As of October 18, there have been 74 new combat encounters between Ukrainian defenders and Russian military, according to the latest report from the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine.

In the North Slobozhansk and Kursk directions, two confrontations were noted with the enemy. Russian forces conducted seven airstrikes, dropping 11 guided bombs, and carried out 88 shellings on Ukrainian positions and settlements, three of which were from multiple launch rocket systems.

"In the Kupiansk direction, Russian invaders attempted to breach Ukrainian defenses six times near the settlement of Stepova Novoselivka and towards Pishchane. In the Lyman direction, the Russian army launched an attack near the settlement of Novy Mir," the Ukrainian command reported.

Meanwhile, according to the General Staff, in the Kramatorsk direction, Russian forces tried to breach the defenses of the Armed Forces of Ukraine twice in the area of the settlement of Orihovo-Vasylivka.

"In the Pokrovsk direction, Russian invaders made 31 attempts to push Ukrainian defenders from their positions in the areas of the settlements of Volodymyrivka, Rodynske, Myrolyubivka, Novoekonomichne, Chervonyi Lyman, Rodynske, Lysivka, Pokrovsk, Zvirove, Kotlyne, Udachne, Molodetske, and Kotlyarivka. The defense forces held their ground and repelled all enemy attacks," the operational report states.

According to British intelligence, Russian forces likely seized about 250 square kilometers of Ukrainian territory in September 2025, which is a significant decrease compared to approximately 465 sq. km seized in August 2025. This follows a moderate monthly decrease in the amount of seized territory from June to August 2025.