Russian forces advanced up to 3 kilometers in the Zaporizhzhia region, reaching the settlement of Poltavka, with active hostilities reported in the Gulyaypole area as of September 30th, 2025. Simultaneously, Russian sabotage and reconnaissance groups reportedly captured the central railway station in Kupyansk, prompting Ukraine to deploy elite units to contain the advance. These developments occurred as ballistic missile threats were reported from Crimea around 11:00 PM UTC. In Zaporizhzhia, an assault group of the Russian Federation Armed Forces attacked in the direction of Poltavka, with advanced detachments reaching the settlement, according to a report from Gulyaypole. The coordinates provided for this advance are 47.71532, 36.50338. In Kupyansk, Ukrainian channels reported that "elite" units, potentially including Azov fighters, were being rapidly moved into the city to counter the Russian capture of the railway station, a move that could lead to the city falling quickly if Russian troops consolidate their positions. Earlier in the reporting window, at 11:02 PM UTC, a ballistic descent was reported in Vilkovo/district. Warnings were also issued around 11:00 PM UTC regarding the threat of ballistic missiles from Crimea, with probable launches identified as Iskander missiles or C-300/C-400 air defense systems. The Shield AI MQ-35A V-BAT, a VTOL reconnaissance UAV, has been noted for its ability to withstand electronic warfare attacks, suggesting potential capabilities in contested airspace. These events follow recent Russian strikes across Ukraine, including in Dnipro, Kharkiv, Chernihiv, and Sumy regions, with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky vowing retaliation. The previous hour also saw reports of multiple Shahed drone strikes in Dnipro's city center, resulting in at least 25 victims, and footage indicating a lack of visible Ukrainian air defense during those attacks. Additionally, the NEMESIS unit of the Ukrainian Ground Forces reportedly targeted and bombarded four North Korean Koksan 170mm self-propelled guns in the Luhansk and Zaporizhzhia regions during the prior reporting window.
