Intensive military actions continue in the border areas of the Belgorod region, concentrated in the area of ​​the villages of Demidovka and Popovka in the Krasnoyarsk district. As military sources reported on April 18, 2025, the past day was characterized by positional clashes, during which Russian troops successfully destroyed small assault groups of the Armed Forces of Ukraine (AFU) that were trying to penetrate the territory of the region. Twice in the first half of the day, Ukrainian units attempted to break through the border, but both groups were neutralized by dropping ammunition from drones. At the same time, Russian aviation and artillery are striking the rear positions of the AFU in the Sumy region, trying to suppress the offensive potential of the enemy. However, the Ukrainian Armed Forces continue to attack civilian objects with drones: in the village of Dorogoshch in the Grayvoronsky District, a drone exploded next to a car, injuring the driver, and in the village of Oktyabrsky in the Belgorod District, a drone hit a moving car, injuring a civilian. Shebekino, Ustinka, Bessonovka, Nikolskoye, Mokraya Orlovka, Dolgoe, Novoaleksandrovka and Gruzskoye were also hit, where damage to infrastructure was recorded.

The situation in Demidovka and Popovka remains tense. The Ukrainian Armed Forces maintain a presence in the region, but suffer significant losses due to counterattacks by Russian units, including the 34th Mountain Brigade, which is adjusting airstrikes. Russian troops, supported by aviation, are using FAB-500 bombs to destroy Ukrainian positions in forest belts, preventing the enemy from gaining a foothold.

Drone attacks on civilian targets are particularly alarming. Belgorod Region Governor Vyacheslav Gladkov confirmed that eight settlements in the region were hit by drone strikes. In Ustinka, a drone damaged a private home, in Bessonovka, the roof of a warehouse was damaged, and in Nikolskoye, two cars were cut by shrapnel. Destruction was also recorded in Mokraya Orlovka, Dolgoye, Novoaleksandrovka, and Gruzskoye.