Russian losses increase in Ukraine's Pokrovsk direction – ISW
Ukrainian Armed Forces hold defense in the Pokrovsk direction (Illustrative photo: Getty Images).
In the Lyman direction, Russian forces are sending into battle soldiers who signed military service contracts in September 2025 and lack sufficient training, while in the Pokrovsk direction, they have suffered 20 percent higher losses over the past week, according to a report by the Institute for the Study of War (ISW).
Ukrainian forces have recently advanced in the north of the Sumy region.
On October 14, Russian troops continued offensive operations in the north of the Kharkiv region and toward Velykyi Burluk, but made no confirmed progress.
Russian forces also continued offensive operations in the Kupiansk and Borivske directions, but did not advance.
The same situation is observed in the Lyman direction.
The spokesperson for a Ukrainian brigade operating in the Lyman direction stated that Russian forces are deploying units, including special forces, who signed military service contracts in September 2025 and lack sufficient training, and that Russian troops are not using armored vehicles in this area.
On October 14, Russian forces continued offensive operations in the Siversk direction but achieved no confirmed progress.
The spokesperson for Ukraine's 11th Army Corps, Lieutenant Colonel Dmytro Zaporizhets, reported that Russian troops are attacking chaotically in small infantry groups or individually. Zaporizhets noted that Russian military activity decreased in October 2025, with Russian forces attacking 11 times per day, down from 21 in September 2025, partly due to poor weather conditions.
In the Pokrovsk direction, however, Russian forces have intensified their offensives, seeking to capitalize on adverse weather conditions that reduce the effectiveness of Ukrainian drones. The spokesperson for a Ukrainian corps operating in the Pokrovsk direction reported that Russian troops suffered 18–20 percent higher losses over the past week (since October 7) compared to the previous week (from September 20 to October 7).
In the Novopavlivka and Velyka Mykhailivka directions, Russian forces achieved no confirmed progress, as in the Zaporizhzhia region.
The spokesperson for a Ukrainian brigade operating in the western part of the Zaporizhzhia region reported that Russian forces are operating exclusively in small assault groups in the Orikhiv direction. They are attempting to gather forces for an assault on Ukrainian positions and to penetrate the outskirts of Mala Tokmachka. Still, Russian troops are unable to advance because the large open fields with few windbreaks near this settlement make it difficult for them to conceal their positions.
The spokesperson also reported that Russian forces are using a large number of drones to strike Ukrainian logistics systems and civilian populations in the Orikhiv direction.
Situation at the front
According to the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, the Ukrainian Defense Forces are holding their positions along the entire front line. In several sectors, combat operations, airstrikes, and massive shelling are at high intensity.
Over the past 24 hours on October 14, 154 combat engagements were recorded. The enemy carried out one missile strike and 62 airstrikes, launched one missile, and dropped 129 guided bombs. In addition, Russian forces used about 3,535 kamikaze drones and conducted 2,929 attacks on military positions and populated areas.
Since the full-scale invasion began on February 24, 2022, Russian losses in the war have totaled 1,126,220 personnel.
