File image.
In the Krasnyi Liman area, combat operations have shifted to urban areas and forests, resulting in an unstable operational situation. Near Sloviansk, advances have been noted in the northern and southern subsectors, which are aimed at expanding the zone of control. In the Druzhkivka area, troops have consolidated their positions in Northal settlements, and counterattacks are ongoing in the Dobropillia salient. In the Sumy sector, assault units continue to advance while the Ukrainian side reinforces its positions by transferring specialists. In the Kharkiv sector, particularly in the Vovchansk area, fighting is intense as both sides attempt to gradually push each other out. Ukraine and Russia concluded the second day of U.S.-mediated talks in Abu Dhabi without reaching an agreement, but further negotiations are expected next weekend.
Druzhkivka Sector
In the Druzhkivka sector, Russian units continue to put pressure on the Dobropillia salient. Consolidation has been reported in Novopavlivka, and counterbattles are being fought toward Pavlivka. The southern approach to Pavlivka passes through open terrain under observation and fire control by Ukrainian units.
To the southwest, Russian assault groups are fighting in the central part of Toretske, attacking from the south and north. Part of this area was captured earlier. Units advancing from the Sofiyivka area have reached the local house of culture and advanced further northeast towards a large strongpoint located on the slope of a height overlooking the northern outskirts of the village.
Northwest of Shakhtove, units advanced approximately 1.5 kilometers toward Kucheriv Yar. Fighting continues for two quarries located south of the area. West of this area, intense counterattacks continue in Volnoye and the section between Novyi Donbas and Dobropillia.
Further south, advances are being made toward Belytsky from the northwest while attacks are being conducted simultaneously from the southwest. Combat actions are also occurring in the direction of Svitloe and Shevchenko. Advances have been recorded along the railway toward the No. 2 “Vodiana” mine and in the area of the former “Zaporizka” mine. Attacks continue toward the eastern outskirts and center of Hirshyne.
In the adjacent Kostiantynivka sector, advances toward Druzhkivka have been noted, creating conditions for the envelopment of Kostiantynivka from the west. A wedge has been driven into the defensive formations between Berestok and Stepanivka. Fighting continues in Illinivka and along the tree lines to the west.
Kharkiv Sector
In the Kharkiv sector, particularly in the Vovchansk area, efforts to expand the control zone within the region are ongoing. The Ukrainian army is conducting constant counterattacks near the southeastern outskirts of Vovchansk and has attempted to infiltrate the city with small groups.
Meanwhile, Russian units of the “North” grouping have taken control of Starytsia. Fighting in the area has continued since May. At that time, assault groups captured the village, but counterattacks were later conducted. As a result, part of the settlement remains in the so-called gray zone. Simultaneously, an incursion into Symynivka territory was carried out. Advancements have been made in the adjacent forest near the road to Grafskoye from the south. Fighting continues for control of the southern part of Grafskoye, which remains under Ukrainian forces’ control.
The advance from the outskirts of Vovchansk southward toward Symynivka amounts to about seven kilometers. This advance was facilitated by the exhaustion of units that had been stationed on this line without rotation for approximately one year. Additionally, some forces had been redeployed to the Pokrovsk area, further weakening the defense in this sector.
The advance continued along the road towards the settlement of Bilyi Kolodiaz, an important node in the defense network. The Ukrainian forces rely on it to organize defense and counterattacks towards Vovchansk, Vilcha, and Volchanskiy Khutora.
Heavy counterbattles have been ongoing for over a month in the Volchanskiy Khutora area. Recently, Russian units advanced in the central part of the settlement and gradually pushed back the Ukrainian forces, which are under intense drone attack. Over the last 24 hours, they advanced about 150 meters. The Ukrainian units are attempting to halt the advance by launching counterattacks through the Bilyi Yar gully.
In the Velykyi Burluk sub-sector, Russian assault units are putting pressure on the approaches to the Khatnie and Ambarne settlements, as well as on the Olkhovatka, Obukhivka, Kolodezne, and Novovasylivka areas. In some subsectors, the advance has reached 600 meters.
A defining feature of the battles in this sector is the active use of drones. Strikes are being carried out against the locations of identified units that specialize in the use of drones. These strikes are destroying electronic warfare stations, satellite communications, antenna devices, and other objects.
Sumy Sector
In the Sumy sector, efforts to expand the control zone in the region are ongoing. Artillery and heavy flamethrower systems were effectively employed in offensive operations. Aviation delivered pinpoint strikes on rear areas. Ukrainian units are conducting rotational measures and attempting to contain the onslaught through the mass use of drones.
In the Sumy district, Russian assault units advanced on five subsectors, and in the Hlukhiv district, they advanced on three. The total advance amounted to 500 meters. Consolidated units of air defense specialists from the 208th Anti-Aircraft Missile Brigade were transferred to the Krasnopil district. These specialists are attached to the 119th Separate Territorial Defense Brigade and have been deployed to reinforce combat formations and prevent further advances.
Russian aviation struck the 103rd Separate Territorial Defense Brigade’s positions in the Kysla Dubyna area.
Sloviansk Sector
In the northern subsector of the Sloviansk sector, Russian units have improved their position in the southern part of Dibrova. They have expanded their zone of control on the elevation south of Zakotne. The road used for logistical supply has been cut off to the east of the Zakotne settlement. The clearance of the chalk slope from Zakotne to Kryva Luka is ongoing. Meanwhile, preparations are underway for potential future operations in the Kalenyky and Rai-Oleksandrivka areas.
In the Siversk sub-sector, an advance is underway west of Siversk. Fierce fighting is ongoing in the area of Reznykivka, and advances have been noted north and south of this settlement.
In the southern subsector, the zone of control is expanding as troops advance from Bondarne towards Nykyforivka. In Nykyforivka itself, there is heavy positional fighting, and small groups are entering the settlement. Control has not yet been established, and the southern part of the settlement has transitioned to a gray zone.
Krasnyi Liman Sector
Fighting for the outskirts and adjacent tree lines continues in the area of the settlements Oleksandrivka, Sosnove, Korovy Yar, and Yarova. West of Yarova, combat has shifted into a forested area.
In the Sviatohirsk area, clashes are occurring on the northern outskirts of the city and in the eastern part, including the hospital area. The situation remains unstable, and there is no confirmed data on the consolidation of new lines.
In Krasnyi Liman, combat is taking place within the urban area, including the Lesnoy microdistrict. Small infantry groups are operating, and the situation can change within individual blocks. In the Drobychevo area and northeast of Korovy Yar, unmanned aerial vehicles are being used for reconnaissance and strikes.
Conclusion
In the Druzhkivka sector, the areas of Toretske and Hirshyne remain key points of tension, while advances in the Kostiantynivka sector create preconditions for encircling the urban agglomeration. In the Kharkiv sector, the most intense fighting is concentrated in the Vovchansk area and its surrounding settlements. The advance is systematic but slow due to counterattacks and the active use of unmanned systems by both sides. In the Sumy sector, the tactic of gradually expanding the control zone is combined with the Ukrainian unit’s reinforcement of defenses through the transfer of specialized units. In the Sloviansk sector, efforts are primarily focused on improving tactical positions on the flanks and advancing toward key settlements, such as Rai-Oleksandrivka. In the Krasnyi Liman sector, combat has become focal within the city limits and adjacent forests, where the line of contact is unstable.
On January 24, Ukraine and Russia concluded the second day of U.S.-mediated talks in Abu Dhabi without reaching an agreement. However, further negotiations are expected next weekend. Meanwhile, nighttime airstrikes have left over a million Ukrainians without electricity amid sub-zero winter temperatures. Neither side indicated that any agreements had been reached in the post-talks statements, though both Moscow and Kyiv stated their openness to further dialogue.
“The main topic of discussion was possible parameters for ending the war,” wrote Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on X after the meeting.
An American official told reporters immediately after the talks that further discussions are expected the next day in Abu Dhabi.
“There was a lot of respect in the room because both sides were really trying to find solutions,” said the official, speaking on condition of anonymity.
“We discussed all the nitty-gritty details, and we believe that, God willing, there will be another meeting next Sunday where we will bring this deal to its final conclusion.”
A UAE government representative stated that in-person meetings between Ukraine and Russia had taken place—a rare occurrence in the nearly four years since the start of the war following Russia’s full-scale invasion—and that the negotiators had discussed the outstanding issues of the Washington peace agreement. Regarding the upcoming talks in Abu Dhabi next week, the American official expressed hope for further negotiations, possibly in Moscow or Kyiv. “In our view, such meetings should take place before we can conduct bilateral negotiations between Putin and Zelenskyy or trilateral negotiations with Putin, Zelenskyy, and President Trump. But I think we are not that far from that,” the official said.
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investing in afu has produced wonderful profits for usa—500,000 destroyed orcs!!!
how many ukrainians are leaving the country right now? if they are going to the boarder, there are no reports in zio media. talks mean nothing, when russian trade, security and territories will not be internationally recognized.