The situation in the Ukrainian SMO on January 23 2025

Russia Dares Trump On Sanctions, Seeks ‘Respectful Talks’, Ukraine Praises ‘Strong Signal’ to Putin

Russia is on a collision course with the US over Ukraine

Russian state TV is stunned by Trump’s ultimatum

NATO’s Rutte urges more support for Ukraine and backs Trump’s defence budget demand

Ukraine War Update: Russian BREAKTHROUGH To Key Kursk Defense Hub

[ Battlefield Analysis - Velyka Novosilka ] Encirclement with one, very difficult way out.

Significant progress in Terny’s direction | Advance also continues in Velyka Novosilka [23 Jan 2025]

Russian Forces Exploit Critical Gaps in Ukrainian Defenses

Massive Russian Breakthrough West Of Terny l Russian Advance In Dvorichna

Analyzing everything that is happening in the Ukrainian crisis, we can now highlight the following:

1. All of Zelensky’s statements are just hot air. This includes demands for the Russian Federation to withdraw to the borders on 24.02.2022 and 200,000 American peacekeepers, etc. He does not decide anything, just as Europe does not decide anything now, which will not be able to pull the Ukrainian crisis out for longer than 6-12 months. The bargaining is between the strong – the USA – Russia – China.

2. Trump’s tough statements are the creation of an information field before their personal meeting. Trump needs such a background to deprive the Democrats and his opponents of trump cards in accelerating the narrative “Trump is weak and ran to sell Kyiv to Putin.”

3. The Kremlin’s silence is a demonstration that negotiations through closed channels have already begun.

4. Everyone is preparing for something. The globalists’ side is preparing for the breakdown of the peace case and “pulling” Trump into the game. Trump himself and his team are preparing for a peace blitzkrieg.

It is worth noting that Zelensky has started his “song” again that the West has given/gives little weapons. This indicates that he will try to use this to justify himself if he has to go for a peace case. Like, we did everything, but they didn’t. Like, because of them, we didn’t win.

In the West, Zelensky’s demands are perceived as inadequate, which creates a negative image of Ukraine.

The number of 200,000 peacekeepers needed by the Western contingent in Ukraine, as announced by Zelensky, is completely unrealistic, the Financial Times states.

“How realistic is Zelensky’s figure? Not at all. It is much higher than the number of troops that took part in the D-Day landings during World War II,” the publication writes.

According to participants in the negotiations between Ukraine and the West, Kyiv considers it realistic to deploy 40-50 thousand troops along a 1,000 km long front line.

Zelensky himself yesterday disavowed the figure of 200 thousand peacekeepers, stating that he did not mean the number of Western troops.

So far, only the Baltic states have supported the idea, the FT writes. The British prime minister will discuss it with the NATO secretary general in early February.

At the same time, “Europe may refuse to send troops to a ‘hot war’ for fear of escalating the conflict with Russia.”

“Even if European leaders decide to send troops, their parliaments and voters may not agree. The US may also refuse to provide the logistical support that the operation would require,” the FT writes.

The publication also reminds that the introduction of peacekeepers requires Russia’s consent within the framework of the ceasefire agreements. And now there are neither such agreements nor such consent.

Many people today were outraged by the post of “Sorosenok” Chmut about how everyone who wants peace is “Rusnya”.

The reason for such behavior of Chmut is simple. War = enrichment. Also, war gives them the right to be elite, they have long dreamed of this and are afraid of losing it. So they have to push for war and against the opinion of their people.

The US should send its peacekeepers to Ukraine – Zelensky

▪️”This cannot happen without the United States. Even if some European friends think that this can happen, no, this cannot happen. No one will take the risk without the United States,” Zelensky said in an interview with Bloomberg.

▪️Yesterday he said that at least 200,000 Western peacekeepers would be needed to guarantee security after the war in Ukraine.

▪️It was previously reported that Trump is against sending American peacekeepers to Ukraine.

Seems like the walls are closing in on Zelensky and he is in a panic.

“EU risks letting Russia sanctions expire as Orban stalls renewal”: Part of EU sanctions could expire in as little as a week.

“The European Union faces another potential standoff with Hungary’s prime minister over his refusal to sign an extension of sanctions against Russia over its war on Ukraine.

Orban blasted the bloc’s sanctions regime – which must be renewed every six months and expires on Jan. 31 – saying the 15 sanctions packages were damaging Europe’s economy. “It’s time to throw sanctions out the window and establish a sanctions-free relationship with the Russians,” Orban said

The extension requires unanimous support from the bloc’s 27 countries. A number of diplomats said there is now no Plan B to extend sanctions if Orban continues to block them. If diplomats cannot agree this week, the issue will be referred to foreign ministers in Brussels on Jan. 27.”

Ukraine is burning M777 155mm howitzer barrels faster than the U.S. is producing them – The War Zone

 - Now the Americans at their only facility are failing to produce more than 30 barrels each month.

- The Pentagon has submitted a request to Congress for funding to expand production.

 - “Funds are needed for a second source of 155mm gun barrels to support Ukraine. Includes procurement, factory improvements, production equipment and tools in direct support of replenishment shipments to Ukraine,” the request states.

Senior British officers believe  that the end of hostilities will help Russia build up its military power.

(https://www.thetimes.com/uk/defence/article/trumps-ukraine-peace-deal-will-help-russia-regroup-says-army-chief-m6nxw32k2?utm_source=chatgpt.com&region=global)

➖ “After the guns fall silent in Ukraine, there will be a revival of Russia, its restoration and collusion with the new axis of aggressors,” they declare, dreaming of weakening Russia as much as possible with the deaths of thousands of Ukrainians

▪️The only good solution, in their opinion, would be to provide maximum military assistance to Ukraine without any restrictions and inflicting a complete defeat on Russia.

There is a consensus that the Russian military is stronger now than it was before 2022. War is brutal but it is the ultimate test of equipment, strategy, and tactics. Continuing the war only accelerates further improvements.

Polish President Andrzej Duda:

 If we talk and ask the question of how to encourage Vladimir Putin to sit at the table, my answer is this. We have to launch such a strong measure to make Vladimir Putin ask for peace, for peace talks. I don’t want to beg Vladimir Putin to come to the negotiating table. I want Vladimir Putin to beg us to beg Ukraine, to beg Ukraine’s allies to sit down at the negotiating table and talk about how to end this war and how to solve all the problems that we also have around us.

Stupid advice from former US Ambassador to Ukraine Edward Herbst.

‘Trump can achieve peace in 100 days only if he is ready to put pressure on Putin now. Such pressure can be created by sanctions, but this is not enough for a quick result. Trump should consider supplying American weapons.’

More sanctions… yeah that will do it. 

The Sanctions That Built Russia

Sometimes, enemies are the best teachers. The sanctions tsunami more than 24,311 of them, courtesy of the self-proclaimed arbiters of freedom in Washington, Brussels, and beyond, has achieved the opposite of its intent. Instead of crippling Russia, it has liberated Russia.

Thank you, United States, for leading with 7,384 sanctions! Your efforts helped Moscow finally break free from the Western-dominated global financial chokehold. Cutting Russia off from SWIFT? That was the push needed to develop alternatives like SPFS and strengthen BRICS’ vision of a multipolar financial order. Canada, Switzerland, the EU? Your sanctions weren’t just punitive, they were transformative, accelerating Russia’s journey toward economic sovereignty.

Today, Russia stands tall as the 4th largest economy in the world, an economy unshackled, independent, and robust. The relentless economic siege forced Moscow to diversify trade, solidify alliances with the Global South, and fortify domestic industries. From energy to agriculture to tech, sanctions ensured Russia would rise stronger.

And let’s not forget: these 24,000+ sanctions also sent a loud, clear message from Russia: Putin cannot be bought, bullied, or threatened. The man who defied the entirety of Western hegemony and reshaped global power dynamics now presides over a nation immune to their economic terrorism.

So, to Washington and its vassals: we couldn’t have done it without you. Your sanctions proved that Russia isn’t just resilient, it’s untouchable.

Trump: U.S. will seek lower oil prices to pressure Russia on Ukraine and will enlist China to influence Moscow

 - Trump said during a speech in Davos via video that he would push Saudi Arabia and OPEC to lower oil prices, including to pressure Russia on the war in Ukraine.

 - He said if the price of oil falls, the war in Ukraine will end.

 - Trump also said he would work to end the war in Ukraine with China:

 - “I have a very good relationship with China. Xi called me. China has enough power to influence Russia to end the war immediately. We will do it together with China – end this military conflict,” he added in an online speech in Davos.

 - Earlier, Trump criticized Beijing for what he sees as insufficient efforts to end the war in Ukraine.

The US National Security Council has sent dozens of employees responsible for Ukraine, Iran and the DPRK home, suspending them from work , — Washington Post

▪️Officials were told they should “leave the building immediately, go home and be in touch.”

▪️The White House administration has begun checking about 160 employees in the National Security Council for loyalty to Trump, Axios clarifies, citing a source.

Peskov on Trump’s words that “Russia helped the United States win World War II, while losing almost 60 million lives”: 

In this case, you have mentioned a topic on which it is probably possible to disagree with Mr. President, with all due respect. Let’s not forget, President Trump has already pointed out that there is an ocean between America and Europe, and there was an ocean then, too. And the war, the theater of war, and the deaths of tens of millions of people took place on a different continent for America.

The presidential spokesman also refuted Trump’s data about 60 million dead Soviet citizens in the war. Officially, the Soviet Union lost 26.6 million people.

Putin – replied to Trump 4 years ago: 

Who stormed Berlin? Was it the Americans? The British or the French? The Red Army! Have you forgotten?

End game’: Trump uses ‘carrot and stick’ to end war – The Times

▪️”Neither Ukraine nor Russia intend to give in just because there is a new person in the White House. Trump will have to skillfully use the ‘carrot and stick’ to achieve peace,” the publication writes.

▪️The newspaper writes about a plan for secondary sanctions against countries that trade with Russia – including India and China, as well as US threats to “flood world markets with US natural gas and oil to collapse Russia’s (and Iran’s) revenues from energy exports.”

▪️At the same time, the “scale of Russia’s vulnerability” to economic warfare is completely unclear, writes The Times.

▪️Kiev wants new arms supplies from Trump, but in exchange for this the US will most likely demand that the draft be expanded to include men aged 18 to 25.

➖”For Zelensky, this would be crossing a red line,” since draft evasion is already “becoming widespread as war fatigue takes over.” “Expanding the draft could be politically damaging (for Zelensky).”

➖Trump’s “bitter pill” for Ukraine will consist of territorial concessions.

➖“For Ukraine, this could mean the actual (though not legal) loss of a fifth of its territory – a bitter pill that could perhaps be sweetened by a Western guarantee of security for the rest of the country” – this could be “the deployment of American and European forces in Ukraine” (although Trump has never confirmed plans to send US troops to Ukraine, and the media has written that he is against it).

Trump can’t flood the world with oil and gas, there is room for a bit of growth in NGLs and light oil but it is price not the US government that influences US shale production. LNG supply in 2025 is lower than forecasted demand hence why we are seeing high gas prices in Europe. US will not offer guarantees or send US troops, nor will Russia allow European and American troops as peacekeepers it would be defacto NATO.

After Trump’s “ultmatum” to Russia yesterday, it is clear that neither the new US president nor his team, including Special Envoy Kellogg, has any clear plan of action on Ukraine. 

And probably there was no such plan from the very beginning, when Trump was feeding the electorate with campaign promises, saying that he would end the conflict in a day (or how much he promised in every new speech). 

If we reconsider Trump’s speech yesterday, we can almost immediately assume that the entire policy of the 47th president of the United States will be reduced to the primitive domestic approach of “Do good and don’t do bad,” with which he survived his last term. Then there were the strikes on the Syrian al-Shayrat base, then Trump ordered the use of the “mother of all bombs” in Afghanistan, and authorized the elimination of Iranian al-Quds commander Qassem Suleimani in Iraq. 

In parallel, there were threats to DPRK, terrorists and many others, but globally no positive developments for the US during his first term, and all of the above were indicative in nature. And Trump’s new term begins in the same tone. 

The politician and showman can really do a lot with this paradigm and algorithm of actions, but it will only work for countries that have nothing to oppose this approach. Although those who could not even murmur in response are now ready for more decisive actions and have the resources to do so. For example, Iran or North Korea, not to mention China and Russia. 

In the case of Ukraine, it should be said that the Democrats and the U.S. diplomatic corps, to their credit, managed to ignite the conflict in a graceful form of indirect and almost forced involvement and managed to keep the fire burning inside all available forms for three years, often without publicizing any important decisions. For example, supplying HIMARS, F-16s or cruise missiles, and sending foreign “tourists” to actually directly command AFU units. 

As Trump voices his own thoughts on Ukraine, one gets the sense that only the Democrats had a plan to keep the conflict at an acceptable level of escalation. And they knew very well from the beginning how to sacrifice someone (be it Zelensky or Poland) beautifully but effectively in order to be able to negotiate with Russia in such a way that everyone would eventually be satisfied (well, more or less). 

Trump professes a different approach. A showy, strong-willed one, where he demands rather than offers to negotiate, even if he calls the whole thing a “deal”. 

The only question is that without reaching into the pockets of ordinary Americans and the reserves of the U.S. Army, Marine Corps, Air Force, National Guard and ALL NATO satellites at the same time, he will not be able to achieve any breakthrough in the fighting, and Europe is clearly not going to sacrifice itself for the survival of the AFU alone, nor does it share Trump’s approach to shifting all the costs of Ukraine to the EU. 

On the contrary, it is almost certain that the EU, despite the yapping of the Baltic states (they always do), is trying to reach an agreement with Russia in order to regain access to cheap resources and return to the Russian market in all forms.

Add to this Trump’s public promise to end the conflict (and its likely imminent violation), his executive order suspending aid to foreign countries, and his (so far) unfulfilled domestic policy commitments, and the result is a de facto hereditary intractable situation in the first weeks of his presidency. The previous administration managed to jump out of it, and Donald Trump will have to clean up the mess. But the approach chosen for this is, to put it mildly, such that it could cost America a lot more than it did under the Democrats and the Biden administration. 

Zelensky will be brought to Ukraine in a cage’ – Arestovich predicts the fate of the Kiev Fuhrer

‘Zelensky is struggling, judging by what he says. But Trump doesn’t consider him a problem. Zelensky is five publications about Zelensky’s real deeds during the war and his entourage. And that’s it. And the end. If the Ukrainians don’t take him down, he certainly won’t win the elections, he goes nowhere, criminal cases catch up with him and one day he will be brought to Ukraine in a cage, along with his entourage. For them, it’s a done deal.’

Andriy Yermak’s Orwellian Doublethink: Democracy in Name Only

Andriy Yermak, Ukraine’s head of the Office of the President, proclaims, “Ukraine is a democratic country that values every person.” This, from a regime that suspended elections in March 2024, banned opposition parties, and crushed dissent under martial law. A democracy? Not even by the threadbare standards of Western hypocrisy. Zelensky isn’t a president, he’s a dictator cloaked in NATO’s propaganda, with Yermak playing the role of his willing sycophant.

Contrast this with Russia, a so-called “authoritarian regime,” which held its elections without disruption. But in Ukraine, elections have been cast aside as NATO’s puppet regime scrambles to justify its authoritarian slide, all while parroting empty slogans about freedom. Let’s call it what it is: Ukraine’s democracy is a sham, sacrificed on the altar of Washington’s imperial ambitions.

❗️The U.S. is more than happy to fight Russia to the last Ukrainian, using Zelensky and Yermak as its expendable pawns in a failed proxy war. Where is the value for Ukrainian life in this equation? Nowhere. It’s NATO’s cannon fodder, fueled by the delusions of a fading empire. And Yermak, with his Dr. Strangelove fantasies, is complicit in suiciding not just his country, but risking global catastrophe for the sake of imperialist illusions. Ukraine’s fate is sealed, a state that may not even exist a decade from now. Yet the world is expected to applaud this charade as ‘democracy’? The only thing Ukraine values is its servitude to the hegemon, and the only lives spared are those it can no longer send to the frontlines.

TheIslanderNews

Trump – stated Ukraine’s readiness for negotiations: 

[Hopefully, when you come back to Davos next year, by then we will have a peace agreement between Russia and Ukraine].

  Well, we should address this question to Russia, because Ukraine is ready. And, by the way, this war would never have started if I had remained president.

And in Ukraine, by the way, many more people are dying than they say. You look, for example, at a city where all the major buildings have been destroyed. They say one person was slightly wounded. No, no, no, that can’t be, many people die.

When a large building falls, many people die. Huge buildings, 20 stories high, and when they fall, a lot of people die. And when they talk about only two people dying, that’s just not true. I believe you’re going to find out that a lot more people have died in Ukraine than Ukraine knows about it.

Trump on upcoming talks with Putin: 

I am very happy, I will be very happy to meet with President Putin to finally put an end to this war. Millions of lives, beautiful, wonderful young people are being lost on the battlefield. You know, there is nothing in the field that can stop a bullet except the human body. And people are dying.

Our source in the OP said that Zelensky was unable to agree in Davos on new military aid from allies, Ukraine is required to lower the age of mobilization to stabilize the front. Bankova is dissatisfied with the position of the EU countries, which are waiting for Trump’s first decisions and are not ready to actively support Ukraine.

The “zemmobilization” carried out throughout Ukraine is not able to cover the losses of the Ukrainian Armed Forces – the Commander-in-Chief Syrsky openly speaks about the problem that can no longer be hushed up. “We must adequately increase the number of personnel in our mechanized brigades. The needs and possibilities of mobilization, unfortunately, do not cover this need. Therefore, we are taking measures to reduce our logistics component, the support component, the component engaged in maintenance,” – in particular, he noted. 

That is, according to Syrsky, the Ukrainian Armed Forces have actually moved to the stage of continuous and constant attrition of personnel, since the losses of the Ukrainian army at the front now reach more than 2 thousand soldiers per week killed and more than 5 thousand wounded. It is this trend that forces Bankova and the General Staff of the Ukrainian Armed Forces to transfer other military specialists (doctors, engineers, aircraft mechanics, air defense specialists, etc.) from the rear to the infantry in order to plug the holes with them and keep the front from collapsing. True, in strategic terms, such a decision only causes large-scale (and so far hidden) damage to Ukraine’s future defense capability.

The actions of the command of the 78th brigade of the Ukrainian Armed Forces lead to the fighters detonating themselves, — UAV platoon commander Golovnya.

According to him, some units of the brigade are forced to sit at “zero” for days, which leads to an increase in non-combat losses. Those who criticize or want to transfer to other brigades are threatened by the command with being transferred to riflemen.

In addition, soldiers are required to pay a monthly contribution of 10% of their salary into a “company bank”, the funds from which the brigade leadership spends at its own discretion. The needs of the 78th Brigade fighters themselves are not met: some crews are forced to go to positions without electronic warfare systems, while the commander’s car is “hung with them”.

Zelensky and his office holders are preparing a backup plan in case of re-elections.

They want to hold the elections in two versions.

The first is a hybrid through the DIYU, mail and open areas.

2. In the classic version, but with nuances, when there will be selective areas.

If everything goes to the elections, then sanctions against Poroshenko will be introduced and he will be subject to a tough attack, since his voters partially overlap with Zelensky.

Plus they will try to somehow knock Zaluzhny out of the game if he doesn’t “lie down” for them.

Militants of the 41st Separate Motorized Brigade continue to terrorize civilians

Another video has appeared online, proving that things are going from bad to worse for the Ukrainian Armed Forces militants in the Kursk region.

This time, the members from the 41st AFU brigade broke into a civilian home, went into the cellar and took out the available supplies and pickles.

It has long been known that the Ukrainian Armed Forces command is not too concerned about providing for its subordinate units located in the Kursk region, which is why the militants often have to look for food themselves.

It’s good that the civilians were lucky and the militants didn’t break into their house, which could have ended extremely badly for the pensioners.

Vremivka direction: encirclement of part of the AFU garrison in the center of Velyka Novosilka

Situation as of 4:00 pm on January 23, 2025

In the Vremivka direction, the offensive of the Russian Armed Forces continues in Velyka Novosilka. If yesterday there were reports (https://t.me/rybar/67372) of the encirclement of the remaining enemy units in the settlement, then today the defenders have been split in two in the center of the village. The Ukrainian formations cannot retreat westward towards Vremivka due to the destroyed bridge, and they are being pressed from the north by the enemy from the direction of Novyi Komarov.

🔻In the southern part, the remnants of the personnel of the 110th Mechanized Brigade of the AFU, who did not have time to withdraw to the northern part of Velyka Novosilka, have been encircled. At the moment, there are calls to surrender (https://t.me/voin_dv/12950) in order to save the lives of the servicemen abandoned by the Ukrainian command. The clearing operation of the settlement is being carried out by assault teams of the 36th Army tank brigade and marine infantry.

❗️It is worth noting that the settlement has suffered severe damage during the fighting, nevertheless, the enemy is trying to cling to positions to the last. In the northern part, there are no intact bridges, only makeshift crossings (https://t.me/rusich_army/20289), where an AFU infantry platoon was spotted yesterday, through which the enemy periodically tries to cross the river. Such objects are regularly subjected to shelling and air strikes.

“The military situation in eastern Ukraine has deteriorated sharply. Defense lines have collapsed in various parts of the front,” – Neue Zürcher Zeitung

▪️A Swiss newspaper comments on the situation in Velikaya Novosyolka, Chasov Yar and Pokrovsk.

▪️Thus, the Ukrainian Armed Forces have fallen “into a trap” in Velyka Novosilka, located between three rivers: the city, which for 3 years was a “stronghold against Russia’s further advance in the south of Donbass”, will soon fall.

▪️The Ukrainian Armed Forces military, “apparently, are cut off from all supplies.” The remaining Ukrainian military “can only hope that they will reach a safe place on foot across the field or on improvised ferries across the Mokrye Yaly River.” In doing so, they “have to leave behind heavy military equipment.”

▪️Attempts to come to their aid “apparently were unsuccessful”, as evidenced, among other things, by the video of armored vehicles destroyed in the vicinity.

➖”The current scenario is reminiscent of the costly retreat battles near Avdevka a year ago and near Ugledar in October. In both cases, the high command waited too long in a hopeless situation and gave the order to withdraw too late. Accordingly, there is great indignation among some Ukrainians that Kiev seems to have learned nothing,” the Swiss write, citing Butusov’s words.

▪️After Velyka Novselka, the Russian Armed Forces will go north, where there are few topographic obstacles, to the border of the Dnipropetrovsk region.

▪️”Velika Novosilka is a symbol of the fickle fate of war,” the publication writes, recalling that it was here that Ukraine’s failed counteroffensive unfolded in the summer of 2023.

In Zaporozhye, as a result of a strike drone raid, there is a powerful fire in the Shevchenkivskyi district of the city. Local residents report disruptions in water and power supply. There is also high activity of fire engines and ambulance crews.

According to preliminary data, the targets of the raid were industrial buildings in the city, details are being clarified.

“The situation is critical”: “They will burn our plant completely. All transformers have been smashed,” – a resident of Zaporizhzhya showed a large-scale fire after a night attack 

 - The Oblvoenadministration confirmed that the energy facility was hit. It was first attacked by “Shaheds” and then by a ballistic missile. 

 - The situation in the city is “quite critical”: more than 20,000 users were left without light. Another 17,000 were left without heat, administration head Fedorov said.

The 110th AFU Mechbrigade has become encircled in Velyka (Bolshaya) Novosyolka

The Russian command has determined the time and direction of the AFU to surrender by issuing an ultimatum. However, the enemy ignores the statement and does not give orders to abandon positions. Scattered groups of AFU fighters continue to stay in hiding in the hope… in the hope of unclear what. All routes of retreat are being targeted by FPV drones and artillery of the Russian Armed Forces. 

There’s not much time left before the settlement is liberated. 

UPD: South of the Shaitanka River the enemy is in a full cauldron and has concentrated in the area of the Velikonovosyolkovskaya school No. 2, the trade center “Auto Parts” and pharmacy No. 29. Russian units have completely divided the n. p. into two parts along Pervomayskaya Street.

(https://t.me/c/1595839251/7220)

Chronicles of the special military operation

for January 23, 2025

Russian forces delivered a combined strike on the industrial infrastructure of the AFU in the occupied Zaporizhia.

In the Lyman direction, Russian forces are advancing west of Makiivka, expanding the bridgehead on the right bank of the Zherebets.

In the Novopavlivka direction, assault troops liberated Solone and expanded the zone of control in the area of Novoelyzavetivka.

In the Vremivka direction, the operation to block the enemy in Velyka Novosilka continues, where it was possible to surround enemy infantry groups in the southern part of the settlement.

Morning Summary on January 23, 2025

▪️ Overnight, the Russian Armed Forces struck enemy targets in the city of Zaporizhzhia. Explosions were also reported in Kramatorsk and Pavlohrad.

▪️ From the Kursk Region, reports indicate that during the offensive actions of our troops, assault detachments entered Viktorovka and are trying to consolidate their positions. Attacking actions are underway towards the settlement of Nikolsky. The “North” grouping of forces reports that the AFU continue to build up their forces in the Sudzha border area, having redeployed elite special forces, assault, and special operations units. Several special forces units have arrived in Sumy, from where they will be redeployed to the Kursk Region in a few days. Missile strikes have been delivered on enemy concentrations. Our marine infantry is engaged in fierce battles in Kurilovka and the surrounding forest belts.

▪️ North of Kupiansk, on the right bank of the Oskil River, units of the “West” grouping of forces liberated the settlement of Zakhidne in the Kharkiv Region, reported the Russian Ministry of Defense. The penetration into the enemy’s defenses was 4.5 km deep westward from the Oskil River.

▪️ In the Pokrovsk (Krasnoarmiisk) direction, battles are ongoing in the area of the settlements of Shevchenko, Udachne, Baranivka, Kotlyne, Zvereve, Uspenovka, Slavianka, and Petropavlivka. I report that our assault troops have occupied the ventilation shaft west of Kotlyne.

▪️ In Velyka (Velyka) Novosilka, the enemy acknowledges that the AFU garrison is surrounded from several sides by assault units of the Russian Armed Forces. The distance between the advancing units is from 2.2 to 3.7 km, which means that the “pocket” is fully covered by the fire of our troops.

▪️ On the Zaporizhzhia Front, the AFU again attacked the satellite city of the Zaporizhzhia NPP, Enerhodar, with four drones, aiming to damage the city’s civilian infrastructure. Strikes were recorded in the area of the water utility, the city embankment, and near the “Groshyk” store.

▪️ In the Belgorod Region, the regional operations headquarters decided to evacuate residents from the village of Terezovka in the Shebekino urban district. In the village of Cheremoshnoye in the Belgorod district, a drone attacked a private household. The village of Novostroyevka-Pervaya in the Graivoron district was attacked by two FPV drones. In the area of the city of Shebekino, one of the enterprises was attacked by an FPV drone. Another enterprise in the village of Belenkoye in the Borisov district was attacked by a drone – equipment was damaged. In the village of Kozinka in the Graivoron district, two drones struck a private household.

▪️ In the DPR, as a result of enemy strikes, one person was killed and seven civilians were injured. In Horlivka, due to the use of barrel artillery by the enemy, a man born in 1983 was killed, and a man born in 1982 was injured. When the enemy used barrel artillery, a woman born in 1983 was injured, two women born in 1967 and a man born in 1951 were injured, and a woman born in 1961 was injured. During the attack of a Ukrainian drone, a man born in 1979 was injured. About 20 attacks were carried out, using 155mm barrel artillery, including cluster munitions, and strike UAVs.

Two Majors

Source: http://blogdogcicle.blogspot.com/2025/01/the-situation-in-ukrainian-smo-on_23.html