Russia's war on Ukraine. 26.01.25
Operational situation
On the Kursk direction, Russian forces attempted to advance southeast of Nikolaevo-Daryino, north of Cherkasskoe Porechie, and south of Sudzha, attacked near Kurilovka and Sverdlivkovo.
The "Siversk" Operational Tactical Group (OTG) counterattacked near Pogrebki.
On the Kharkiv direction, Russian forces attacked near Vovchansk and Tykhe but failed to advance.
On the Kupyansk direction, the 12th Tank Regiment of the 4th Tank Division and the 272nd Motorized Rifle Regiment of the 47th Tank Division, both under the 1st Tank Army, unsuccessfully attacked near Kotlyarivka. Russian forces attempted to advance near Zapadne and Zahryzove, attacked in the areas of Dvorichna, Hlushkivka, Petropavlivka, Pishchane, Nova Kruhlyakivka, Lozova, Zeleni Hai, Pershotravneve, Novoserhiyivka, Tverdokhlibove, Novoyehorivka, Hrekivka, Makiivka, Shyikivka, and Druzhelyubivka. They are trying to capture Kopanky, where they attack with large numbers of infantry. The 3rd Motorized Rifle Division of the 20th Combined Arms Army is advancing toward Borova from the north and northeast, near Lozova, Zeleni Hai, and Pershotravneve. The 45th Engineering and Camouflage Regiment of the 6th Combined Arms Army conducted detailed engineering reconnaissance of the Oskil River both south and north of Dvorichna. The enemy concentrated equipment and machinery near the Oskil River and is preparing for large-scale operations following the expansion of the Dvorichna bridgehead.
Ukrainian Defense Forces counterattacked near Zahryzove and Zeleni Hai.
On the Lyman direction, Russian forces unsuccessfully attacked near Novolyubivka, Torske, and toward Zelena Dolyna.
On the Siversk direction, Russian forces attacked near Vasyukivka but made no progress.
On the Kramatorsk direction, Russian forces attempted to advance on the southern outskirts of Chasiv Yar, cleared parts of the "Novopivnichnyi" neighborhood, and attacked near Orikhovo-Vasylivka, Novomarkove, Markove, near Predtechyne, Stupochky, and Bila Hora.
Ukrainian Defense Forces counterattacked in the southern part of Chasiv Yar.
On the Toretsk direction, Russian forces advanced along M. Hrushevskyi and Pyrohova Streets in northern Toretsk, fought for Krymske, controlled half of the Toretsk mine, and advanced west of New York, near Leonidivka and Shcherbynivka. They also attacked near Krymske, Dyliivka, Leonidivka, and Shcherbynivka.
On the Pokrovsk direction, Russian forces advanced east of Sukhoi Yar, captured Novoandriivka, controlled up to half of Nadiivka, and advanced toward Novooleksandrivka near Uspenivka, Udachne, Nadiivka, Novoelyzavetivka, Vozdvyzhenka, Baranivka, on the outskirts of Kotlyne, Zelene Pole, Yelyzavetivka, attacking around Pokrovsk, near Vodyane Druhe, Baranivka, Promin, Yelyzavetivka, Myroliubivka, Myrnohrad, Lysivka, Shevchenkove, Zelenyi, Novoukrainka, Udachne, Kotlyne, Zvirove, Novoelyzavetivka, Uspenivka, Sribne, Nadiivka, and Bohdanivka. They also increased activity near Kalynove and intensified pressure on Oleksandropil after capturing Toretsk.
Ukrainian Defense Forces counterattacked near Kotlyne, held positions in Kotlyne and Lysivka, and controlled up to half of Yelyzavetivka.
The area near the T0504 road junction east of Malynivka remains a gray zone.
On the Novopavlivka direction, Russian forces slightly advanced east and south of Slovyanka, reached the northeastern outskirts of Andriivka, entered the northeastern outskirts of Dachne, and advanced north and northeast of Sukhi Yaly. They attacked near Shevchenkove, Andriivka, Yantarne, Konstyantynopolske, Dachne, Konstyantynopil, and Ulakly.
Ukrainian Defense Forces counterattacked along the Zelenivka–Ulakly line.
On the Vremivka direction, the enemy controls 72% of Velyka Novosilka, made minor advances southwest of Rozdolne, and attacked near Velyka Novosilka, Novodarivka, and Novosilka.
On the Orikhiv direction, Russian forces attacked near Mala Tokmachka and Novodanylivka but were unsuccessful.
General conclusion:
A crisis is escalating near the village of Dvorichna, and it appears that the Ukrainian command is unable to halt or resolve it. Russian forces actively expand their bridgehead on the right bank of the Oskil River, impacting the operational situation both around Kupyansk and on the Vovchansk direction. The enemy's ability to utilize the bridges across the Oskil between Dvorichna and Hrianykivka on the left bank of the Oskil will significantly influence the likely nature of their actions.
Russian forces are attempting to envelope Kupyansk and Kupyansk-Vuzlovyi from the north and south.
The command of the Russian “Zapad (West)” Operational Grouping on the Kupyansk direction is pursuing two main objectives: to expand the flanks of their breakthrough to the bank of the Oskil River south of Kupyansk-Vuzlovyi (near the area of Kruhlyakivka) and to compress the bridgehead of the “Khortytsia” OSG north of this area through simultaneous actions by the 6th Combined Arms Army and the 1st Tank Army from different directions (including operations along the Oskil River between Holubivka and Synkivka) and to break through to the approaches to Borova. To achieve this, they are advancing with the 3rd Motorized Rifle Division of the 20th Combined Arms Army from the northeast toward the following directions: Lozova – Nova Kruhlyakivka, Zeleni Hai – Borivska Andriivka, and Pershotravneve – Kopanky.
The relatively deep enemy breakthrough beyond the Oskil River near Dvorichna opens up a number of opportunities for them, including the northern bypass of Kupiansk. The enemy has already cut the vital rocade of the “Khortytsia” OSG toward Kolodyazne. This development also allows the enemy to organize and execute simultaneous offensive actions toward Velykyi Burluk along two converging directions: Vovchansk – Velykyi Burluk and Dvorichna – Velykyi Burluk. The grouping for the offensive on Kupyansk and a subsequent assault on it has already been deployed (forces of the 1st Tank Army).
Change in the line of contact (LoC):
There were 167 combat engagements on various fronts.
On the Kupyansk direction, there were nine enemy attacks. Ukrainian Defense Forces repelled assault actions near Petropavlivka, Pishchane, Hlushkivka, and Lozova.
On the Lyman direction, the enemy carried out 26 attacks, attempting to breach Ukrainian defenses near Tverdokhlibove, Novoserhiyivka, Shyikivka, Nova Kruhlyakivka, Druzhelyubivka, Hrekivka, Pershotravneve, Kopanky, and in the directions of Novolyubivka, Makiivka, Zelena Dolyna, and Torske.
On the Siversk direction, the enemy conducted an attack near Verkhnokamyanka.
On the Kramatorsk direction, the occupiers launched 33 attacks in the areas of Orikhovo-Vasylivka, Novomarkove, Chasiv Yar, Stupochky, Predtechyne, and Bila Hora.
On the Toretsk direction, the enemy carried out 10 attacks in the Toretsk area.
On the Pokrovsk direction, Ukrainian Defense Forces halted 52 enemy assault actions toward Vodyane Druhe, Yelyzavetivka, Myroliubivka, Promin, Zelenyi, Udachne, Novooleksandrivka, Kotlyne, Bohdanivka, Andriivka, Shevchenko, Dachne, Ulakly, Konstyantynopolske, and in the directions of Pokrovsk, Vidrodzhennya, and Uspenivka.
On the Novopavlivka direction, Ukrainian Defense Forces repelled nine Russian attacks. The occupiers most actively tried to advance near Novosilka, Novodarivka, Konstyantynopil, and Velyka Novosilka.
On the Prydniprovskyi direction, Ukrainian Defense Forces are working to prevent enemy advancement deeper into Ukrainian territory and successfully repelled two enemy assaults.
Ukrainian Defense Forces continue operations in Kursk Oblast, and repelled 16 enemy assault actions. The enemy conducted 33 airstrikes.
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 4 cruise missiles.
Mediterranean Sea: 6 ships, including 2 cruise missile carriers; the total salvo is 22 cruise missiles.
Changes in the enemy disposition:
The 69th Motorized Rifle Division of the 6th Combined Arms Army, the 9th Artillery Brigade, and the 45th Engineering and Camouflage Regiment of the 6th Combined Arms Army operate near Dvorichna and attempt to expand their bridgehead on the western bank of the Oskil River near the village.
The 39th Separate Motorized Rifle Brigade of the 68th Army Corps is active near Ulakly, while the 103rd Motorized Rifle Regiment of the 150th Motorized Rifle Division of the 8th Combined Arms Army is deployed in Dachne.
Possible operation situation developments:
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 Russian military command may redeploy units of the 6th Combined Arms Army, such as the 25th Separate Motorized Rifle Brigade and the 69th Motorized Rifle Division, from the Vovchansk area to Dvorichna if Russian forces achieve significant advances north of Kupyansk.
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.
The further enemy actions on the Novopavlivka direction will aim to prevent the consolidation of "Khortytsia" OSG units in the Rozlyv–Konstyantynopil–Andriivka–Ulakly area. The Russian military command is likely to simultaneously intensify pressure with forces from the 90th Tank Division and increase efforts in the operational zone of "Vostok (East)" Operational Grouping. Troops from the 8th Combined Arms Army (20th and 150th Motorized Rifle Divisions) of the "Yug (South)" Operational Grouping are expected to participate in these actions, with some units likely being redeployed after the withdrawal of the "Khortytsia" OSG from the remaining positions at the Kurakhove bridgehead.
Russian operational losses from 23.02.22 to 26.01.25
Personnel - almost 830,190 (+1,720);
Tanks 9,868 (+9);
Armored combat vehicles – 20,549 (+4);
Artillery systems – 22,323 (+14);
Multiple rocket launchers (MLRS) – 1,263 (0);
Anti-aircraft warfare systems – 1,050 (0);
Vehicles and fuel tanks – 35,124 (+53);
Aircraft - 369 (0);
Helicopters – 331 (0);
UAV operational and tactical level – 23,253 (+40);
Intercepted cruise missiles – 3,053 (0)
Boats/ships – 29 (0).
Humanitarian + general:
Over the past week, Ukraine has faced hundreds of Russian attacks using various types of weapons, including at least 750 strike drones, about 1,250 aerial bombs, and over 20 missiles, according to President Volodymyr Zelensky.
Between 7:00 PM on January 25, Russian forces launched 72 Shahed-type strike drones and various types of decoy drones across Ukraine. Defense forces shot down 50 drones, while nine enemy decoy UAVs were lost due to location tracking failure.
In Sumy, a nighttime Russian drone attack damaged an apartment building, educational, and administrative facilities.
Russian forces struck Kupyansk in Kharkiv Oblast with guided aerial bombs, damaging private houses and power grids. An elderly woman was injured and was found by rescuers after extinguishing a fire. Evening efforts to extinguish fires and clear debris from the daytime airstrikes were halted due to ongoing Russian shelling.
In Kherson, a man was injured during a daytime Russian drone strike and was hospitalized.
The head of the Antonivka district in Kherson Oblast, Serhiy Ivashchenko, sustained leg injuries from a Russian drone attack.
In Beryslav, Kherson Oblast, on the evening of January 25, Russian forces dropped six guided aerial bombs on a healthcare facility. Several medical staff suffered concussions.
Over the past day, Russian forces carried out 46 strikes on border areas of Chernihiv, Sumy, and Kharkiv Oblasts, resulting in 131 explosions.