherwise it would be pretty silly to make the decision to shut down).

    “Husqvarna misses estimates in the third quarter. Additionally, the company announces the closure of its factory in Brastad, according to a press release.

    The annual savings from the shutdown are expected to amount to 100 million SEK, with full effect from 2027.

    – This decision is of strategic importance to drive profitable growth through increased cost efficiency and improved flexibility, says CEO Glen Instone.

    The factory has 84 employees and manufactures components for Husqvarna’s gasoline-powered engines for handheld products.”
    https://omni.se/husqvarnas-rapport-under-forvantningarna/a/vgv5mB

  11. MXT

    Off-Topic, Swedish politics, public opinion

    “The opposition parties have a lead in the polls by 6 percentage points. This is shown in the latest update from the combined polling of Omnipoll, Omnis, and Demoskop on the public opinion.

    The four Tidö parties together receive 45.8 percent of voter support, while the opposition receives 51.8 percent.

    The Sweden Democrats show the biggest change compared to the latest Omnipoll. SD receives 20.9 percent, 0.8 percentage points lower than on September 26.

    The Center Party drops by 0.3 percentage points. All surveys included in Omnipoll were conducted before Anna-Karin Hatt announced her resignation as party leader.

    Omnipoll currently consists of four surveys published between September 25 and October 12.”
    https://omni.se/sa-ar-opinionslaget-just-nu-se-siffrorna-i-nya-omnipoll/a/L5E3bJ

      1. alfaomega

        I believe that C may choose not to belong to any bloc because they actually belong to the bourgeois, but do not want to govern with the Sweden Democrats. Perhaps they will choose to vote for the political proposals they like regardless of who delivers it, and in that way maybe gain a little more power than their share of voters justifies.
        In any case, it will be an interesting election year….

  13. MXT

    Off-Topic, Israel-Palestine

    “The Trump administration wants to try to prevent Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu from breaking the agreement and resuming attacks on Gaza, according to American officials cited by the New York Times.

    US Vice President JD Vance is on his way to Israel, several media outlets report. The purpose of the visit is said to be to demonstrate the US commitment to keeping the agreement intact, the newspaper writes.

    Before the visit, he said that he will “check on how the ceasefire is holding up,” according to Sky News.”
    https://omni.se/amerikansk-oro-for-att-israel-ska-bryta-avtalet/a/JbKxn8

    1. N Eklund

      Hamas has every reason in the world to annoy Israel as much as they can right now. They cannot win against Israel militarily, but they can harm Israel by turning the world against Israel. Just look at the headlines after Hamas had killed two Israeli soldiers (it was Israel that threatened the ceasefire).

      1. CB500four

        Yes, they will probably do that, and then they sit and enjoy themselves in some tunnel while Israel bombs another residential building and gets criticized by the world. Hamas couldn’t care less about Palestinians dying, their goal is not a free Palestine, but the eradication of Israel.

        Hamas will never allow themselves to be disarmed, or let Israel be at peace. If they lay down their weapons, it’s a death sentence, and if they don’t, they will also die eventually, but with much more collateral.

    2. Umlaut

      The prospects for the peace prince DJT do not look so good with Netanyahu who doesn’t care a bit about Israel, and Hamas who doesn’t care at all about the Palestinians.

  14. MXT

    Poland warns Vladimir Putin that he may be forced to arrest him if he flies through Polish airspace when traveling to the meeting with Donald Trump in Hungary, Reuters reports.

    “I cannot guarantee that an independent Polish court will not order the government to escort such an aircraft to hand over the suspect to the court in The Hague,” said Foreign Minister Radoslaw Sikorski to Radio Rodzina.

    Vladimir Putin has had an arrest warrant issued against him since 2023 and is accused of war crimes for illegally abducting hundreds of children from Ukraine.

    3. CB500four

      It would truly be a sight, but I think like you that there won’t be any meeting. Putin has got Trump back on track, and stopped the Tomahawks.

      If there is a meeting, it will probably only be with Trump, Putin, and Orban, the club of mutual admiration.

       

  16. MXT

    “The same Russian army that rained fire on Kherson and southern cities met justice from Ukrainian units The operation held in Zaporizhzhia Oblast also eliminated the son of notorious Russian 18th Army commander Arkadiy Marzoyev, involved in war crimes 📹 The 110th Brigade”

  17. MXT

    “❗️In Europe(!) two 🇷🇺Russian-related refineries caught fire in the space of a day. This is the MOL plant in Hungary, where a fire broke out at one of the units. And Lukoil in Romania, which was under repair. The reasons are not yet known.”

    4. CB500four

      It was expected, Putin got what he wanted with a phone call, so now he doesn’t need to show off for a while again.

      Maybe a meeting will be needed next time after Trump has explained to himself that he has been fooled again.

        1. Kons

          Yes, exactly. The sanctions were postponed due to the Alaska meeting, which turned into a PR victory for Putin and made all European leaders rush there. Now the Tomahawk is postponed due to a phone call about a meeting that never happened. Trump received a big repetition of the Kremlin’s talking points during the call, which he and Witkoff then parroted verbatim.

          Now the leaders of sensible democracies are going to pitch a 12-point plan and maybe get Trump to agree to sanctions. But just as he is about to do so, *ring* is heard from the Kremlin phone in the White House, and it all starts over again.

  19. johan No.1

    Posting a front review on Thursday but Pokrovsk looks bad and is an absolute hell for the defense.

    Same up in Kupiansk.

    At Lyman, RU has made significant progress in the forests.

    Difficult to find anything positive at all actually.

  20. johan No.1

    You have seen Pam Bondi not understand where Budapest signals.

    One should not underestimate when younger talents gain power and have not lived through what the older have – they can make really bad decisions.

    Or people who sit in a small white tower completely isolated from reality like Trump or our parliament politicians.

    Pretty sure that half of finance twitter in Sweden has not seen 1999 and 2008 the way they are going on.

    The municipality I live in always surprises me by just delivering good service balanced and not leaning in any direction even if they have just brought in younger people for building permits who have managed to make the whole municipality furious.

  21. N Eklund

    Minister of Defense Pål Jonsson:

    “Sweden and Germany have been leading the new telewar coalition within the Ukraine Defense Contact Group for a few months now. It is a great responsibility given how central telewar has become on the battlefield in and around Ukraine. That’s why I recently visited the Command and Control Regiment in Enköping. (1/4)”

    https://x.com/PlJonson/status/1980650670878519385

    “Here, a large part of Sweden’s work in the field of telewar is carried out together with FOI and FMV. Through many years of research and development, Sweden has built a strong competence in electronic warfare and signal intelligence, crucial for modern defense management. (2/4)”

    “The war in Ukraine clearly shows that the battle for the electromagnetic spectrum is as crucial as that on the ground and in the air. Telewar is about being able to protect one’s own systems, disable the opponent’s, and maintain command capability even under intense disruption. (3/4)”

    “In a short time, Sweden has also developed the capability to combat drones through new C-UAS systems. This strengthens both national defense and Ukraine’s resilience. The work at the Command and Control Regiment shows how innovation and technology directly contribute to our common security. (4/4)”

     

    But let’s hope they don’t forget about drones controlled by optical cable.

  23. T23

    Release the Griffins!! 🦅🦅🦅

     

    Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky visits Sweden and Linköping today.

     

    The visit focuses on the war in Ukraine and the Swedish-Ukrainian defense cooperation, according to a press release from the government.

    In the afternoon, a joint press conference will be held where a news regarding defense exports will be presented.

Leave a Comment

Scroll to Top