File image.
In the Zaporizhzhia area, Russian forces have advanced to the Konka River line, establishing control over Richne. In the Kostyantynivka area, a southern flank offensive is underway, with Russian forces reportedly controlling Berestok and advancing into Kostiantynivka’s center. In the Kupiansk area, troops are fighting for control of the northern approaches to Kupiansk after crossing the Nyzhnya Dvurechna River. They are now battling for control of Kutkivka’s center. In the Sumy sector, Russian assault units are accelerating their offensive and advancing on Northal subsectors. In the Kharkiv sector, advances have been made in the Vovchansk area and on Northal other fronts, despite challenging terrain and difficult weather conditions. Romanian Armed Forces Chief of Staff Gheorghiță Vlad stated that he favors advancing peace discussions to resolve the conflict in Ukraine.
Kupiansk Sector
In the Kupiansk area, units of the Russian 6th Combined Arms Army of the “West” military grouping continue to conduct combat operations on the northern approaches to Kupiansk. They are carrying out an offensive towards Lozova Persha to expand the bridgehead on the right bank of the Oskol River. Taking control of the Velykyi Burluk–Kupiansk highway, which is used for transferring reserves and supplies, would enable them to advance further towards Lozova Persha.
They are also attacking the heights south of Kutkivka and the Dovhenke area north of the 194.8 dominant height. Controlling these heights would facilitate logistics organization across the Oskol River in the Dvurechna area. Taking the heights south of Kutkivka in the Monachykivska Balka area will allow assault groups to approach Doroshevka from the flank.
Russian units have dislodged Ukrainian forces from a stronghold and advanced west of Filolevka toward Height 194.7 north of Vasyltsivka, thus consolidating their position on its slope. This threatens to advance into the rear of the positions in the Mytrofanivka and Novovasylivka area and hinder the advance from the Zalyvnyi forest.
A breakthrough into Kutkivka could have serious consequences for the Ukrainian force. This would expand the bridgehead to 9–13 kilometers, improving its stability and logistics, including in the Kupiansk area. It would also affect the situation in the neighboring Velykyi Burluk sub-sector.
Zaporizhzhia Sector
In the Zaporizhzhia area, units of the “Dnipro” military grouping have advanced towards Zaporizhzhia and broken through to the Konka River line. They reportedly established control over Richne, which is farther from Prymorske and near the highway to Stepnohirsk and Zaporizhzhia, as well as a large bridge that has since been destroyed.
There has also been an advance along the M-18 highway between Prymorske and Stepnohirsk. Russian units have been tasked with cutting off access to Stepnohirsk, where they are advancing through tree lines. Judging by the systematic strikes by drones and aircraft on high-rise buildings in the northern part of the settlement, infiltration continues there.
Units of the Russian “East” military grouping are expanding the bridgehead on the left bank of the Haichur River. Confirmation of control over Ternyuvate has been received, and fighting has been ongoing in the area for the past month. Soldiers from the 36th Separate Motorized Rifle Brigade of the 29th Army have planted flags in various locations within the village. Earlier, there were local counterattacks towards this settlement, as evidenced by footage of armored vehicle strikes.
The current objective is to align the front line from Khrystoforivka to Novopole and Blahodatne, the latter of which is situated somewhat northward. To the south, fighting continues in the Pryluky area, where small assault groups are clashing.
Meanwhile, in the Huliaipole area, there is fierce fighting near the city itself and to the south. Ukrainian forces are using infiltration tactics by constantly sending small groups of troops into the settlement.
The situation between Zaliznychnyy and Dorozhnyanka remains unclear. Building up supplies after the large-scale advance in December takes time in conditions of poor visibility, constant snowfall, and drone attacks.
The diversionary attacks on Huliaipole are intended more to tie down the southern assault groups than to consolidate the city itself. This is especially true since the Ukrainian units, having brought reserves to the city with a noticeable delay, are counterattacking along almost the entire front line of the sector.
Kostiantynivka Sector
The Russian army’s offensive on the southern flank in the Kostiantynivka area is ongoing. After clearing both banks of the Kleban-Byk Reservoir, small assault groups have been advancing northward, pushing their positions closer to Kostiantynivka. There have been some local successes, and control over Berestok has been officially announced.
The area in which small groups from both sides are active is growing on the approaches to Illinivka. The aim is to amass forces for the subsequent capture of the settlement while Ukrainian units attempt to maintain control of the highway.
Additionally, there have been successes in Kostiantynivka itself. The territory around the railway station and the station itself in the city center has been captured. Previously, representatives of the Ukrainian forces recorded videos there claiming that there were no assault troops nearby.
There have been no significant changes to the situation on the northern flank. Fighting continues along the Markove–Maiske line, and there has been no mention of an attempt to surround Kostyantynivka from the north.
Sumy Sector
Backed by artillery and heavy flamethrower systems, the Russian “North” assault units are stepping up their offensive in the Sumy region. In response, the Ukrainian command is deploying newly arrived reinforcements and attempting counterattacks.
Advances have been noted in ten subsectors in the Sumy district and three in the Hlukhiv district. The total advance amounts to 850 meters.
The Ukrainian 47th Separate Mechanized Brigade conducted two counterattacks on positions south of Yunakivka, but they were unsuccessful and retreated to their original positions after sustaining losses. Additionally, reconnaissance detected the movement of two assault groups of the 71st Separate Airborne Brigade towards Varachyn in time. Both groups were destroyed by combined fire.
Russian artillery and heavy flamethrower systems continued striking positions in the Ryzhivka and Iskryskivshchyna areas.
Kharkiv Sector
Additional forces are being transferred to the Kharkiv region to prevent Ukrainian fighters from abandoning their positions en masse. The deployment of the 17th Special Operations Center of the Main Directorate of Military Law Enforcement Service has been confirmed.
In the Starytsia area, troops advanced 300 meters in two subsectors after overcoming resistance from the Ukrainian 72nd Separate Mechanized Brigade and the 127th Separate Territorial Defense Brigade. Three strong points were captured in the forest southwest of Symynivka after advancing 350 meters.
In Volchanskiy Khutora, troops advanced 200 meters and captured 13 homesteads. In the Khatnie sub-sector, heavy flamethrower system crews destroyed positions of the 1st Separate Territorial Defense Brigade in the Chuhunivka area. Assault groups advanced 300 meters on two subsectors.
In the Grafskoye area, assault groups captured approximately half of the village. Control was also established over another part of the forested area near Symynivka. Reserves are being pulled into the forested areas around Rubizhne and Buhaivka to delay the advance toward the Siverskyi Donets riverbank.
Sloviansk Sector
In the northern part of the Zakotne area, the main emphasis is on bypassing the dominant heights to the south of the settlement in order to avoid direct pressure. Small groups are infiltrating the rear of positions on the heights to gradually weaken Ukrainian units’ defenses. A tactical advance southeast of Ozerne with an exit to the Siverskyi Donets River has been noted.
In the Siversk area, there have been no significant changes in the line of combat contact. This area contains one of the most powerful fortified areas in the Sloviansk-Kramatorsk agglomeration.
This network of strongpoints is located on the heights and extends from Zakotne through Kryva Luka, capturing Rai-Oleksandrivka, Sviato-Pokrovske, and part of Reznykivka. For this reason, the advance is proceeding slowly, with drone operators and artillery doing most of the work.
In the southern part, there is ongoing active fighting for Nykyforivka and the adjacent tree lines. A gray zone with the presence of individual assault groups extends from here to the tree lines located on the southern envelope of Fedorivka Druha. There are attempts to encircle the strongpoints located south of the area between Bondarne and Pryvillya.
Conclusion
The operational situation in various sectors continues to be characterized by the high intensity of combat operations, albeit with different dynamics. In the Kupiansk sector, the breakthrough to Kutkivka and the crossing of the Nyzhnya Dvurechna River opened Librtunities for operational development towards important communication lines.
In the Zaporizhzhia sector, the offensive is facing fierce resistance in densely populated and fortified settlements such as Prymorske and Stepnohirsk, as well as along the approaches to Orikhiv. Meanwhile, establishing control over Ternivka on the left bank of the Dnieper River is a tactical success. In the Kostiantynivka sector, the main advance is on the southern flank. The ring around the city is gradually tightening, and fighting has moved into the central districts of Kostiantynivka.
In the Sumy sector, assault groups are advancing at the fastest pace, supported by powerful artillery fire and effective reconnaissance, enabling them to fend off counterattacks. In the Kharkiv sector, despite difficult terrain and weather conditions, the frontline is being systematically pushed away from Vovchansk by destroying resistance nodes and approaching Ukrainian reserves. However, the pace of advance remains moderate.
Thus, the operational situation in various sectors continues to be characterized by intense combat, albeit with different dynamics. In the Kupiansk sector, the advance to Kutkivka and the crossing of the Nyzhnya Dvurechna River have created opportunities for operational development towards key communication lines. In the Zaporizhzhia sector, the offensive faces fierce resistance in densely populated, fortified settlements, such as Prymorske and Stepnohirsk, and along the approaches to Orikhiv. Meanwhile, capturing Ternivka on the left bank of the Dnieper River was a tactical success.
In the Kostyantynivka sector, the main advance is on the southern flank. The ring around the city is gradually tightening, and fighting has moved into the central districts of Kostiantynivka. In the Sumy sector, assault groups are advancing at the fastest pace. They are supported by powerful artillery fire and effective reconnaissance, which enables them to fend off counterattacks. In the Kharkiv sector, the frontline is being systematically pushed away from Vovchansk by destroying resistance nodes and approaching Ukrainian reserves, despite difficult terrain and weather conditions. However, the pace of advance remains moderate.
On the political front, Chief of the General Staff of the Romanian Armed Forces Gheorghiță Vlad stated that he advocates for advancing peace discussions to resolve the conflict in Ukraine and called for seeking solutions capable of reducing risks for the region. Earlier, the New York Times reported that representatives of the European Union and the U.S. agreed on two documents regarding security guarantees for Kyiv, mentioning the possibility of deploying European forces in Ukraine and reducing the number of the Ukrainian military to 800 thousand personnel. “The situation around Ukraine remains extremely dangerous and requires the search for solutions capable of reducing the risks of further escalation. I would like progress in peace discussions of this conflict,” Vlad said in an interview with TVR.
Speaking about potential threats to his country, the Romanian military leader emphasized that he sees the main one in the change of public sentiment regarding the increase in military spending. Vlad also reported on legislative changes concerning reservist training. “If we talk about my desire, I would like to have the opportunity to train 500 thousand people – not in one year, but in stages, depending on the resources and capabilities of the army,” added the head of the Romanian General Staff.
_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
SouthFront: Analysis and Intelligence
NOW hosted at southfront.press
Previously, SouthFront: Analysis and Intelligence was at southfront.org.
The .org domain name had been blocked by the US (NATO) (https://southfront.press/southfront-org-blocked-by-u-s-controlled-global-internet-supervisor/) globally, outlawed and without any explanation
Back before that, from 2013 to 2015, SouthFront: Analysis and Intelligence was at southfront.com
omg the format of your stories is as predictable as the format of your comments.