Russia's war on Ukraine. 06.01.25
Operational situation
On the Kursk direction, the "Siversk" Operational Tactical Group (OTG) conducted a series of attacks in the Berdinsko-Novosotnitskoe direction in three waves using armored vehicles, intensified their offensive toward Leonidovo, launched an assault near Pushkarnoe, advanced southwest and south of Berdino, and entered the southern part of the village. They are consolidating positions in Cherkasskoe Porechie, Martynovka, and Mikhailovka, entered Novosotnitskoe, advanced west of Yamskaya Step, west of Novaya Sorochina, and attacked near Nikolskiy, Alexandria, Russkaya Konopelka, and in the direction of Pushkarnoe. A missile strike by Ukrainian Defense Forces hit the command post of the 76th Air Assault Division near Lgov.
Russian forces advanced in the western and southern parts of Makhnovka, pushing Ukrainian forces back from Makhnovka and Dmitriukov. In the battles near Makhnovka, Russian and North Korean troops suffered losses amounting to an infantry battalion. The enemy also attacked toward Nikolskiy and Malaya Loknia.
On the Kharkiv direction, Russian forces conducted localized attacks near Starytsia and Vovchansk.
On the Kupyansk direction, Russian forces attempted to advance near Zapadne, attacked near Petropavlivka, Nadiia, Pershotravneve, Novoserhiyivka, Novoyehorivka, Tverdokhlibove, and Makiivka, advanced northwest of Lozova, and stormed Defense Forces positions near Zahryzove.
On the Lyman direction, Russian forces unsuccessfully advanced in the areas of Yampolivka, Terny, Zarichne, and the Serebriansk Forest.
On the Kramatorsk direction, Ukrainian Defense Forces regained positions southeast of Chasiv Yar along the section of the "Siverskyi Donets–Donbas" canal.
Russian forces attacked within and near Chasiv Yar, as well as near Klishchiivka, Bila Hora, and Stupochky.
On the Toretsk direction, Russian forces made slight advances along Kutuzov Street, Saratovska Street, and Kosmonavtiv Street in Toretsk, and attacked near Toretsk, Dyliivka, Krymske, and Shcherbynivka.
On the Pokrovsk direction, Russian forces are advancing toward Novooleksandrivka, along the Sribne–Novoandriivka line from Novoyelyzavetivka, and toward Yasenove from Ukrainka. Fighting continued in Pokrovsk, near Baranivka, Myrne, Yelyzavetivka, Tymofiivka, Promin, Novooleksandrivka, Vozdvyzhenka, Myroliubivka, Lysivka, Zelenyi, Novyi Trud, Shevchenkove, Pishchane, Solone, Novoolenivka, Kotlyne, Uspenivka, Novovasylivka, and Novoyelyzavetivka.
On the Kurakhove direction, the 114th Separate Motorized Rifle Brigade of the 51st Army captured Petropavlivka. The enemy advanced southeast of Dachne, attacked near Kurakhove, Petropavlivka, Slovyanka, Dachne, and toward Konstyantynopil, Yantarne, in the area of Konstyantynopolske, and Zelenivka.
On the Vremivka direction, the 114th Motorized Rifle Regiment and the 218th Tank Regiment of the 127th Motorized Rifle Division of the 5th Army are advancing along the Velika Novosilka–Huliaypole highway. Russian forces advanced near Neskuchne and continued their assault in the area of Novyi Komar.
On the Orikhiv direction, Russian forces made slight advances near Novodanylivka and attacked near Bilohirya and Mala Tokmachka.
On the Prydniprovskyi direction, Russian forces conducted localized attacks in the areas of the Zabych and Kozatskyi islands but were unsuccessful.
General conclusion:
In Kursk Oblast, Ukrainian Defense Forces resumed their offensive in at least three directions.
On the Kupyansk direction, the enemy intensified combat operations toward Borova.
On the Kramatorsk direction, the enemy is preparing to displace Ukrainian Defense Forces units from the Refractory Materials Plant in Chasiv Yar.
Russian forces striking infrastructure and residential buildings in Pokrovsk and Myrnohrad with heavy artillery and aviation. Windy and snowy weather complicates UAV operations.
Change in the line of contact (LoC):
There were 184 combat engagements on various fronts.
On the Kharkiv direction, there were two unsuccessful enemy attacks near Vovchansk.
On the Kupyansk direction, there were four Russian attacks. Ukrainian Defense Forces repelled enemy assault actions near Zahryzove.
On the Lyman direction, the enemy attacked 12 times, attempting to advance near Nadiya, Tverdokhlibove, Zarichne, Novoserhiyivka, and Pershotravneve.
On the Kramatorsk direction, the occupiers launched seven attacks in the areas of Chasiv Yar, Stupochky, and Predtechyne.
On the Toretsk direction, the enemy conducted 12 attacks near Toretsk, Shcherbynivka, and Krymske.
On the Pokrovsk direction, Ukrainian Defense Forces stopped 51 enemy attacks in the areas of Yelyzavetivka, Vozdvyzhenka, Myroliubivka, Promin, Lysivka, Novyi Trud, Pishchane, Solone, Novovasylivka, Novoyelyzavetivka, and Yasynove.
On the Kurakhove direction, Ukrainian Defense Forces repelled 27 attacks. The enemy focused its main efforts near Slovyanka, Petropavlivka, Kurakhove, and Dachne.
On the Vremivka direction, the enemy conducted 13 assaults near Yantarne, Novyi Komar, Novodarivka, and in the direction of Konstyantynopil. The enemy actively employed aviation.
On the Prydniprovskyi direction, Russian invaders launched one unsuccessful attack.
Ukrainian Defense Forces continue their operation in Kursk Oblast. Enemy aviation carried out eight airstrikes. The troops of the "Siversk" OTG repelled 47 attacks.
In the Black Sea-Azov naval operational area, the enemy naval group on combat duty consists of:
Black Sea: 1 ship, including 1 cruise missile carrier; the total salvo is 0 cruise missiles.
Mediterranean Sea: 7 ships, including 2 cruise missile carriers; the total salvo is 22 cruise missiles.
Changes in the enemy disposition:
The 346th Separate SOF Brigade and the 5th Separate Motorized Rifle Brigade of the 51st Combined Arms Army are clearing the western outskirts of Kurakhove.
The 26th Motorized Rifle Regiment and the 81st Self-Propelled Artillery Regiment of the 70th Motorized Rifle Division of the 18th Combined Arms Army are operating on the Kherson direction.
Possible operation situation developments:
On the Kramatorsk direction, the "Khortytsia" OSG units will be forced to retreat to the Kostyantynivka area if the enemy reaches the Chervone–Stupochky line and simultaneously launches an offensive northward at the junction of its 41st and 51st Combined Arms Armies from the Novooleksandrivka–Arkhanhelske line, advancing to the Yablunivka–Oleksandro-Kalynove line on the Toretsk direction. If the Chasiv Yar Refractory Materials Plant is lost, it will be under enemy control by the end of December.
On the Pokrovsk direction, a withdrawal of the “Donetsk” OTG to the Ukrainka – Andriivka – Rozlyv – Novoocheretuvate line is expected. The length of the line of contact will be reduced, thereby tightening the combat formations of the operational-tactical group.
In the offensive zone of the 27th Motorized Rifle Division of the 2nd Combined Arms Army, the command has committed units of two brigades of the 41st Combined Arms Army, the 55th and 74th Separate Motorized Rifle Brigades. This indicates that they have chosen to reinforce the efforts of the 2nd Combined Arms Army’s operational zone using forces from the 41st Combined Arms Army to capture Pokrovsk. As part of this plan, the 433rd Motorized Rifle Regiment, likely reinforced with separate units of the 589th Motorized Rifle Regiment of the 27th Motorized Rifle Division, supported by the 55th Separate Motorized Rifle Brigade, will attempt a breakthrough toward Kotlyne to cut the Pokrovsk–Mezhova road, where they already have tactical success. South of the city, the 90th Tank Division will continue to develop its success. Its 80th and 239th Tank Regiments and the 228th Motorized Rifle Regiment will advance from the Novovasylivka–Novoelyzavetivka line toward Uspenivka and Nadezhdynka. The 1452nd or 1438th Territorial Troops Motorized Rifle Regiment of the 41st Combined Arms Army will attack near Vozdvyzhenka toward the interchange on the T0504 road.
The further development of the enemy’s offensive on Pokrovsk may proceed according to two main scenarios:
The enemy may break through to the city from the south and then proceed as they did in Chasiv Yar—leveraging their superiority in forces and means to gradually push Ukrainian Defense Forces out of the city district by district.
After a relatively deep envelopment of Pokrovsk from the south and the cutting of the road to Mezhova, the enemy may regroup part of their forces and return them to the 41st Combined Arms Army’s operational zone. This would enable them to conduct an envelopment of the city from the north, cutting the T0504 road toward Kostyantynivka.
The overall enemy intent regarding the capture of the "Khortytsia" OSG defense area in Velyka Novosilka may look as follows: the 36th Combined Arms Army (composed of the 37th Separate Motorized Rifle Brigade, 5th Separate Tank Brigade, and the attached 60th Separate Motorized Rifle Brigade of the 5th Combined Arms Army) creates frontal pressure along the eastern bank of the Mokri Yaly River and from the east in the directions of Blahodatne – Velyka Novosilka, Zolota Nyva – Velyka Novosilka, and Shakhtarske – Velyka Novosilka, aiming to tie down the main forces of the Ukrainian grouping defending in the area in question as much as possible. Simultaneously, the 40th Separate Marines Brigade of the Pacific Fleet and the 336th Separate Marines Brigade of the Baltic Fleet break through north of the village and seize two roads leading north from Velyka Novosilka. The 5th Combined Arms Army (comprising the 127th Motorized Rifle Division and the 34th Separate Motorized Rifle Brigade) advances in the area of Rivnopil – Storozhove in a northern direction towards the Velyka Novosilka – Uspenivka road, cutting it off and bypassing the entire "Khortytsia" OSG defense area in Velyka Novosilka from the southwest and west.
On the Orikhiv direction, the enemy command may deploy an assault grouping consisting of the 42nd Motorized Rifle Division, the 136th Separate Motorized Rifle Brigade, and the 503rd Motorized Rifle Regiment of the 19th Motorized Rifle Division of the 58th Combined Arms Army. Possible directions of advance may include Nesteryanka–Novoandriivka and Myrne–Shcherbaky. The objective may be to bypass the city of Orikhiv from the west, cut the logistical route between Orikhiv and Stepove, and create conditions for encircling the defensive positions of the "Tavriya" Operational Strategic Group around Orikhiv from two sides simultaneously. The possibility of forming another assault grouping (forces of the 35th Combined Arms Army) cannot be ruled out, which could strike in the general direction of Myrne–Charivne, bypass Orikhiv from the east, or encircle the city from the north by breaking through to the village of Omelnyk.
The enemy command's plan for the Southwestern Theater of Military Operations during the winter campaign of 2025 may include an operation to capture Pokrovsk and the final occupation of Toretsk, Chasiv Yar, and Vovchansk. Another possible course of action could be the occupation of Kupyansk or simultaneous actions in several directions. The enemy's actual operational capabilities for conducting deep offensive operations appear questionable and are uneven between groupings of forces, which has already led to the downsizing of the strategic offensive operation to an offensive on two operational directions.
Russian operational losses from 24.02.22 to 06.01.25
Personnel - almost 798,040 (+1,550);
Tanks 9,700 (+14);
Armored combat vehicles – 20,164 (+45);
Artillery systems – 21,665 (+62);
Multiple rocket launchers (MLRS) – 1,258 (+1);
Anti-aircraft warfare systems – 1,034 (+2);
Vehicles and fuel tanks – 33,056 (+116);
Aircraft - 369 (0);
Helicopters – 331 (+1);
UAV operational and tactical level – 21,625 (+178);
Intercepted cruise missiles – 3,006 (0)
Boats/ships – 29 (0).
Humanitarian + general:
During the night of January 6, Russian invaders attacked Ukraine with two guided Kh-59 air-launched missiles and 128 strike UAVs of the Shahed type, along with various imitation drones. Air defense forces shot down two missiles and 79 UAVs, while 49 enemy imitation drones were reported as lost. Debris from downed drones caused damage to industrial facilities, institutions, and private homes in Chernihiv, Sumy, Cherkasy, Poltava, and Kyiv Oblasts. Preliminary reports indicate no casualties or injuries.
On the morning of January 6, Russian forces shelled a village in the Zolochiv community of Kharkiv Oblast, damaging houses and power lines.
Russians shelled Zelenivka in Kherson Oblast overnight, injuring two people. One of the injured was a representative of a charitable organization. Later in the day, three more civilians were injured in Kherson Oblast as a result of Russian drone attacks.
On Monday afternoon, Russian forces used a drone to strike a passenger bus in the Korabel District of Kherson. One person was reported dead, and six were injured.
In Kherson Oblast, on January 5, Russian strikes resulted in one death and injuries to 13 others.
Over the past day, Russian forces conducted 86 attacks with various weapons on the border areas of Chernihiv, Sumy, and Kharkiv Oblasts, resulting in a total of 219 explosions.
Verkhovna Rada Human Rights Commissioner Dmytro Lubinets stated that there is a preliminary agreement with Russia to systematize prisoner exchanges in 2025, prioritizing those who are severely ill or wounded.
On January 3, near the village of Neskuchne in the Volnovakha District of Donetsk Oblast, Russian occupiers allegedly committed a crime by executing three Ukrainian prisoners of war. According to DeepState OSINT agency, the Russians tied their hands and shot them in the back of the head.
Ukraine's Security Service has charged Russian penal colony deputy chief Oleksiy Khavetsky in absentia for personally participating in the torture of Ukrainian POWs.
In December 2024, human rights organizations recorded 12 violations of health rights against Crimean political prisoners and nine arrests.
In the temporarily occupied territories, Russians have further complicated life for locals by banning the topping up of mobile phone balances without a Russian passport. According to the National Resistance Center, residents now need to provide a passport or authenticate through the state services portal to top up their balance with cash.
Occupation authorities have received Kremlin plans to send children to military camps in 2025. Children will be sent to the Avangard camp in Volgograd Oblast. Officially called the "Center for Patriotic Education," it is effectively a military camp where children are encouraged to pursue military careers in Russian institutions, according to the National Resistance Center.
Over three years of occupying Mariupol, Russians have demolished over 500 residential buildings, replacing them with mortgage housing while former residents continue to live in rented apartments and dormitories. Mariupol residents report that compensation housing projects have been halted. Local residents also claim that not only were their homes destroyed, but their legal addresses were also annulled. The pre-occupation Mariupol City Council states that many Mariupol residents are recording video appeals in despair, but the occupation authorities ignore them.