Overview
- Chief of the General Staff Valeriy Gerasimov said Russian forces are advancing on practically all fronts, with eight localities and more than 300 square kilometers reported under Russian control in the first two weeks of January.
- Russian officials detailed sector updates, saying fighting continues in Konstantinovka, the Kupyansk‑Uzlovy rail hub is nearing capture by the “West” grouping, and forces under the “South,” “Vostok,” and “Dnepr” groupings are pushing toward key areas in Donetsk, Zaporizhzhia, and Dnipropetrovsk regions.
- The Defense Ministry reported daily Ukrainian losses of over 400 personnel in the “Center” zone, up to 245 in “Vostok,” more than 185 in “South,” and up to 50 in “Dnepr,” along with multiple destroyed vehicles and artillery, figures not independently verified here.
- Belgorod region authorities said more than 30 Ukrainian drones were downed or suppressed in 24 hours as 39 settlements came under fire, while Volgograd reported a repelled drone attack with no damage and Kursk reported 40 artillery strikes and 15 drones shot down without casualties.
- Russia’s Investigative Committee charged in absentia Ukrainian 19th Rocket Brigade commander Rostislav Karpusha with terrorism over alleged HIMARS strikes on Belgorod on January 2 and 9 that injured civilians and cut power to about 600,000 subscribers.