Russia’s war on Ukraine. 03.01.26
Operational situation
On the Northern Slobozhansky Direction, Russian forces attempted to advance north of Mala Korchakivka and Kindrativka and attacked near Hrabovske.
Ukrainian Defense Forces counterattacked near Hrabovske and hold their positions in Varachyne.
On the Southern Slobozhansky direction, Russian forces attempted to advance near Vovchanski Khutory and attacked near Vovchansk, Starytsia, Buhruvatka, Prylipka, Lyman, Vilcha, in the direction of Izbytske, near Dekhtyarnе, Ambarne, in the direction of Dovhenke, near Dvorichanske, in the direction of Obukhivka, but did not advance.
Ukrainian Defense Forces counterattacked near Lyman and Vilcha and maintain their positions in Vovchansk.
On the Kupyansk direction, Russian forces attacked near Kupyansk, Kutkivka, Petro-Ivanivka, Krasne Pershe, Fiholivka, in the direction of Novovasylivka, near Petropavlivka, Kurylivka, Hlushkivka, Novoplatonivka, Bohuslavka, Shyikivka, Novovodyane, and Novoyehorivka.
Ukrainian Defense Forces counterattacked in Kupyansk and near Blahodativka and Nechvolodivka.
On the Lyman direction, the 252nd Motorized Rifle Regiment of the 3rd Motorized Rifle Division of the 20th Combined Arms Army attacked on the northeastern outskirts of Drobysheve. Russian forces attacked near Novoselivka, Stavky, Kolodyazi, Myrove, and Zarichne. The enemy is suffering heavy losses.
On the Sloviansk Direction, Russian forces attacked near Siversk, Yampil, Zakitne, Serebrianka, Pereyizne, Riznykivka, and Sakko i Vantsetti.
On the Kostyantynivka direction, Russian forces advanced along Pravoberezhna Street in the southern part of Kostyantynivka, broke through to the southeastern part of the city in the area of Ostrovskoho Street, advanced northwest of Oleksandro-Kalynove, infiltrated into the area north of Predtechyne toward Mayske, attempted to advance east of Berestok and west of Pleshchiivka, and attacked near Minkivka, Oleksandro-Shultyne, Pleshchiivka, Shcherbynivka, Ivanopillya, Kleban-Byk, and Yablunivka, in the direction of Stepanivka, near Rusyn Yar, in the direction of Mykolaypillya, near Sofiivka, and in the direction of Torske. The enemy is attempting to entrench on the southeastern outskirts of Kostyantynivka and in Predtechyne and Oleksandro-Shultyne. The 72nd Separate Motorized Rifle Brigade of the 3rd Army Corps attacks from Bila Hora, while elements of the 6th Motorized Rifle Division of the corps attack from Predtechyne along the T0504 Bakhmut–Kostyantynivka highway.
Fighting continues in Mayske, and Ukrainian Defense Forces units hold individual positions on the northern outskirts of the village.
On the Pokrovsk direction, Russian forces attempted to advance northwest of Sukhetske and north and west of Rodynske and attacked near Nove Shakhove, in the direction of Kucheriv Yar, near and inside Pokrovsk, where enemy infantry groups of one to four servicemen attempt to move between basements, near Bilytske, Chervonyi Lyman, Zatyshok, Myrnohrad, Udachne, Kotlyne, Molodetske, Novopidhorne, in the direction of Serhiivka, and near Hryshyne. Elements of the 76th Air Assault Division attempted to concentrate units and more than 30 light vehicles, including motorcycles, buggies, and others, along the T0515 Shevchenkove–Pokrovsk highway to attack Hryshyne.
Ukrainian Defense Forces control Molodetske, Sukhetske, and the western part of Zatyshok and retain control of the center and northern part of Myrnohrad. Small enemy groups attempt to infiltrate into the center of Myrnohrad simultaneously from several directions.
On the Oleksandrivka direction, Russian forces continued their offensive near Novopavlivka and Filiya and attacked near Andriivka-Klevtsove, Zelenyi Hai, Oleksandrohrad, Vyshneve, and Vorone.
On the Huliaypole direction, Ukrainian Defense Forces are clearing enemy positions in the center of Dobropillya.
Russian forces attacked near Huliaypole, Dobropillya, Zelenе, Solodke, Rybne, Pryvillya, Zlahoda, and in the direction of Zaliznychne.
On the Orikhiv direction, Russian forces bypassed Stepnohirsk from the west along the road toward Hryhorivka and from the east along the road toward Lukyanivske and reached the defensive line along the Konka River near Prymorske. Fighting continues for Stepnohirsk and Prymorske. The enemy attempted to advance within and northeast of Mala Tokmachka and attacked near Bilohirya and Plavni.
Ukrainian Defense Forces carried out an airstrike on the bridge across the Konka River south of Bilohirya.
General conclusion:
On the Northern Slobozhansky direction, enemy forces have reduced their activity and attack only with small infantry groups. They cannot use UAVs due to unfavorable weather conditions but attempt to build up forces for attacks by groups of 2–3 soldiers.
Un the Southern Slobozhansky direction, Russian forces have ceased using heavy equipment and attack exclusively with small infantry groups of 2–3 soldiers, which then attempt to entrench on the achieved lines. The enemy constantly replenishes its units with personnel, does not attack settlements directly, and uses infiltration tactics by small groups to bypass flanks and penetrate forested areas.
Units of the 121st and 122nd Motorized Rifle Regiments of the 68th Motorized Rifle Division of the 6th Combined Arms Army cannot free the remnants of their assault groups encircled in Kupyansk. Ukrainian Defense Forces take advantage of snowy weather to deliver reinforcements to Kupyansk, have fully encircled Russian forces in Kupyansk, and have cut off their logistics.
Russian forces continue to infiltrate toward Kramatorsk. Russian headquarters falsify reports on the development of the offensive on the northern flank of the Kostyantynivka direction.
On the Pokrovsk direction, the strength of the enemy “Tsentr (Center)” Operational Grouping is assessed at around 150,000 personnel, with deployed units of the “Rubikon” Center for Advanced Unmanned Technologies. The enemy attacks with small infantry groups, sometimes with individual soldiers, as well as armored vehicles. The kill zone is 5 to 20 km wide on both sides.
On the Huliaypole direction, Russian forces have entrenched on the southern and northeastern outskirts of Huliaypole, but Ukrainian Defense Forces have blocked all their logistics routes. The situation on the direction remains tense, and the enemy has a numerical advantage.
Supporting operation:
The Unmanned Systems Forces struck a fuel and lubricants base in the city of Rovenky, Luhansk Oblast, an electrical substation near Balashivka, Zaporizhzhia Oblast, the Kasta-2E2 radar near Hvardiyske in Crimea, two concentration areas, fuel and lubricants depots, and ammunition depots of the 69th Motorized Rifle Division of the 6th Combined Arms Army and the 283rd Motorized Rifle Regiment of the 144th Motorized Rifle Division of the 20th Combined Arms Army near the city of Valuiky, Belgorod Oblast, struck a Shahed UAV storage facility in Donetsk, and hit a Tor-M2 air defense system in Shevchenkove, the forward command post of the 51st Combined Arms Army, and an army fuel and lubricants depot in Ilovaisk.
The Special Operations Forces destroyed the command and observation post of an assault detachment of the 68th Tank Regiment of the 150th Motorized Rifle Division of the 8th Combined Arms Army in Avdiivka.
Change in the line of contact (LoC), directions of attacks and counterattacks:
There were 116 combat engagements on various fronts.
On the Southern Slobozhansky direction, the enemy attempted six times to break through Ukrainian defensive lines in the areas of Vovchansk, Hrabovske, Starytsia, Prylipka, and in the direction of Izbytske.
On the Kupyansk direction, two enemy attacks took place in the area of Petropavlivka and in the direction of Kurylivka.
On the Lyman direction, the enemy conducted nine attacks and attempted to penetrate Ukrainian defense in the areas of Drobysheve, Lyman, Zarichne, Stavky, Torske, and Yampil.
On the Sloviansk direction, five attempts by the occupiers to advance were stopped in the areas of Siversk, Zakitne, and Pereyizne.
On the Kostyantynivka direction, the enemy carried out 15 attacks in the areas of Minkivka, Kostyantynivka, Oleksandro-Shultyne, Pleshchiivka, Kleban-Byk, Mykolaypillya, and Sofiivka.
On the Pokrovsk direction, 26 assault actions by the aggressor were repelled in the areas of Nove Shakhove, Chervonyi Lyman, Rodynske, Myrnohrad, Pokrovsk, Kotlyne, Molodetske, Udachne, Filiya, Dachne, and toward Novopavlivka.
On the Oleksandrivka direction, the enemy carried out 10 attacks in the areas of Zelenyi Hai, Oleksandrohrad, Vyshneve, Zlahoda, and Rybne.
On the Huliaypole Direction, 20 attacks by the occupiers took place in the area of Huliaypole and in the direction of Dobropillya and Zelenе.
On the Orikhiv direction, the aggressor attacked three times in the areas of Plavni and Prymorske.
On the Prydniprovske direction, Ukrainian units repelled four enemy attacks.
Changes in the enemy disposition:
34th Separate Motorized Rifle Brigade of the 49th Combined Arms Army operates near Hrabovske; the 217th Airborne Regiment of the 98th Airborne Division, the 104th Air Assault Regiment of the 76th Air Assault Division, the 15th Tank Regiment of the 69th Motorized Rifle Division of the 6th Combined Arms Army, and the 204th Separate SOF Regiment operate in Sumy Oblast.
The 128th Separate Motorized Rifle Brigade of the 44th Army Corps operates near Vovchanski Khutory.
The 27th Separate Motorized Rifle Brigade of the 1st Tank Army operates near Kupyansk.
The 85th Separate Motorized Rifle Brigade of the 3rd Combined Arms Army advances southeast of Pazeno.
The 57th Separate SOF Company of the 8th Combined Arms Army strikes Ukrainian forces in Sofiivka and Toretske; the 68th Separate Reconnaissance Battalion of the 20th Motorized Rifle Division operates near Rayske.
The 150th Motorized Rifle Division of the 8th Combined Arms Army strikes Ukrainian forces near Dobropillya; the 61st Separate Marine Brigade operates near Shakhove; the 5th Separate Motorized Rifle Brigade of the 51st Combined Arms Army operates in Myrnohrad; the 9th Separate Motorized Rifle Brigade and the 60th Separate Motorized Rifle Battalion operate in Rodynske. The 385th Artillery Brigade of the 2nd Combined Arms Army strikes near Pokrovsk; the 80th Separate Reconnaissance Battalion of the 51st Combined Arms Army operates near Myrne and Vasylivka.
The 57th and 60th Separate Motorized Rifle Brigades of the 5th Combined Arms Army strike Ukrainian positions in the center of Huliaypole and Tsvitkove; the 189th Motorized Rifle Regiment of the 35th Combined Arms Army operates in the eastern part of Zaporizhzhia Oblast.
The 19th Motorized Rifle Division of the 58th Combined Arms Army, the 108th and 247th Air Assault Regiments of the 7th Air Assault Division attack from Prymorske in the direction of Richne and on both flanks of Stepnohirsk. The 31st Separate Air Assault Brigade operates near Lukyanivske.
Possible operation situation developments:
On the Southern Slobozhanske Direction, the enemy will attempt to capture Vovchansk, attempt to break through in the area of Tsehelne toward the Vovchansk–Staryi Saltiv road and the highway to Rubizhne with the forces of a tactical grouping (elements of the 6th Combined Arms Army, the 11th and the 44th Army Corps). These actions will slow the enemy’s advance along the eastern bank of the Siverskyi Donets to Bilyi Kolodyaz, Verkhnya Pysarivka and Buhayivka.
On the Kupyansk Direction, the enemy will hold its bridgehead in the Dvorichna and simultaneously will develop an offensive by the 47th Tank Division of the 1st Tank Army east of the city. The troops of the 6th Combined Arms Army will envelop the defense area of the 16th Army Corps of Ukrainian Defense Forces near Kolodyazne, will attack in the Milove – Ambarne and Krasne Pershe – Novovasylivka Directions, and will break through in the Dvorichna – Ridkodub Direction.
The defeat of the enemy “Zapad (West)” Operational Grouping in Kupyansk complicates and delays the seizure of the Sloviansk–Kramatorsk agglomeration. The successes of Ukrainian Defense Forces on the Kupyansk Direction will not allow Russian forces to exploit the advance of the troops of the 25th Combined Arms Army near Lyman and the 3rd Combined Arms Army near Siversk, thereby slowing the movement toward Sloviansk. Enemy forces will need to force the Siverskyi Donets River in the Lyman Direction to reach Sloviansk and secure their flanks against a possible counterstrike by Ukrainian Defense Forces from the Izium area. Russian forces are unable to develop an offensive toward Sloviansk from the Siversk Direction, as they do not have a sufficient number of troops there to conduct a frontal assault on the city.
On the Lyman Direction, the enemy’s 20th Combined Arms Army will attempt to seize the Yarova – Novoselivka – Drobysheve – Pryshyb area and block the Lyman – Izium logistics route along the northern bank of the Siverskyi Donets River. The 25th Combined Arms Army will continue its offensive east and southeast of Lyman in order to reach the Dibrova – Ozerne line and create a favorable initial position for an assault on Lyman from the south and southeast and will attempt to seize Zakitne and consolidate on the dominant heights. In addition, through actions on this Direction, the enemy seeks to support the 3rd Combined Arms Army, which is advancing toward Sloviansk along the southern bank of the Siverskyi Donets River. The troops of the 20th and 25th Combined Arms Armies will advance north and east of Lyman with the aim of isolating the defense area of the 3rd Army Corps of the Ukrainian Defense Forces around the city from the north and northwest, in order to reach the Siverskyi Donets River south of the city on the Raihorodok – Zakitne section.
By maintaining control of a bridgehead on the Siverskyi Donets river, 3rd Army Corps of the Ukrainian Defense Forces will make it much more challenging for the enemy to launch an offensive towards Sloviansk from this direction.
On the Sloviansk Direction, the 3rd Combined Arms Army will attempt to break through from the Dronivka – Siversk line to the Zakitne – Riznykivka – Kalenyky – Kryva Luka area, facilitating the offensive on Lyman by the troops of the 25th Combined Arms Army. The advance of the 3rd Combined Arms Army along the southern bank of the Siverskyi Donets River in a westward direction will allow the command of the enemy “Zapad (West)” Operational Grouping not only to concentrate the main forces of the 20th and 25th Combined Arms Armies for the assault on Lyman without diverting them to block Defense Forces positions along the river, but also to ensure maneuver by troops within the zones of the 3rd, 20th, and 25th Combined Arms Armies across the Siverskyi Donets River outside the fire influence of Ukrainian Defense Forces.
Ukrainian Defense Forces will seek opportunities to slow the enemy advance along the southern bank of the Siverskyi Donets River toward Raihorodok and Sloviansk.
On the Kostyantynivka Direction, the enemy command will attempt to conduct a deep envelopment of Kostyantynivka from the north, east, and southeast and to break through from the southwest to the near approaches to Druzhkivka, that is, to enter the deep rear of the 19th Army Corps of Ukrainian Defense Forces defending in Kostyantynivka and to its south and southwest. Enemy troops will advance in the general direction of Volodymyrivka – Rayske to reach the near approaches to Druzhkivka and will attempt to break through from the east and northeast to the Bilokuzmynivka – Virolyubivka – Izhevka – Kurtivka area. Simultaneously, the enemy will conduct a frontal offensive within the defense zone of the 12th “Azov” Separate SOF Brigade of the National Guard of Ukraine. The troops of the enemy’s 3rd Army Corps will advance to the Novodmytrivka – Chervone line, collapsing the defense of the 24th Separate Mechanized Brigade of the 11th Army Corps of Ukrainian Defense Forces in Chasiv Yar by an offensive from the south. The aggressor will attack along both banks of the Kazennyi Torets River in the Sofiivka area, attempt to seize the village, and advance toward Novopavlivka and Torske. In the offensive zone of the 8th Combined Arms Army, the enemy will advance in the general direction of Volodymyrivka – Sofiivka.
The Pokrovsk–Myrnohrad defense area of the 7th Rapid Reaction Corps of the Air Assault Forces of Ukrainian Defense Forces will be seized by the enemy by the end of January 2026. By capturing Pokrovsk and Myrnohrad, the enemy gains the chance to launch an offensive toward Dobropillya and potentially break through rapidly, with the 2nd Combined Arms Army advancing from Pokrovsk and the 51st Combined Arms Army moving from the bridgehead on the Kazennyi Torets River. The command of the enemy “Tsentr (Center)” Operational Grouping will not be able to bypass/encircle the defense area of the Armed Forces of Ukraine from the flanks, as the Defense Forces firmly hold the Vilne – Novyi Donbas line, leaving only a frontal offensive on Dobropillya, which will entail enormous losses.
On the Oleksandrivka and Huliaypole Directions, the enemy’s “Vostok (East)” Operational Grouping will attempt to envelop the Huliaypole defensive area of Ukrainian Defense Forces from the north, block its main lines of communication, reach the Huliaypole–Pokrovske road on the Dobropillya–Varvarivka section, reach the Khaychur River, force it in the Danylivka–Dobropillya area, and encircle Huliaypole from the northwest. Forces of the 36th Combined Arms Army and elements of the right flank of the 5th Combined Arms Army will attempt to break through toward Pokrovske from the southeast.
On the Orikhiv Direction, the enemy will try to break through toward Novomykolayivka to bypass the Orikhiv defensive area of Ukrainian Defense Forces from the north. The enemy “Vostok (East)” Operational Grouping will attempt to collapse the defense of the Armed Forces of Ukraine southeast of Zaporizhzhia and break through to its near approaches, advancing along the Donetsk–Zaporizhzhia highway. Simultaneously, acting from the south, the enemy’s “Dnepr” Operational Grouping will attempt to break through from the Plavni–Kamianske line along the left bank of the Dnipro River toward Stepnohirsk, and from the Stepove–Mali Shcherbaky line in the northern direction with the aim of reaching the near approaches to the city of Zaporizhzhia.
On the Prydniprovske direction, the command of the enemy’s “Dnepr” Operational Grouping will continue trying to take control of most of the island zone in the Dnipro delta in the direction of Kherson, will try to create a tactical bridgehead on the right bank, and to eliminate the tactical bridgeheads of the 30th Marine Corps of Ukrainian Defense Forces in the area of the automobile and railway bridges near Antonivka.
Russian operational losses from 24.02.22 to 03.01.26
Personnel - almost 1,210 630 (+750);
Tanks – 11,497 (+3);
Armored combat vehicles ‒ 23,855 (+4);
Artillery systems – 35,744 (+24);
Multiple rocket launchers (MLRS) – 1,590 (+1);
Anti-aircraft warfare systems – 1,267 (0);
Vehicles and fuel tanks – 72,688 (+101);
Aircraft - 434 (0);
Helicopters – 347 (0);
UAV operational and tactical level – 99,582 (+539);
Intercepted cruise and other missiles – 4,137 (0);
Boats/ships – 30 (0).
Humanitarian + general:
On the night of 3 January 2026, Russian forces attacked Ukraine with 95 unmanned aerial vehicles, of which about 60 were Shaheds. According to the Ukrainian Air Force, air defense forces managed to shoot down or suppress 80 enemy UAVs. At the same time, impacts of 15 strike UAVs were recorded at eight locations, and at two other locations the fall of debris from intercepted targets was recorded.
During the night, Russian occupiers carried out a massive Shahed-131/136 UAV attack on critical infrastructure in Mykolaiv Oblast. There were no casualties, but part of the populated localities of Mykolaiv District was left without electricity. In Mykolaiv, problems with water supply emerged.
On the night of 3 January, Russians attacked Sumy Oblast. Several Russian UAVs struck one of the populated localities of Shostka District. Non-residential premises containing civilian vehicles sustained significant destruction followed by ignition. A large-scale fire broke out.
At approximately 19:00 on 2 January, Russian military personnel attacked a civilian with a UAV in the settlement of Tomyna Balka of the Bilozerka community in Kherson Oblast. As a result of the enemy strike, a 39-year-old man sustained light injuries.
Today in Sumy Oblast, a civilian man was killed as a result of an enemy attack. A 52-year-old resident of the Esman community was walking to fetch water when he was attacked by a Russian FPV drone.
In Chernihiv Oblast, a Russian strike damaged an apartment building and a farming enterprise. Cattle were injured.
In the Kherson community, Russians shelled the village of Sadove during the day, seriously wounding a 41-year-old man, and in Kherson a trolleybus was damaged as a result of shelling.
During the day, the Russian army carried out a missile strike on Zolotonosha District of Cherkasy Oblast, as a result of which five people sought medical assistance. According to the head of the Cherkasy Oblast Military Administration Ihor Taburets, two of the injured in moderate condition were taken to hospital. According to preliminary data, damage to residential infrastructure and a private enterprise was recorded due to the blast wave and falling debris.
During the day, Russian occupation forces carried out a series of attacks on Dnipropetrovsk Oblast, striking the Oblast center as well as Synelnykove and Nikopol Districts. According to the acting head of the Dnipropetrovsk Oblast Military Administration Vladyslav Haivanenko, in Dnipro an enterprise was damaged as a result of a UAV strike, and in the Vasylkivka community an educational institution caught fire due to a UAV impact, with a private house and infrastructure damaged. In addition, the enemy attacked Nikopol and the Pokrovske community using artillery and FPV drones.
On the night of 3 January, as a result of hostilities, the temporarily occupied Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant lost power supply from one of its high-voltage lines. According to the Ministry of Energy of Ukraine, since the start of the full-scale war Russian shelling and hostilities have already caused 12 blackouts at the plant, the most recent of which occurred less than a month ago. The ministry emphasized that Russia is deliberately disabling energy infrastructure in occupied territories and is attempting to test the connection of the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant to its own energy system under conditions of hostilities and occupation.
21-year-old Dmytro was returned to Ukraine from temporarily occupied territory after Russian military personnel forcibly took him from his native village to Krasnodar in Russia under the guise of evacuation following the start of the full-scale invasion. According to the Bring Kids Back UA initiative, over three years the young man remained in forced isolation under the control of Russian authorities, was deprived of contact with home, and was denied the ability to manage his own life. Dmytro was forced to obtain a Russian passport, while his Ukrainian documents were lost as a result of the deportation.