Russia’s war on Ukraine. 20.01.26

Operational situation

On the Northern Slobozhansky Direction, Russian forces advanced across the border and entered Vysoke from the north, attacked near Kindrativka, Varachyne, Yunakivka, Sadky, and Mala Korchakivka, are holding positions in the south of Hrabovske, and struck a railway bridge across the Seim River north of Lysohubivka.

On the Southern Slobozhansky Direction, Russian forces captured Dekhtyarnе, attacked near Prylipka, Vovchanski Khutory, Kruhle, Nesterne, Vovchansk, Starytsia, Milove, and Khatnie, and advanced in the Directions of Symynivka, Izbytske, and Hrafske.

Ukrainian Defense Forces counterattacked east of Lyman.

On the Kupyansk Direction, Ukrainian Defense Forces struck Russian forces south of Pishchane and counterattacked in Kupiansk.

Russian forces attempted to encircle Pishchane, attacked in and near Kupyansk, advanced in the Directions of Holubivka, Petropavlivka, Podoly, and Kucherivka, attacked near Stepova Novoselivka, advanced toward Kurylivka, attacked near Kupyansk-Vuzlovyi and Borivska Andriivka, and near Shandryholove and Oleksandrivka.

On the Sloviansk Direction, Russian forces advanced east of Lyman, operated in the northwest of Zarichne, captured Myrne, Zarichne, Yampilivka, and Torske, advanced west and southwest of Zarichne, attempted to advance near Pryshyb, attacked near Stavky, Novoselivka, Kolodyazi, Dibrova, Ozerne, Yampil, Zakitne, Siversk, Riznykivka, and Pazeno, and advanced in the Direction of Rai-Oleksandrivka.

On the Kostyantynivka Direction, Ukrainian Defense Forces advanced in the center of Ivanopillya.

Russian forces captured Stupochky, Predtechyne, and Novopavlivka, advanced toward Illinivka, along the Siverskyi Donets–Donbas canal near Novomarkove, attacked near Kostyantynivka, advanced in the directions of Mayske, Markove, Pryvillya, and Virolyubivka, attacked near Kleban-Byk and Shcherbynivka, attacked near Ivanopillya, advanced toward Berestok, attacked near Oleksandro-Shultyne, Yabluneve, and Stepanivka, advanced toward Illinivka, attacked near Rusyn Yar, advanced toward Novopavlivka, and attacked toward Torske and Sofiivka.

On the Pokrovsk Direction, Russian forces attacked toward Kucheriv Yar, near Toretske, toward Novyi Donbas, near Zaporizhzhia, near and inside Pokrovsk, near Hryshyne, Rodynske, Zatyshok, Chervonyi Lyman, Myrnohrad, Kotlyne, Udachne, and Molodetske, and advanced toward Serhiivka.

Ukrainian Defense Forces counterattacked toward Rodynske and Sukhetske.

On the Oleksandrivka Direction, Russian forces attacked near Novopavlivka, Horikhove, Filiya, Ivanivka, Verbove, and Krasnohirske.

On the Huliaypole Direction, Russian forces attacked near and inside Huliaypole, near Bratske, advanced toward Svyatopetrivka, Vozdvyzhivka, and Ternuvate, attacked near Zelenе, Varvarivka, Dobropillya, Nove Zaporizhzhia, Rodynske, Yehorivka, and Solodke.

Ukrainian Defense Forces counterattacked in the areas of Ternuvate, Vozdvyzhivka, Tsvitkove, Staroukrainka, and Zalizne.

On the Orikhiv Direction, Russian forces fought for Pavlivka, attacked near Stepove, Plavni, Mali Shcherbaky, Shcherbaky, and Lukyanivske, and advanced toward Pavlivka, Novoyakovlivka, and Novoboykivske. The enemy was unable to consolidate in Stepove, Mali Shcherbaky, and Shcherbaky.

Supporting operation:

• Ukrainian Defense Forces struck with UAVs an oil loading terminal at the Tuapse Oil Refinery in Krasnodar Krai, a UAV warehouse of the 144th Motorized Rifle Division of the 20th Combined Arms Army in the village of Novokrasnyanka, Luhansk Oblast, and hit six RVS-1000 type tanks at the Oskolneftesnab oil depot in the village of Kotel, Belgorod Oblast.

• Previously, a 96L6E radar from an S-400 air defense system at Belbek airfield, a 55Zh6U Nebo-U radar south of Feodosiia, occupied Crimea, a UAV warehouse of the 51st Combined Arms Army in Novokrasinka, the Karavan traction substation near Andriivka, and the Sartana-Transitna and Azovska power stations in Mariupol were struck.

General conclusion:

• The enemy strikes Ukrainian logistical routes in the operational depth from 25 to more than 100 km from the frontline. Russian forces employ this tactic most successfully on the Pokrovsk and Huliaypole Directions, which may indicate preparations for an offensive operation in Sumy Oblast. Russian forces conducted a series of attacks in the border zone of Sumy Oblast as part of a broader offensive to create informational effects.

• In the north of Kharkiv Oblast, Russian forces continuously assault Ukrainian positions near Vovchansk, seek weak points in Ukrainian defenses along the Kharkiv Oblast border, attempt to advance into new areas, including near Dekhtyarnе, and seek to seize villages on the flanks of Vovchansk by bypassing the city itself.

• Ukrainian Defense Forces hold positions in Pokrovsk and repelled up to 98 square kilometers of territory in Pokrovsk and nearby areas at the end of 2025 and halted enemy advances in the northern part of Myrnohrad. Russian forces continue to infiltrate in small groups toward Hryshyne.

• The situation near Huliaypole, Zelenе, and Varvarivka remains tense as Russian forces continue attempts to envelop Huliaypole from the north and south. Russian forces intensified attacks to push Ukrainian Defense Forces from positions on the northern, northeastern, and southern outskirts of Huliaypole. The enemy increases air strikes toward Zaliznychne. The enemy increases the use of horses and carried out four attempted attacks using horses.

Change in the line of contact (LoC), directions of attacks and counterattacks:

• There were 165 combat engagements on various fronts.

• On the Southern Slobozhansky Direction, the enemy assaulted Ukrainian Defense Forces positions 11 times near Starytsia, Prylipka, Vovchanski Khutory, Kruhle, Nesterne, and Dekhtyarnе and toward Izbytske.

• On the Kupyansk Direction, three enemy attacks occurred. Ukrainian Defense Forces repelled enemy assaults near Stepova Novoselivka and toward Holubivka.

• On the Sloviansk Direction, the enemy attacked 14 times in the areas of Novoyehorivka, Novoselivka, Shandryholove, Kolodyazi, Zarichne, and Dronivka toward Platonivka.

• On the Kostyantynivka Direction, the enemy conducted 17 attacks toward Pryvillya and Bondarne, in the areas of Kleban-Byk, Yablunivka, and Rusyn Yar, and toward Kostyantynivka and Novopavlivka.

• On the Pokrovsk Direction, 44 enemy assault and offensive actions were stopped in the areas of Nykanorivka, Rodynske, Myrnohrad, Pokrovsk, Kotlyne, Udachne, Molodetske, and Horikhove and toward Filiya.

• On the Oleksandrivka Direction, the enemy attacked five times in the areas of Verbove, Yehorivka, and Krasnohirske.

• On the Huliaypole Direction, the enemy attacked 20 times in the areas of Huliaypole and Solodke and toward Dobropillya, Varvarivka, and Svyatopetrivka.

• On the Prydniprovske Direction, the invaders unsuccessfully attempted to improve their position in the area of the Antonivskyi Bridge.

Changes in the enemy disposition:

• The 245th Motorized Rifle Regiment of the 47th Tank Division of the 1st Tank Army and the FSB Special Purpose Center operate in the north of Kharkiv Oblast.

• The 7th Separate Motorized Rifle Brigade of the 3rd Combined Arms Army operates near Siversk and Zakitne. Units of the “Rubikon” Center for Advanced Unmanned Technologies and the 752nd Motorized Rifle Regiment of the 3rd Motorized Rifle Division of the 20th Combined Arms Army advance toward Lyman.

• The 70th Motorized Rifle Division of the 18th Combined Arms Army operates toward Chasiv Yar. The 4th Separate Motorized Rifle Brigade of the 3rd Combined Arms Army strikes Ukrainian forces in Kostyantynivka and Ivanopillya, the 238th Artillery Brigade of the 8th Combined Arms Army operates near Rayske and Novoselivka, and the 68th Separate Reconnaissance Battalion of the 20th Motorized Rifle Division of the 8th Combined Arms Army operates near Mykolaypillya.

• The 5th Separate Motorized Rifle Brigade of the 51st Combined Arms Army, the 55th Naval Infantry Division of the Pacific Fleet, and the 76th Air Assault Division operate on the Pokrovsk Direction.

• The 16th NBC Protection Brigade of the Eastern Military District operates toward Vremivka.

• The 57th Separate Motorized Rifle Brigade of the 5th Combined Arms Army operates west of Huliaypole, while the 305th Artillery Brigade and the 218th Tank Regiment of the 127th Motorized Rifle Division of the army continue operations on the Zaporizhzhia Direction.

• The 328th Air Assault Regiment of the 104th Air Assault Division strikes Ukrainian positions southeast of Lukyanivske.

Possible operation situation developments:

• On the Southern Slobozhanske Direction, the enemy will continue its attempts to capture Vovchansk with the forces of a tactical grouping (elements of the 6^th Combined Arms Army, the 11^th and the 44^th 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’s “Sever (North)” Operational Grouping will concentrate its efforts on seizing the eastern part of Kupyansk, attacking from the north, will attempt to push the Ukrainian Defense Forces’ 16th Army Corps south of the Kucherivka–Petropavlivka line, advancing toward Petropavlivka along the road from Vilshana and attacking the northeastern part of the city from the direction of Lyman Pershyi.

• On the Sloviansk 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. 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 Ukrainian Defense Forces around the city from the north and northwest in order to reach the Siverskyi Donets River south of the city in the Raihorodok–Zakytne sector. By maintaining a bridgehead on the Siverskyi Donets River, the 3rd Army Corps of Ukrainian Defense Forces will make it much more difficult for the enemy to conduct offensive actions towards Sloviansk from this direction. The 3rd Combined Arms Army will attempt to break through from the Dronivka–Siversk line to the Zakytne–Riznykivka–Kalenyky–Kryva Luka area, which will facilitate an offensive on Lyman by the troops of the 25th Combined Arms Army. Ukrainian Defense Forces will seek opportunities to slow the enemy’s advance along the southern bank of the Siverskyi Donets in the direction of Raihorodok and Sloviansk

• On the Kostyantynivka Direction, the operational objective of Russian forces remains the destruction of the 9th and 10th Army Corps of Ukrainian Defense Forces, which oppose the enemy “Yug (South)” and “Tsentr (Center)” Operational Groupings, the capture of the Kostyantynivka–Druzhkivka agglomeration, and an advance from the south and southeast to the near approaches to Kramatorsk. This objective is being pursued using a sequential, phased envelopment strategy for the agglomeration, beginning with the occupation of Kostyantynivka as the first phase, followed by the capture of Druzhkivka as the second phase. In the near term, Tactical Group “Dzerzhynsk” will attempt to break through to the Stepanivka–Berestok line and subsequently to the Dovha Balka–Illinivka line and will attempt to seize the entire western part of Kostyantynivka along the western bank of the Kryvyi Torets River. Offensive actions by the Tactical Group are expected on the Yablunivka–Stepanivka, Oleksandro-Kalynove–Berestok, and Pleshchiivka–Berestok Directions.

• Tactical Group “Bakhmut” will consolidate in the southeastern part of Kostyantynivka and will attempt to break through to the eastern part of the city. Subsequently, the Tactical Group will attempt to advance to the northern and northwestern districts of Kostyantynivka and break through to the Izhevka–Virolyubivka line along the eastern bank of the Kryvyi Torets River. The Tactical Group will continue its offensive on the Oleksandro-Shultyne–Kostyantynivka and Predtechyne–Kostyantynivka Directions. A sharp increase in combat activity by the 70th Motorized Rifle Division of the 18th Combined Arms Army is also expected in the Chasiv Yar area and north of it on the Kalynivka–Virolyubivka Direction simultaneously with the breakthrough of Tactical Group “Bakhmut” units to the eastern part of Kostyantynivka. The likely direction of further advance is toward Kurtivka and Druzhkivka.

• 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/envelop 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 advance on the widest possible front, attempting to maximally stretch the forces of Ukrainian Defense Forces and their reserves, and through active offensive actions by the 36th Combined Arms Army ensure, on the main strike direction toward Huliaypole, a maximum concentration of its own forces and assets in the zone of the 5th Combined Arms Army

• The enemy will attempt to develop the offensive of the 5th Combined Arms Army in the general direction of Varvarivka–Verkhnya Tersa–Omelnyk. Considering that in the offensive zone of the 58th Combined Arms Army the enemy will advance northward along the Dnipro, has already reached the delta of the Konka River in the Prymorske area and has bypassed Stepnohirsk from the west and east, it will attempt to reach the defense line of the 17th Army Corps of Ukrainian Defense Forces along the Konka River on the Malokaterynivka–Komyshuvakha sector. The aggressor will attempt to cut the logistics of the 17th Army Corps of Ukrainian Defense Forces in Orikhiv and, with the troops of the 5th Combined Arms Army, the main forces of the 76th Air Assault Division and the 35th Combined Arms Army, break through to the near approaches to the city from the northeast, from the area north of Huliaypole, after which it will assault Orikhiv. The success of this plan directly depends on the ability of Ukrainian Defense Forces to stabilize the situation in Huliaypole.

• 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 20.01.26

Personnel - almost 1,228 570 (+1,130);

Tanks – 11,579 (+6);

Armored combat vehicles ‒ 23,928 (+6);

Artillery systems – 36,393 (+60);

Multiple rocket launchers (MLRS) – 1,618 (+1);

Anti-aircraft warfare systems – 1,279 (+1);

Vehicles and fuel tanks – 75,067 (+191);

Aircraft - 434 (0);

Helicopters – 347 (0);

UAV operational and tactical level – 111,140 (+925);

Intercepted cruise and other missiles – 4,163 (0);

Boats/ships – 30 (0).

Humanitarian + general:

• On the night of 20 January, Russian forces carried out a massive combined strike against Ukraine, employing 372 aerial attack assets: one Zircon missile, 18 Iskander-M/S-300 ballistic missiles, 15 Kh-101 cruise missiles, and 339 strike UAVs of the Shahed, Gerbera, and Italmas types. Air defense forces shot down or suppressed 342 targets, including 14 ballistic and 13 cruise missiles, as well as 315 UAVs. Hits by five missiles and 24 UAVs were recorded at 11 locations, and debris fell at 12 sites. The main strike was directed against Kyiv Oblast. At the time of the report, the attack was still ongoing.

• Russian occupiers twice attacked Zaporizhzhia on the night of 20 January, damaging a private house.

• Two people were injured, a fire broke out, and an enterprise, infrastructure, residential buildings, and vehicles were damaged as a result of a Russian strike on the city of Dnipro on the night of 20 January. Air defenders shot down 40 Russian UAVs in Dnipropetrovsk Oblast.

• As a result of the Russian strike on the night of 20 January, one person was injured in Kyiv, and non-residential buildings were hit in the Dniprovskyi District. In Kyiv Oblast, one person was killed and buildings of two fuel stations were damaged.

• In the city of Chornomorsk in Odesa Oblast, a Russian UAV struck a residential high-rise building, and an energy infrastructure facility was also damaged as a result of the attack.

• As of the morning, due to shelling, 5,635 buildings in Kyiv were without heating, which is about 46% of the capital’s housing stock. Twelve of these buildings had been without heat since the attack on 9 January, Minister for Communities Development Oleksii Kuleba reported. The situation with water supply was also difficult. The right bank of Kyiv was operating at reduced pressure. The left bank was temporarily without water, affecting about 3,500 residential buildings. Restoration of water supply was expected during the day.

• On 20 January, Russian forces dropped six FAB-250 aerial bombs with a unified planning and correction module on Druzhkivka in Donetsk Oblast, injuring four civilians. Among the injured was a married couple who were in a car. The shelling destroyed a private household and destroyed a vehicle.

• In the Bilopillya community of Sumy Oblast, two local residents were injured as a result of a guided aerial bomb strike.

• On 20 January, Russian forces attacked Zaporizhzhia with UAVs, resulting in vehicles catching fire and the death of a person who was inside one of them. According to Oblast Administration Head Ivan Fedorov, private houses were also damaged by the strike, and one woman was injured.

• As a result of the Russian attack on the morning of 20 January, the Chornobyl Nuclear Power Plant completely lost external power supply, and power lines to other nuclear power plants were also damaged. According to the IAEA, substations vital for nuclear safety were hit. Agency Director General Rafael Grossi reported that the organization was assessing the impact of the events on the level of nuclear safety.

• As of 17:00, the Chornobyl Nuclear Power Plant was reconnected to the country’s integrated power system after a blackout resulting from the Russian shelling of the facility. Power supply was restored, including to the Sarcophagus and the spent nuclear fuel storage facility. Radiation levels remained within normal limits.

• According to Minister Oleksii Soboliev speaking in Davos, Russian shelling since October 2025 damaged 8.5 GW of Ukraine’s generating capacity, including thermal and hydroelectric power plants. Despite ongoing restoration work, facilities continued to suffer repeated destruction due to a lack of air defense assets. To cover the deficit, Ukraine was currently carrying out record electricity imports from Europe amounting to 1.9 GW.

• On the evening of 20 January, Ukrenergo reported the application of emergency consumption restrictions in many oblasts of Ukraine due to complex damage to generation facilities and networks after the 20 January attack. The most difficult situation with prolonged unscheduled power outages was recorded in Kyiv, Kyiv Oblast, Kharkiv Oblast, Sumy Oblast, Donetsk Oblast, Odesa Oblast, and Poltava Oblast. Elimination of the consequences of the shelling continued in order to stabilize the power system.

• As of 16:00, Kyiv municipal services restored heat supply to more than 1,600 residential buildings that had been left without heating after the night attack. According to Mayor Vitalii Klychko, 4,000 apartment buildings remained without heating.

• In the Kholodnohirskyi District of Kharkiv, an underground school was opened where about one thousand children would be able to study in two shifts.