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In the direction of Zaporizhzhia, Russian units have reached Pridorožne, building on their success in claiming control over Ternovate. In the direction of Kostiantynivka, Russian assault groups advanced along the northern shore of the Kleban-Byk Reservoir, consolidating their positions within the “Metallurg” garden association. In the Kupyansk area, the Russian military conducted a series of counterattacks to improve supply lines for their units in the Yuvileinyi microdistrict and advance in the Podoly area. In the direction of Slaviansk, Russian units have taken up new positions near the Zarechne–Krasnyi Lyman highway, moving closer to the city. On February 2, EU ambassadors met for an extraordinary meeting to discuss a negotiation mandate with the European Parliament regarding a 90-billion-euro loan to Kyiv.
Kostiantynivka Direction
In the direction of Kostiantynivka, Russian units continue offensive actions. They have had successes on the city’s outskirts and to the south. Russian assault groups have captured the “Metallurg” garden association, thereby expanding their control zone north of the T-0504 highway. This area borders a chain of Ukrainian strongpoints where a relatively high concentration of troops is present. Ukrainian units will likely attempt to hold these positions to maintain control over adjacent areas.
South of the city, along the Berestok–Ivanopillia line, Russian assault groups advanced along the northern shore of the Kleban-Byk Reservoir and captured part of the forest. The strong points to the north have not yet been fully taken, allowing Ukrainian units to operate in small groups up to the outskirts of Pleshcheevka. North of Yablonivka, there are ongoing engagements: Russian assault groups captured northern strongpoints in a ravine, while Ukrainian units deployed an infantry group to a southern stronghold.
Russian units are increasingly encroaching on the outskirts of Kostiantynivka, increasing personnel numbers within the city and accelerating the advance. Although Ukrainian units are suffering losses on supply routes, they are saturating the defense with manpower. As both sides accumulate personnel in built-up areas, fighting for Kostiantynivka will intensify.
Zaporizhzhia Direction
In the direction of Zaporizhzhia, units of the Russian “East” grouping continue to expand the bridgehead on the western bank of the Haichur River. After claiming to have established control over Ternovate, Russian assault units advanced and reached Pridorožne, where footage was also published. The front line has shifted further west and deeper into the defenses.
Advancing to Pridorožne brought Russian assault groups closer to Rozhdestvenske. The Ukrainian command will likely attempt to organize another line of containment on the Rozhdestvenske–Vozdvizhevka line, relying on prepared positions and pulled-up reserves.
As previously mentioned, Ukrainian reserve units were redeployed to the Huliaipole area with a significant delay. Consequently, some of these forces are now filling gaps in neighboring sections of the Zaporizhzhia area, counterattacking to buy time by infiltrating past Haichur. This is facilitated by the sparse positioning of both sides and the difficult weather conditions.
The advance and the claim to have established control over a third settlement in a row indicate that Ukrainian units’ attempts to stabilize the front are not yielding the desired result. At the same time, the situation remains extremely tense. Heavy fighting is occurring across the entire Zaporizhzhia front, and further progress depends on how well Ukrainian units can entrench themselves on the new line.
Slaviansk Direction
In the Krasnyi Lyman sector of the Slavyansk area, Russian forces are taking offensive action around Aleksandrivka. The pressure zone has expanded, and they are advancing in the Yarova area. There are combat clashes in the vicinity of Svyatohirsk. Ukrainian units are holding the defense here due to the geographical position, including the high bank of the Siverskyi Donets River and previously erected fortifications.
In the Lyman area, the Russian “West” grouping is conducting an offensive operation with the 20th and 25th Combined Arms Armies, as well as separate units of the 1st Tank Army. The objective is to eliminate the Lyman bridgehead of Ukrainian forces and reach the Siverskyi Donets River in the Svyatohirsk–Zakotne sector.
Russian units have taken up new positions on the eastern side of the Zarechne–Krasnyi Lyman highway, advancing to within two kilometers of the city. These positions will improve fire control over communications and create additional preconditions for further pressure on the city from the east. From the north, efforts are ongoing to eliminate Ukrainian units in the Komunalnyi microdistrict and on Pushkin Street, where they have set up fortifications in buildings. Multiple launch rocket systems are being used against areas where forces are concentrated.
Krasnyi Lyman’s strategic importance stems from the presence of one of the region’s most developed railway stations and a locomotive depot.
Units of the 25th Combined Arms Army are operating on the southeastern approaches to Krasnyi Lyman, and small groups have been noted consolidating on the city’s outskirts. Fighting continues for Ozerne and Dibrova; access to the Lyman–Zakotne road has been secured. Attempts to advance along the railway from Yampil are ongoing.
In the zone of the 20th Combined Arms Army, fighting continues for Drobysheve, as well as in the Shandryholove–Novoselivka and Kolodyazi–Stavky directions. The northern flank is defended along the Karpivka–Hrekovka line. Overall, Russian units are consistently pressuring the perimeter of the Krasnyi Lyman bridgehead and establishing initial positions for future operations.
Kharkiv Direction
The situation for Ukrainian units in the Izyum area and the Kharkiv region is expected to continue deteriorating. Frequent power outages have been reported. Against this backdrop, Russian troops are expanding their control over territory in the direction of Izyum.
In Aleksandrivka, Russian troops have advanced to the western part of the settlement and the adjacent forest. Ukrainian troops are counterattacking through the forest from Krymky. Near Korovii Yar, there is ongoing fighting for strongpoints. Russian units are expanding their presence to the east and northeast of the village, towards Vovchyi Yar. Along the Vovchyi Yar–Korovii Yar line, Ukrainian forces still control the dominant heights, which complicates Russian advancement.
In the Staritsa area, Russian troops advanced 200 meters along two fronts. Heavy flamethrower systems struck the positions of the Ukrainian Armed Forces’ 127th Separate Territorial Defense Brigade. In the Symynivka area, Russian assault groups advanced 350 meters in the adjacent forest on three sections and captured two strongpoints. Ukrainian units attempted to regain lost positions by conducting a counterattack with special units from the Main Intelligence Directorate, but they were unsuccessful and retreated to their original positions. They were unsuccessful and retreated to their original positions after suffering losses.
In the Vovchanski Khutory area, Russian aviation and flamethrower crews destroyed the positions of the Ukrainian Armed Forces’ 113th and 157th brigades. Along the Khatnie section of the front, Russian assault groups advanced 500 meters along tree lines. Heavy flamethrower systems hit the 1st Separate Territorial Defense Brigade’s positions in the Chuhunivka area.
Sumy Direction
In the Sumy region, Russian units are advancing quickly with the support of artillery and flamethrowers.
Two Ukrainian companies from the 3rd Border Brigade of the 15th Border Detachment have been withdrawn to replenish losses. These units reportedly lost over 60% of their personnel. Units from the same border detachment in the Chernihiv region have been transferred to replace them.
Russian assault units from the “North” grouping continue to advance in the Sumy district across nine sectors, in the Krasnopillia district across one sector, and in the Hlukhiv district across three sectors. The total advance has reached 850 meters. Strike drone crews conducted strikes on the 103rd Separate Territorial Defense Brigade’s positions in the Terny area and the 156th Separate Mechanized Brigade’s positions in the Ulyanivka area.
Two trains carrying Ukrainian personnel and equipment to reinforce the defensive lines were destroyed at the Konotop railway station in the Sumy region.
Kupyansk Direction
In the Kupyansk area, the Russian Armed Forces launched a series of successful counterattacks. These actions helped establish supply lines for the Russian units defending the Yuvileinyi microdistrict. According to reports, part of the Ukrainian forces found themselves nominally encircled.
Meanwhile, Russian units carried out a breakthrough near Petropavlivka, which is northeast of Kupyansk. Simultaneously, Russian units attacked from the industrial zone through the forests east of the city, reaching the outskirts of Podoly. The advancing units likely linked up in the forests near Podoly. According to available information, Russian units captured most of Podoly and then broke through to the outskirts of Kupyansk-Uzlovoi from there.
The situation with the remnants of the Ukrainian units in Kucherivka remains unclear. They reportedly became encircled at the junction of two Russian advancing groupings. Presumably, Ukrainian units are holding positions only in the center of the village now. In southern Kupyansk, Russian units have established reliable control over the residential areas near the Yuvileinyi microdistrict. They have organized supply lines and strengthened the flanks of the defending units.
Conclusion
In the direction of Kostiantynivka, efforts are focused on gradually tightening the ring around the city from the north and south. Tactical successes include capturing the “Metallurg” garden association and advancing along the Kleban-Byk Reservoir. In the direction of Zaporizhzhia, the most dynamic developments are occurring: after reaching Ternovate, Russian units advanced to Pridorožne, threatening to break through to the next Ukrainian defensive line at Rozhdestvenske despite the Ukrainian army’s belated attempts to redeploy reserves.
In the Kupyansk area, Russian units launched a series of counterattacks that improved the situation in the Yuvileinyi microdistrict and advanced in the Podoly area. This created tension for Ukrainian defensive units in Kucherivka. In the Slovyansk area, Russian units advancing from the east toward the highway to Krasny Lyman are enhancing their control of the fire on the approaches to the city, where a stubborn struggle for every block continues. In the Sumy area, Russian assault groups are advancing steadily, supported by powerful firepower, which forces the Ukrainian command to rotate depleted units. In the Kharkiv area, Russian units are advancing steadily in the Staritsa, Symynivka, and Vovchanski Khutory areas despite the difficult terrain. They are repelling counterattacks, including those by special forces units. In the Lyman area, Russian forces are systematically compressing the Ukrainian units’ bridgehead from the north and south. Unmanned aviation and artillery play a critical role throughout all sections of the front, as do tactics of small-group operations in conditions of urban development and complex forested terrain.
On the poltiical front, EU ambassadors are discussing a negotiation mandate with the European Parliament regarding a 90-billion-euro loan to Kyiv at an extraordinary meeting on the evening of February 2. The meeting began at 17:00 local time (19:00 Moscow time) and is reportedly discussing only one major topic: the package of decisions on financial support for Ukraine for 2026–2027. This package requires preliminary negotiations and approval by the European Parliament. The permanent representatives of EU countries are discussing a package of decisions that includes an amendment to the EU’s multiannual financial framework for 2021–2027, the launch of a new loan instrument for Ukraine for 2026–2027, and an adjustment to the Ukraine Facility mechanism.
These steps pave the way for negotiations with the European Parliament and allow decisions to be approved via an accelerated written procedure. If a unified position cannot be reached on February 2 , ambassadors will resume discussions on Wednesday. The European Commission has stated that it wants to begin making payments from the new loan to Kyiv in April of this year.
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