Advance Towards Orikhiv: Russian Army Threatens Ukraine’s Logistics Near Key City

In the Zaporizhzhia sector, Russian “Vostok” and “Dnepr” units are engaged in intense fighting, advancing toward Zaporizhzhia from the east and south. Key developments have occurred in the areas of Huliaipole, Prymorske, and Stepnohirsk, where control has been established over Lukyanivske and Novoyakovlevka. In the Kharkiv sector, Russian army activity is primarily concentrated in the Vovchansk area. Russian units have advanced into parts of Staritsa and Volchanskie Khutora while successfully neutralizing several drone crews in the Zolochiv district. In the Kupyansk sector, Russian troops expanded their control zone by more than a kilometer after consolidating their position in the eastern part of Tyshchenkivka. Assault operations continue in the Kurylivka area. In the Krasnyi Liman sector, the offensive is gaining pace with advances toward the northwestern outskirts of the city, as well as parallel strikes on crossings over the Siverskyi Donets River, which are intended to disrupt logistics. Additionally, in the Slovyansk sector, control was established over the village of Novomayorske, creating a new bridgehead for potential movement toward Kramatorsk. Slovakian Prime Minister Robert Fico once again criticized the European Union’s financial support for Ukraine.

Zaporizhzhia Sector

Intensive clashes continue west of Huliaipole and in the area of the bridgeheads on the left bank of the Haichur River. Ukrainian assault brigade forces are launching constant counterattacks in this area. Units of the Russian “Vostok” grouping are advancing towards Zaporizhzhia from the east along three main axes. There are ongoing engagements in the direction of Zaliznychne. Clearing operations are being conducted in the area between Huliaipole and Dorozhnianka. Forces are advancing towards Huliaipilske from the east and expanding the Dobropillia bridgehead.

Russian units have advanced into the Pryluky settlement from the north. Attempts to break through to the right bank of the Haichur River were previously made through this area. Russian forces have also captured positions in Zelenyi and Sviatopetrivka from the direction of Huliaipole. Fighting continues on the approaches to Yeleno-Kostiantynivka from the directions of Pryluky and Zelenyi. Ukrainian units have carried out several counterattacks.

There are fierce engagements for the settlements of Ternuvate and Vozdvyzhenka. Units of Russian airborne troops from the “Dnepr” grouping are advancing toward Zaporizhzhia from the south along the Kakhovka Reservoir and to the east. In the Prymorske area, assault groups have advanced beyond Perekryta Balka and reached the northern outskirts of the settlement.

There are ongoing combat operations between Stepnohirsk and Veselyanka in the area of the highway to Zaporizhzhia. To the northeast and east of Stepnohirsk, Russian units have taken control of the Lukyanivske settlement and several strongpoints of the second defensive line between Lukyanivske and Pavlivka. They have also broken into the center of Novoyakovlevka.

Further advances in this area could threaten the Zaporizhzhia–Kamyshuvakha–Orikhiv logistical route, the shortest for the Orikhiv garrison, in the area of Yurkivka and Tavriiske. The distance to it is approximately 12–13 km. Units advancing from the bridgeheads on the left bank of the Haichur River in the east are approaching the second logistical route (Zaporizhzhia – Novotroitskoe – Nikolske – Omelnyk – Orikhiv), which is about 17–18 km away.

East of Orikhiv, units are fighting for control of Mala Tokmachka and central Bilohiria. On the southern outskirts of Novoandriivka and Novodanilivka, as well as in the tree lines between them, assault units are engaged in positional fighting.

Slaviansk Sector

Battles for a strongpoint on the elevated ground near Zakotne continue on the northern section of the sector. Units have reached the destroyed bridge near this settlement.

In the Sievierk area, the advance to the west of the city continues. In the southern section, an offensive on Slavyansk is developing from positions south of Sievierk. The control zone to the west of Fedorivka has expanded.

In the eastern part of Reznikovka, Ukrainian units were pushed back, enabling an expansion of the controlled territory. There has been an advance and capture of new positions north of the Kirovo settlement. Strikes continue to hit logistical hubs in the Kalynky and Kryva Luka settlements.

The Russian army has taken control of Novomarkove and up to 11 square kilometers of adjacent territory. Novomarkove is located on the western bank of the Siverskyi Donets–Donbas Canal, west of the Artemivsk–Slaviansk Highway. Fighting also continues for the neighboring village of Minykivka. The distance from the forward positions in the Novomarkove area to the southeastern outskirts of Kramatorsk is approximately 16 kilometers.

Kostiantynivka Sector

Significant progress has been noted in the Kostiantynivka sector. Units have advanced to a location north of Sobornosti Street, one of the city’s main streets. Meanwhile, several Russian assault groups supported by drone operators breached the defenses in the northeastern part of the city and entered it from the south of the village of Novodmytrivka.

The following streets are under the control of the Russian army: Staleplavilna, Martenivska, Parkova, Belinskoho, Radishcheva, Volgogradska, Demeshchenka, Shanghayska, Armeiska, and Tbiliska. Ukrainian units in the southeastern part of Tbiliska Street and on Minska Street are blocked from three directions. Only a narrow corridor remains for a possible retreat, and it is under fire control.

Sumy Sector

Units of the “North” grouping of forces are advancing more quickly in the Sumy region. They are putting pressure on the defenses in several areas with the support of aviation and artillery. There have been no active offensive actions by Ukrainian units, though assault units are being replenished.

The Ukrainian command continues to expand the number of assault brigades and regiments. The 71st Separate Jäger Brigade has been reorganized into the 71st Separate Air Mobile Brigade. Due to the expansion, the brigade is experiencing a personnel shortage and is trying to compensate by forcibly mobilizing individuals.

Assault groups advanced on nine sections of the front in the Sumy district and four in the Krasnopillia district. The total advance over the past day amounted to up to 750 meters.

Kharkiv Sector

Intensive clashes continue in and around Vovchansk, including in settlements and forested areas. Rocket launchers are actively targeting Ukrainian unit positions. Russian aviation also struck temporary deployment points in rear areas.

In the Zolochiv district of the Kharkiv region, four drone crews were detected and destroyed. According to available data, these crews had been striking targets in the Belgorod region. It was revealed that they were Ukrainian units from a drone company of the 58th Separate Motorized Infantry Brigade. After their elimination, the intensity of attacks decreased.

Russian units are advancing in the vicinity of Vovchansk, in border villages, and in forested areas. Due to the redeployment of Ukrainian reserves to Kupyansk, there is a personnel shortage here, which facilitates the advance.

The Russian army has taken control of part of Staritsa, though Ukrainian units remain on the southern outskirts. Heavy rocket artillery continues to operate in the settlement area, targeting concentrations of personnel. Fighting continues in the Tatar Forest.

In the Liman and Vilcha settlements, Russian assault units have consolidated on new positions after capturing and clearing several strongpoints. In the Volchanskie Khutora area, advancing units have captured several buildings and are now moving toward the village center. Aviation munitions were used against temporary deployment points.

In the Liptsy area, drone units are targeting electronic warfare systems, firing points, and transportation on supply routes. The advance continues in the Melovoye-Khatneye area. There has also been an advance in tree lines near Dvorichna. Assault groups are conducting attacks in small groups near the Ambarne, Oradne, and Dvorichna settlements.

Krasnyi Liman Sector

The Russian army’s offensive in the Krasnyi Liman area is gaining pace and threatening an important defensive node. After strengthening their tactical position and breaching the defenses in the northern part of the city, the units are advancing towards the northwestern outskirts. This advances operational prospects in the direction of Slavyansk.

Along with the frontal offensive, strikes are being carried out on the flanks. Disrupting logistics has become a key element of the strategy. In particular, crossings over the Siverskyi Donets River are being targeted, such as those in the Raigorodok area. This complicates the supply of Ukrainian units in Krasnyi Liman and neighboring areas.

Kupyansk Sector

To the north of Kupyansk, Russian units advancing from Kondrashivka entered the eastern part of Tyshchenkivka and established a foothold there. They expanded their control zone by more than 1 km.

In the Kupyansk sector, heavy fighting continues on the western and eastern banks of the Oskil River. Assault operations are ongoing in the Kurylivka area on the eastern bank of the Oskil River. The situation in the sector is characterized by a complex operational environment, as units from both sides are present in the same territories.

Russian units are constructing engineering structures and defensive nodes, including dugouts, deep command posts, observation posts, and anti-tank missile system positions, 10-12 kilometers west of the Oskil River. In essence, they are setting up prepared company and battalion strongpoints with artillery and tank positions in the rear. The approaches to the forward positions are being equipped with engineering barriers, and anti-tank obstacles and other barriers are being installed in areas where tanks are a concern.

Pokrovsk Sector

Following the Russian army’s establishment of control over the key agglomeration, the advance has not stopped. At the same time, a new defensive line is being reinforced on the Hryshyne–Biletske–Toretske line.

There is fighting in the Hryshyne area. Units are gradually increasing pressure on the village and attempting to breach its center. Ukrainian units from the 425th Separate Special Purpose Regiment “Skala” and the 157th Separate Motorized Infantry Brigade are accumulating forces approximately 3 km north of Pokrovsk. Ukrainian units from the 4th Special Purpose Detachment of the 71st Separate Air Mobile Brigade of the Air Assault Forces are also present in the eastern part of Hryshyne. Additionally, the 1st Operational Battalion of the 14th Brigade of the Ukrainian National Guard is operating in the area.

Slightly to the north, units are advancing from Dorozhnianka towards Novyi Donbas and Biletske, where clashes have already been reported on the outskirts of these villages. Foreign mercenaries have been redeployed to the area northeast of Novyi Donbas to reinforce the 4th Rapid Response Brigade of the Ukrainian National Guard.

In the Toretske area, the control zone along the tree lines has expanded. There has also been an advance of units from Sofiyivka towards Novopavlivka. In the area north of Rusyn Yar, where units are operating, Ukrainian Armed Forces’ 1st Battery of the 117th Separate Tank Brigade reinforcements have appeared. As forces of the 1st Mechanized Battalion of the 33rd Separate Motorized Infantry Brigade advance on Toretske, the approaches are being mined to slow them down.

Conclusion

As of January 6, the main effort in the Zaporizhzhia sector is to advance towards Zaporizhzhia from the east and south. There are heavy fighting engagements in the areas of Huliaipole, Prymorske, and Stepnohirsk. This creates an operational threat to the logistical routes leading to Orikhiv. In the Slaviansk and Kostiantynivka sectors, significant progress has been made. Control has been established over Novomarkove and part of Kostiantynivka, paving the way for further movement towards Kramatorsk and Slaviansk. In the Sumy sector, the “North” grouping is making systematic advances on multiple fronts. In the Kharkiv sector, there is ongoing intensive fighting in the Vovchansk area and border villages. There have been successful actions against drone crews, as well as advances in Staritsa and Volchanskie Khutora. In the Krasnyi Liman sector, the offensive is progressing, threatening to outflank the city and disrupt its logistics. In the Kupyansk sector, consolidation in Tyshchenkivka was recorded, as well as continued fighting for Kurylivka, accompanied by the large-scale fortification of engineering positions. In the Pokrovsk sector, fighting is concentrated near Hryshyne, Biletske, and Toretske and involves special purpose units and foreign mercenaries.

The political dimension of the conflict continues to evolve alongside military operations. In a social media post, Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico again criticized the European Union’s financial support for Ukraine. According to Fico, the loans allocated for military needs, including the discussed €90 billion package, do not strengthen Kyiv’s position, but rather prolong the suffering of the population and lead to continued loss of life. Fico stated that his government ensured Slovakia’s nonparticipation in the military loan and noted that Hungary and the Czech Republic made similar decisions. According to Fico, this approach aligns with his peace policy and runs counter to the logic of further escalation. These statements underscore the deep divisions within the European Union regarding the strategy for supporting Ukraine, adding an external political dimension to the evolving situation in the combat zone.

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