Russia's war on Ukraine. 08.01.25
Operational situation
On the Kursk direction, Russian forces advanced on the western outskirts of Kruglenkoe, east of Leonidovo, west of Staraya Sorochina, and northwest of Russkoe Porechie. They are engaged in battles for Staraya Sorochina, Russkoe Porechie, Kositsa, Novosotnitskoe, Berdin, and Makhnovka. They attempted to advance on the western outskirts of Bondarevka, in northern Nikolaevka, northeast and northwest of Martynovka, southeast of Zeleny Put, north of Cherkasskoe Porechie, towards Malaya Loknia, southeast of Novaya Sorochina, northwest of Sverdlivkovo, in northern and southern parts of Kurilovka, and northeast of it.
The "Siversk" Operational Tactical Group (OTG) advanced on the northern outskirts of Pogrebki, held positions in Berdin, and attacked in the Sudzha–Bolshoye Soldatskoe direction, towards Berdin, and near Cherkasskoe Porechie.
A Ukrainian Defense Forces’ missile strike hit the command post of the 810th Separate Marines Brigade of the Black Sea Fleet near Belaya.
On the Kharkiv direction, Russian forces continued localized, unsuccessful attacks near Vovchansk and Tykhe, carrying out up to five assaults daily near Vovchansk. There has been a slight increase in the use of glide bombs.
On the Kupyansk direction, Russian forces launched offensives near Holubivka, Topoli, Petropavlivka, Dvorichna, Synkivka, and Kupyansk-Vuzlovyi. They advanced northeast of Borova and moved along road S210517 northwest of Lozova. They are attempting to secure positions toward Nova Kruhlyakivka and advanced near Makiivka. Attacks were recorded near Zahryzove, Nadiya, Pershotravneve, Novoserhiyivka, Cherneshchyna, and Makiivka. Small enemy groups attempt to reach the Oskil River toward Borova.
Ukrainian Defense Forces expelled Russian units from Novomlynsk and now control the settlement.
On the Lyman direction, Russian forces advanced northwest of Novosadove and west of Ivanivka, attacking in the vicinity of Terny, Ivanivka, Yampolivka, and Zarichne.
On the Kramatorsk direction, Russian forces carried out attacks in Chasiv Yar, Bondarne, Vasyukivka, Bila Hora, and Stupochky.
On the Toretsk direction, Russian forces advanced along Kvitkova Street and reached the northwestern administrative border of Toretsk. The enemy now controls approximately 71% of the city.
On the Pokrovsk direction, Russian forces advanced on the eastern outskirts of Lysivka, north of Vovkove, northwest of Vozdvyzhenka, and attacked near Pokrovsk, in the areas of Vodyane Druhe, Tarasivka, Yelyzavetivka, Myrolyubivka, Promin, Shevchenkove, Zeleny, Novy Trud, Novoelyzavetivka, Ukrainka, Yasenove, Kotlyne, and Pishchane.
On the Kurakhove direction, Ukrainian Defense Forces continue to hold the western outskirts of Kurakhove and positions at the Kurakhove Thermal Power Plant.
Russian forces are engaged in battles for Shevchenkove, attempting to advance west of Petropavlivka and west of Sukhi Yaly. The 114th Separate Motorized Rifle Brigade of the 51st Combined Arms Army is advancing toward Andriivka and has captured Ukrainian positions near Dachne along the Vovcha River. The enemy launched offensives near Kurakhove, Sribne, Slovyanka, Konstyantynopil, Konstyantynopolske, Sukhy Yar, Yantarne, and Zelenivka.
On the Vremivka direction, Russian forces attacked near Novosilka and toward Pryvilne but achieved no success.
On the Orikhiv direction, Russian forces conducted offensives near Novodanylivka.
Ukrainian Defense Forces conduct counterattacks in small infantry groups toward Vasylivka.
General conclusion:
Russian forces have concentrated their largest grouping of forces on the Kurakhove direction and continuously replenish frontline units to maintain the pace of offensive operations. Recently deployed Russian units often undergo less than two weeks of training before being sent to the frontlines near Kurakhove. On this direction, the occupiers employ less armored equipment than they did at the end of 2024.
Russian forces intensified offensive actions on the Toretsk direction in June 2024, aiming to reduce Ukrainian Defense Forces' foothold in this area and deprive them of the ability to shell the tactical rear of enemy groupings on the Kramatorsk and Pokrovsk directions. Their intent failed. The enemy adapts its tactics, attacking simultaneously in several directions, increasing the size of assault groups from squads to platoons, and attempting to leverage its numerical superiority.
Change in the line of contact (LoC):
There were 176 combat engagements on various fronts.
On the Kharkiv direction, the enemy made four unsuccessful attempts to advance near Vovchansk and Tykhe.
On the Kupyansk direction, there were three enemy attacks. Ukrainian Defense Forces repelled assault actions near Topoli, Holubivka, and Petropavlivka.
On the Lyman direction, the enemy attacked 14 times, attempting to advance near Novoserhiyivka, Nadiya, Pershotravneve, Cherneshchyna, Makiivka, Zarichne, Terny, and Ivanivka.
On the Siversk direction, Ukrainian Defense Forces repelled seven enemy attacks in the area of Bilohorivka.
On the Kramatorsk direction, the enemy conducted seven attacks near Vasyukivka, Bondarne, Chasiv Yar, Stupochky, and Bila Hora.
On the Toretsk direction, with aviation support, the enemy attacked Toretsk nine times.
On the Pokrovsk direction, Ukrainian Defense Forces stopped 41 enemy assaults in the areas of Tarasivka, Vodyane Druhe, Yelyzavetivka, Promin, Lysivka, Sukhy Yar, Zeleny, Novy Trud, Pokrovsk, Kotlyne, Novovasylivka, and Nadiivka.
On the Kurakhove direction, Ukrainian Defense Forces repelled 25 attacks near Sribne, Slovyanka, Petropavlivka, Andriivka, Kurakhove, and Dachne.
On the Vremivka direction, the enemy carried out 21 assaults in the areas of Yantarne, Konstyantynopolske, Uspenivka, Konstyantynopil, Novosilka, and Pryvilne, actively employing assault and bomber aviation.
On the Prydniprovskyi direction, Ukrainian Defense Forces successfully repelled two enemy assaults.
An operation in the Kursk Oblast is ongoing, with 32 combat engagements reported.
In the Black Sea-Azov naval operational area, the enemy naval group on combat duty consists of:
Mediterranean Sea: 7 ships, including 2 cruise missile carriers; the total salvo is 22 cruise missiles.
Changes in the enemy disposition:
The 16th Separate SOF Brigade operates near the Serebriansk Forest.
The 35th Separate Motorized Rifle Brigade of the 41st Combined Arms Army is active near Pokrovsk.
The 291st Motorized Rifle Regiment of the 42nd Motorized Rifle Division of the 58th Combined Arms Army is engaged on the Zaporizhzhia direction.
Possible operation situation developments:
In Kursk Oblast, combat operations have intensified to the maximum level, forcing the Russian grouping there to expend all available resources, and this comes at an extremely inconvenient and disadvantageous time for them. If intensive fighting continues for another 5–10 days, the Russian grouping will need to be rapidly replenished, as it is already suffering significant losses in counter-battles. This replenishment can only be achieved by redeploying forces from other sections of the front.
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 08.01.25
Personnel - almost 801,670 (+1,660);
Tanks 9,714 (+4);
Armored combat vehicles – 20,205 (+16);
Artillery systems – 21,729 (+19);
Multiple rocket launchers (MLRS) – 1,260 (0);
Anti-aircraft warfare systems – 1,038 (0);
Vehicles and fuel tanks – 33,307 (+81);
Aircraft - 369 (0);
Helicopters – 331 (0);
UAV operational and tactical level – 21,727 (+19);
Intercepted cruise missiles – 3,014 (0)
Boats/ships – 29 (0).
Humanitarian + general:
On the night of January 8, the Russian forces attacked Ukraine with 64 Shahed-type strike drones and various types of imitator drones. The Air Defense Forces shot down 41 enemy drones. 22 enemy imitator drones were lost (without negative consequences), three of them flew towards Russia, one towards Belarus.
During the night and in the morning, the Russian army struck 7 times at border areas and settlements in Sumy Oblast, resulting in one person being injured in Shostka community.
Around 10:40, as a result of a Russian drone attack on a minibus near the village of Naddnipryanske in Kherson Oblast, one man was killed and another injured. In Kherson community, due to increased enemy activity, bus services were suspended to three villages: Naddnipryanske, Molodyizhne, and Inzhenerne.
On January 8 at 15:40, Russian occupying forces struck an industrial facility in Zaporizhzhia with KAB bombs. Thirteen people were killed, and thirty-three were injured. Most of the victims were just on the street or on public transport. Twenty-eight vehicles were damaged, including a tram and a minibus.
On January 8, the Russians struck Stepnohirske in Zaporizhzhia Oblast five times. One of the strikes hit the village council building, another hit a residential building. Two people were saved, while two others remained under the rubble.
On January 8, in Sumy Oblast, five people were injured as a result of Russian drone attacks.
In Beryslav, Kherson Oblast, two men were killed, and five local residents were injured as a result of several instances of explosives being dropped from drones.
Almost 30,000 Ukrainians have been listed as missing since the start of 2024 – both military and civilian, reported the Commissioner for Missing Persons under Special Circumstances, Artur Dobroserdov.
Since the beginning of the full-scale invasion, sappers have returned 35,000 square kilometers of Ukrainian land to use, with about 17,000 square kilometers being demined in 2024.
Thanks to weather conditions and established rapid restoration schemes for networks and equipment, Ukrainian energy workers have minimized the consequences of the last five waves of enemy attacks, said the director of the Energy Research Center, Oleksandr Kharchenko. The expert described the energy supply situation in Ukraine as stable and manageable but "not solid," meaning vulnerable to potential future missile strikes and weather-related issues.
On temporarily occupied territories of Ukraine, starting from February 5, local residents who have not received Russian passports will no longer be able to get married.