Bridgehead In Sumy: Russian Army Advance Pressures Ukrainian Forces 

The Russian army took control of Hrabovske in the Sumy sector after repelling a series of counterattacks. Assault groups from the Russian “North” military unit advanced on several fronts, including the Pervogo Maya area and the tree lines near Andriivka. They advanced up to 800 meters per day. In the Zaporizhzhia sector, the main battles are concentrated in Prymorske, where the control zone is expanding. Clearing and consolidation are ongoing in the Stepnohirsk area, followed by movement northward. In the Kharkiv sector, Russian units have advanced in tree lines near Staritsa, and a forest area southwest of Liman has been successfully cleared. Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán characterized the EU-approved military loan for Ukraine as a “scam,” stating that Kyiv would never repay these funds.

Pokrovsk Sector

Units of the Russian “Center” group are advancing on the city of Dobropillia and engaging in combat on the outskirts of Druzhkivka. Assault groups have entered the Bilytske and Novyi Donbas settlements.

The situation remains dynamic in the western part of Suvorovo and the Sukhetska area. There have been attempts by Ukrainian assault groups to infiltrate Rodynske, where units of the 9th Brigade are conducting clearing operations. Combat clashes continue west and southwest of Rodynske. Russian drone operators regularly target Ukrainian assault groups in tree lines. Control over two farming complexes along the road to Hryshyne has been established, and engagements are ongoing in the area of the third farm.

Combat continues in the Hryshyne settlement area. Northwest of Shakhove, units are engaged in combat over the refractory ore quarries and tract. Control of the Sofiyivka settlement has been restored, where Ukrainian units have taken responsive action.

Zaporizhzhia Sector

Units of the Russian 7th Guards Air Assault Division continue to conduct combat operations in this sector.

In the area around the Prymorske settlement, there are ongoing small arms firefights in the northern part. Artillery is being used actively by both sides, and various types of unmanned aerial vehicles are being used intensively. There is a high intensity of FPV drone use in this area, with significant numbers used daily. The control zone continues to expand to the west and east. There have been attempts at responsive actions aimed at pushing back advancing units.

In the Stepnohirsk area, units of the 7th Division continue to clear buildings and basements where Ukrainian fighters may have been located after establishing control. The advance continues north towards the settlements of Veselyanka and Hryhorivka, with area clearing.

The number of FPV drones used has significantly increased. These drones are also used to deliver supplies to positions on the line of contact where conventional delivery is difficult. Electronic warfare systems have been deployed across the entire front, including supply roads and forward positions.

In the Zaporizhzhia sector, Russian units from the 57th and 60th Separate Motor Rifle Brigades of the 127th Division and the 38th Separate Motor Rifle Brigade are advancing northward from Huliaipole to the west. From the south, in the direction of Prymorske and Stepnohirsk, airborne troops are advancing north toward Zaporizhzhia. Units of the 42nd Guards Motor Rifle Division are exerting pressure on the Orikhiv area from the southeast.

Sumy Sector

Assault groups from the “North” grouping advanced on eight sections in the Sumy district and on five sections in the Hrabovske area. The total advance over the past day amounted to up to 800 meters.

Reinforcements continue to arrive in the Krasnopillia district to secure positions and launch counterattacks. The 53rd Separate Reconnaissance Battalion has been redeployed to reinforce the Ukrainian 253rd Separate Assault Regiment, “Ariy.”

The “North” grouping of forces’ artillery continued to strike positions in the Ryzhevka and Iskriskivshchyna areas on the Tetkino and Hlushkivka sections.

North of the city of Sumy, there have been a series of tactical advances. Russian units attacked Novokostiantynivka from Kostiantynivka, capturing a farm between the two locations. While holding positions in Oleksiivka, Ukrainian Armed Forces units advanced in the areas of Andriivka and Varachino, dislodging Russian units from several tree lines.

Due to the high concentration of Ukrainian troops in the Pisarivka area, the likelihood of a counterattack is high. The Andriivka settlement has repeatedly been the site of fierce fighting with mixed results. Advances in tree lines have also been recorded in the Yunkivka area; however, the terrain here is open, and the southern outskirts of the settlement have been heavily destroyed, which complicates movement.

The offensive north of Sumy began earlier when, as a result of heavy fighting, Russian forces held the Kondrativka–Yunkivka line and established a bridgehead in Sumy Oblast. Currently, Russian units are systematically advancing further south, increasing their pace and opening new sections for advancement.

Today, the Russian Ministry of Defense announced control over the Hrabovske settlement in Sumy Oblast. Russian units already took most of the settlement in late December. Subsequently, Ukrainian Armed Forces units conducted a series of unsuccessful counterattacks from the direction of the Riasne and Taratutino settlements. After repelling these attacks and a two-week consolidation period, an official statement was released.

Earlier, control over the village of Vysoke was also reported, which is located near the highest topographic point in Sumy Oblast.

Kharkiv Sector

Advances continue on most sections of this sector. Drone crews, heavy rocket artillery, and thermobaric systems are operating intensely.

In the Staritsa settlement area, units of the “North” grouping advanced along three tree lines and consolidated. The total advance was up to 250 meters. Southwest of the Liman settlement, assault groups cleared a forest section, advancing 600 meters.

The Ukrainian command is withdrawing the “Center of Timur” unit of the Main Intelligence Directorate from the Vovchansk sector for replenishment. This unit was often used as assault infantry.

In the Volchanskie Khutora area, TOS-1A heavy flamethrower system crews targeted Ukrainian 159th Separate Motorized Infantry Brigade positions on the eastern outskirts of the settlement.

Clearing operations in forested areas near Dvorichna continue in the area of the settlements Melovoye-Khatneye. Heavy drone strikes destroyed a deployment point for reserves of the Ukrainian 3rd Separate Tank Brigade.

Conclusion
As of January 5, 2025, the most active offensive actions have been observed in the Sumy sector. Units of the “North” grouping advanced in several areas, including Pervogo Maya, Andriivka, and Varachino. Control of the Hrabovske settlement has been officially confirmed. In the Druzhkivka and Novopavlivka sectors, there have been engagements involving attempts to advance and tactical adjustments. In the Zaporizhzhia sector, the key areas are Prymorske and Stepnohirsk. There, the systematic clearing and expansion of the control zone continues amid the active use of artillery and drones by both sides. In the Kharkiv sector, gradual advances by units in the Staritsa area and the southwest of Liman have been recorded. In Chernihiv Oblast, infrastructure related to the basing of strike drones was hit. A common feature across all sectors is the high level of use of various types of unmanned aerial vehicles, artillery duels, and active actions by assault groups.

While military events continue along the line of contact, political discussions regarding further support for Ukraine are ongoing in European capitals. At a press conference in Budapest, Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán characterized the EU-approved military loan for Ukraine as a “scam,” stating that Kyiv would never repay these funds. Orbán emphasized that Hungary would not participate in this credit mechanism or send weapons or soldiers. He also said that Hungary would not support Brussels’s course towards militarizing the economies of member states and advocated for the development of a “peaceful economy.” Orbán also noted that it is important for Hungary to maintain ties with all economic blocs, including the United States, China, Russia, and countries in the Arab and Turkic worlds. According to Orbán, 2025 marks the end of the “liberal world order” era and the beginning of the “era of nations.” These statements reflect persistent disagreements within the EU regarding foreign policy and strategy, which shape the external political and economic context of the conflict.

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