Russia's war on Ukraine. 28.01.25
Operational situation
On the Kursk direction, fighting continued near Kositsa. The "Siversk" Operational-Tactical Group (OTG) counterattacked near Nikolaevo-Daryino.
On the Kharkiv direction, Russian forces attacked near Lyptsi and Vovchansk but made no advances. The enemy conducted several localized attacks in the Derhachi district, potentially aiming to advance toward Kozacha Lopan.
On the Kupyansk direction, Russian forces unsuccessfully attacked near Petropavlivka, Pishchane, Stepova Novoselivka, Hlushkivka, Lozova, Kolisnykivka, Zahryzove, Zelenyi Hai, Kopanky, Makiivka, and Hrekivka. They attempted to advance on the southern outskirts of Novoyehorivka and west of Nadiya.
On the Lyman direction, Russian forces tried to advance northwest of Novosadove and Ivanivka, attacking near Terny, Kolodyaz, Yampolivka, toward Zelena Dolyna, and in the areas of Zarichne and Torske, but achieved no success.
On the Kramatorsk direction, Russian forces advanced along Myru and Horkoho streets in the center of Chasiv Yar, in the areas of Hryhorivka and Orikhovo-Vasylivka, and attacked near Chasiv Yar, Stupochky, Bila Hora, and Predtechyne. The enemy is amassing combat equipment, particularly armored vehicles, on this direction and has blown up sections of the "Siverskyi Donets–Donbas" canal in several locations to create passages for armored vehicles, attacks, and logistics.
On the Toretsk direction, Ukrainian Defense Forces advanced northwest in Toretsk. Russian forces made gains near the Toretsk mine, attacked near Dyliivka, Krymske, and Shcherbynivka.
On the Pokrovsk direction, Russian forces fought for Nadiivka and Novoandriivka, attempting to advance north of Novoandriivka. They attacked near Vodyane Druhe, Myroliubivka, Yelyzavetivka, Promin, Lysivka, Sukhyi Yar, Zelenyi, Novoukrainka, Udachne, Kotlyne, Zvirove, Novovasylivka, Novooleksandrivka, Uspenivka, Novoserhiyivka, Sribne, Nadiivka, and toward Bohdanivka.
On the Novopavlivka direction, Russian forces advanced in the northern part of Andriivka, in the area of Sloviansk, toward road T0515 (Pokrovsk–Andriivka), and attacked near Shevchenkove, Dachne, Konstyantynopil, Ulakly, Yantarne, Rozlyv, and Zelenivka.
On the Vremivka direction, Russian forces attacked near Velyka Novosilka and in the areas of Rozdolne, Novyi Komar, and Novosilka.
On the Orikhiv direction, Russian forces conducted unsuccessful localized attacks near Novodanylivka and in the direction of Novoandriivka.
General conclusion:
Near Pokrovsk, numerous small-scale engagements are ongoing, with attempts to encircle Pokrovsk from the west. In terms of scale, the fighting near Pokrovsk is not as intense as near Toretsk.
Ukrainian Defense Forces withdrew from the southern outskirts of Velyka Novosilka to avoid encirclement. Russian forces have taken control of a significant portion of the village, but "Khortytsia" OSG units continue to hold positions on the outskirts of the village.
Change in the line of contact (LoC):
There were 159 combat engagements on various fronts.
On the Kharkiv direction, the enemy attempted to breach Ukrainian defensive lines near Vovchansk five times.
On the Kupyansk direction, there were six enemy attacks. Assault actions by the enemy near Pishchane, Kutkivka, Petropavlivka, and Lozova were successfully repelled.
On the Lyman direction, the enemy launched 10 attacks, attempting to penetrate defenses near the settlements of Novoyehorivka, Kopanky, Makiivka, Terny, Zelena Dolyna, Yampolivka, Zarichne, and Kolodyazi.
On the Siversk direction, Ukrainian Defense Forces successfully repelled an enemy attack in the area of Bilohorivka.
On the Kramatorsk direction, the occupiers conducted seven attacks in the areas of Chasiv Yar, Stupochky, Predtechyne, and Bila Hora.
On the Toretsk direction, the enemy carried out 13 attacks in the areas of Toretsk, Krymske, Dyliivka, and Shcherbynivka.
On the Pokrovsk direction, Ukrainian Defense Forces halted 85 enemy assault actions toward Vodyane Druhe, Zelene Pole, Yelyzavetivka, Myroliubivka, Sukhyi Yar, Zelene, Kotlyne, Udachne, Nadezhdynka, Kotlyarivka, Uspenivka, Preobrazhenka, Bohdanivka, Baranivka, Promin, Pokrovsk, Novoandriivka, Shevchenko, Dachne, Ulakly, and Yantarne.
On the Novopavlivka direction, the enemy conducted eight attacks in the areas of Novosilka, Konstyantynopil, Rozdolne, and Velyka Novosilka.
On the Orikhiv direction, the occupying forces launched two assaults on Ukrainian Defense Forces' positions near Novodanylivka and toward Orikhiv.
On the Prydniprovskyi direction, Ukrainian Defense Forces are working to prevent the enemy from advancing deeper into Ukrainian territory, successfully repelling three attacks.
In the Black Sea-Azov naval operational area, the enemy naval group on combat duty consists of:
Black Sea: 2 ships, 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 35th Separate Motorized Rifle Brigade of the 41st Combined Arms Army operates near Zelene.
The 38th Separate Motorized Rifle Brigade of the 35th Combined Arms Army is active on the Polohy direction.
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 enemy's military command in the theater of operations will attempt to leverage tactical advantages within and near Toretsk and east of Pokrovsk to eliminate the Ukrainian bridgehead southwest of Toretsk. For this purpose, the intensity of combat operations southwest of Toretsk will be increased.
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.
If the Russian military command plans to prioritize the capture of the "fortress belt" in Donetsk Oblast in the spring and summer of 2025, it will be forced to intensify operational activity on the Toretsk direction in the near future. At the same time, capturing Pokrovsk will remain the primary operational objective of the Russian military command in Donetsk Oblast. Consequently, the redeployment of Eastern Military District troops to the Toretsk or Kramatorsk directions would signify a shift in the operational priorities of the occupying forces.
Russian operational losses from 23.02.22 to 28.01.25
Personnel - almost 833,000 (+1,380);
Tanks 9,876 (+5);
Armored combat vehicles – 20,573 (+12);
Artillery systems – 22,366 (+27);
Multiple rocket launchers (MLRS) – 1,263 (0);
Anti-aircraft warfare systems – 1,050 (0);
Vehicles and fuel tanks – 35,269 (+86);
Aircraft - 369 (0);
Helicopters – 331 (0);
UAV operational and tactical level – 23,399 (+72);
Intercepted cruise missiles – 3,053 (0)
Boats/ships – 29 (0).
Humanitarian + general:
From 8:00 PM on Monday, January 27, Russian forces attacked Ukraine with 100 Shahed strike UAVs and decoy drones. As of 9:30 AM on Tuesday, January 28, 65 strike UAVs were confirmed destroyed. Twenty-eight enemy decoy drones were lost, with two flying toward Russia and Belarus. One drone remained airborne.
A fire covering approximately 1,500 square meters broke out in Kharkiv after a Russian drone strike in the early hours of January 28. The fire engulfed industrial facilities in the Novobavarskyi district.
Following a Russian nighttime attack in Uman, Cherkasy Oblast, an unnamed infrastructure facility was damaged. Energy workers were working to restore power.
In Odesa and surrounding areas, a Russian drone attack caused damage to residential buildings and a school. Ten vehicles caught fire, and four people were injured. The Russians attacked Odesa and its surroundings with a missile and strike drones. The missile was intercepted, but debris from downed UAVs damaged windows in four multi-story residential buildings and five summer houses.
In Kyiv Oblast, debris from a downed Russian drone fell on a building housing a vintage car museum, destroying or damaging 36 vehicles. Private homes and vehicles were also affected in the region.
In Chernihiv, two private homes were partially destroyed due to the fall of a downed enemy drone. No casualties were reported.
Russian forces shelled the city of Rodynske in Donetsk Oblast, killing two people. A fire broke out, and three houses and a business were damaged.
On the morning of January 28, Russian troops attacked the village of Antonivka in Kherson Oblast with a drone, killing one person and injuring another.
In the Synelnykove district of Dnipropetrovsk Oblast, an enemy attack injured an 11-year-old boy, a 54-year-old man, and an 83-year-old woman. All injured individuals were hospitalized, and doctors assess their conditions as moderate.
Russian forces shelled Novokairy in the Beryslav district of Kherson Oblast with artillery, injuring a 73-year-old woman when a shell hit her house.
Over the past day, Russian forces conducted 56 attacks on nine communities in Sumy Oblast, injuring five civilians.
Five children, ranging in age from 1.5 years to 18 years, were successfully returned to Ukrainian-controlled territory from the temporarily occupied territories of Luhansk, Donetsk, and parts of Kherson Oblast. A female soldier, recently released from captivity, contacted the Ombudsman’s Office for assistance in returning her daughter from occupied territories. The girl is now reunited with her mother.
In total, 1,037 Ukrainian children illegally taken to Russia have been returned, with more than 450 returning home in the past year.