Russia’s war on Ukraine. 13.01.26
Operational situation
On the Northern Slobozhansky Direction, Russian forces attacked near Andriivka, toward Nova Sich, and near Hrabovske. The 83rd Separate Air Assault Brigade sustained losses from friendly fire near Yablunivka.
Ukrainian Defense Forces are increasing fire impact on the combat formations of the 30th Motorized Rifle Regiment of the 72nd Motorized Rifle Division of the 44th Army Corps near Oleksiivka.
On the Southern Slobozhansky Direction, Russian forces attacked near Prylipka, Lyman, Vovchansk, Vovchanski Khutory, and Starytsia, toward Ternove, Hrafske, Kruhle, Chuhunivka, Dovhenke, Obukhivka, near Dvorichanske, and toward Kolodyazne.
Ukrainian Defense Forces counterattacked near Vovchansk.
On the Kupyansk Direction, Russian forces fought for Ridkodub, attempted to advance north of Petropavlivka and south of Vovchyi Yar, attacked near Kupyansk, toward Kutkivka, Petropavlivka, and Kurylivka, near Bohuslavka, toward Novoplatonivka, near Shandryholove, Hrekivka, Karpivka, and Novoyehorivka. Petropavlivka and Kucherivka remain a gray zone. The actions of an enemy assault group on the outskirts of Podoly were an infiltration mission.
On the Sloviansk Direction, Russian forces attempted to advance northeast of Sosnove, attacked near and toward Lyman, near Yarova, Novoselivka, Svyatohirsk, Tetyanivka, and Drobysheve, toward Stavky, near Zarichne and Yampil, toward Zakytne and Platonivka, and near Sviato-Pokrovske.
Ukrainian Defense Forces counterattacked near Pryshyb and south of Dibrova.
On the Kostyantynivka Direction, Russian forces attempted to advance south of Kostyantynivka, southwest of Berestok, and north of Oleksandro-Kalynove, attacked near and within Kostyantynivka, near Mayske, Markove, Virolyubivka, Minkivka, Stupochky, Oleksandro-Shultyne, Ivanopillya, and Pleshchiivka, Shcherbynivka, toward Berestok, near Stepanivka, Rusyn Yar, and Sofiivka. Virolyubivka, Popasna, Klynove, the western outskirts of Pleshchiivka, and Predtechyne are a gray zone.
On the Pokrovsk Direction, Russian forces advanced toward Kucheriv Yar, near Shakhove, Nove Shakhove, Ivanivka, Toretske, Zaporizhzhia, near and within Pokrovsk, near Rodynske, Zatyshok, Sukhetske, Myrnohrad, Kotlyne, Udachne, Molodetske, and Hryshyne. Enemy attacks in the industrial zone on the northwestern outskirts of Pokrovsk aim to accumulate forces for an advance on Hryshyne.
On the Oleksandrivka Direction, Russian forces continued the offensive near Novopavlivka, Filiya, Sosnivka, Vyshneve, Verbove, Oleksiivka, and Sichneve. The enemy attempted to advance northeast and east of Ivanivka.
On the Huliaypole Direction, Russian forces attacked near and within Huliaypole, near Olenokostyantynivka and Pryluky, toward Svyatopetrivka, near Zelene, Varvarivka, Nove Zaporizhzhia, Yehorivka, Dobropillya, Rybne, and Zlahoda.
Ukrainian Defense Forces counterattacked near Huliaypole.
On the Orikhiv Direction, Russian forces fought for Novoboykivske, attempted to advance in the western part of Mala Tokmachka, north of Stepove, and north of Stepnohirsk, attacked near Stepove, Prymorske, and Lukyanivske.
Supporting operation:
Ukrainian Defense Forces conducted a UAV strike on the Novocherkassk District Power Station in Novocherkassk, Rostov Oblast, and the Oryol Thermal Power Plant in the city of Oryol.
General conclusion:
In the north of Kharkiv Oblast, Russian forces attempt to exploit poor weather conditions by using infiltration tactics to attack on the Vovchansk Direction, but the number of attacks has decreased in 2026.
In the Lyman area, Russian forces have increased the intensity of attacks, but they are repelled by UAV units of Ukrainian Defense Forces.
On the Pokrovsk Direction, Russian forces continue to infiltrate through Ukrainian defenses in groups of up to five servicemen, using thermal-insulating cloaks, primarily north of the railway line in Pokrovsk. The enemy attempts to compensate for losses of combat equipment by increasing the intensity of UAV strikes to complicate Ukrainian logistics.
On the Huliaypole Direction, the enemy adapts its offensive tactics to meteorological conditions, increasing the number of infantry attacks when poor weather hinders UAV employment. Russian forces attempt to consolidate in Huliaypole and conduct air strikes with KAB guided bombs against villages near the front line. The aggressor deploys reserves. The front line near Huliaypole is discontinuous, and the gray zone extends to a depth of 10–15 km.
Russian forces continue to actively use guided 152-mm Krasnopol-M/M2 shells. The effectiveness of their employment on the battlefield is assessed at 52–53%, which is a decrease compared to the period at the beginning of the invasion (70–72%).
During the year, the Russian Aerospace Forces are expected to receive 82 aircraft and 84 helicopters, including 2 Tu-160M2 strategic bombers, 7 Il-78M-90A aerial refueling aircraft, 13 Su-57 fighters, 2 Su-30SM2 fighters, 17 Su-35S fighters, 15 Su-34 NVO frontline bombers, 14 UTS-800 training aircraft, 12 DA-12T aircraft, 20 Ka-52M helicopters, 34 Mi-28NM helicopters, 5 Ka-35 helicopters, 10 Mi-8MTV-5M helicopters, 10 Mi-8AMTSh-V helicopters, and 5 Mi-8MTRP-1 helicopters. Up to 1,400 units of aviation equipment (including UAVs) are planned for modernization. It should be expected that modernization of existing equipment, rather than production of new equipment, will form the basis.
The “Rubikon” Center for Advanced Unmanned Technologies, operating on the Pokrovsk and Kostyantynivka Directions (since 5 November 2025), analyzed its own experience using the Molniya-2 UAV equipped with a Starlink satellite communications system and concluded that the air defense component of Ukrainian Defense Forces in the tactical zone has limited capability to intercept UAVs of this type during hours of darkness, especially when swarm drone tactics are employed.
Change in the line of contact (LoC), directions of attacks and counterattacks:
There were 159 combat engagements on various fronts.
On the Southern Slobozhansky Direction, six enemy attacks were stopped in the areas of Kruhle, Ternove, Obukhivka, and Dekhtyarnе, and toward Prylipka and Hrafske.
On the Kupyansk Direction, six enemy attacks occurred. Enemy assault actions were repelled in the area of Borivska Andriivka and toward Petropavlivka and Kurylivka.
On the Sloviansk Direction, Ukrainian Defense Forces repelled 22 enemy attacks toward Novoselivka, Ridkodub, Zarichne, and Yampil, in the areas of Lyman, Stavky, Drobysheve, Sviato-Pokrovske, Platonivka, and Pazeno, and toward Zakytne and Riznykivka.
On the Kostyantynivka Direction, the enemy carried out 19 attacks in the areas of Kostyantynivka, Oleksandro-Shultyne, Pleshchiivka, Shcherbynivka, Ivanopillya, and Rusyn Yar, and toward Stepanivka and Sofiivka.
On the Pokrovsk direction, 26 enemy assault actions were stopped in the areas of Myrnohrad, Pokrovsk, Zapovidne, Rodynske, Kotlyne, Udachne, Molodetske, and Filiya, and toward Kucheriv Yar.
On the Oleksandrivka direction, the enemy carried out 13 attacks in the areas of Zlahoda and Verbove, and toward Nove Zaporizhzhia.
On the Huliaypole Direction, Ukrainian Defense Forces repelled 34 Russian attacks in the area of Huliaypole and toward Olenokostyantynivka and Varvarivka.
On the Orikhiv Direction, an enemy attack was repelled in the area of Prymorske.
On the Prydniprovske Direction, Ukrainian units repelled a Russian attack toward the Antonivskyi Bridge.
Changes in the enemy disposition:
The 1486th Motorized Infantry Regiment of the 6th Combined Arms Army conducts UAV strikes against Ukrainian positions in the eastern part of Kupyansk.
The 16th Separate SOF Brigade conducts UAV strikes against Ukrainian positions in Oleksandrivka.
The 7th Separate Motorized Rifle Brigade of the 3rd Combined Arms Army operates near Siversk and Zakytne, and the 752nd Motorized Rifle Regiment of the 3rd Motorized Rifle Division of the 20th Combined Arms Army advances toward Lyman.
Assault detachments of the 20th Motorized Rifle Division of the 8th Combined Arms Army operate west of Stepanivka, and the 68th Separate Reconnaissance Battalion of the division operates near Rayske.
The 9th Separate Motorized Rifle Brigade of the 51st Combined Arms Army operates near Rodynske.
The 57th Separate Motorized Rifle Brigade of the 5th Combined Arms Army operates on the eastern outskirts of Huliaypole.
The 108th Air Assault Regiment of the 7th Air Assault Division conducts strikes against Ukrainian forces in Prymorske.
Possible operation situation developments:
On the Southern Slobozhanske Direction, the enemy will continue its attempts to capture Vovchansk with the forces of a tactical grouping (elements of the 6th Combined Arms Army, the 11th and the 44th Army Corps). These actions will slow the enemy’s advance along the eastern bank of the Siverskyi Donets to Bilyi Kolodyaz, Verkhnya Pysarivka and Buhayivka.
On the Kupyansk Direction, enemy troops have been tasked with capturing Kupyansk by February 2026. The enemy will develop the offensive of the 47th Tank Division of the 1st Tank Army east of the city and simultaneously will hold a bridgehead in the Dvorichna area. Troops of the 6th Combined Arms Army will envelop the defense area of the 16th Army Corps of Ukrainian Defense Forces near Kolodyazne, will attack in the Milove–Ambarne and Krasne Pershe–Novovasylivka directions, and will break through in the Dvorichna–Ridkodub direction.
On the Lyman Direction, the enemy’s 20th Combined Arms Army will attempt to seize the Yarova–Novoselivka–Drobysheve–Pryshyb area and block the Lyman–Izium logistics route along the northern bank of the Siverskyi Donets River. Troops of the 20th and 25th Combined Arms Armies will advance north and east of Lyman with the aim of isolating the defense area of the 3rd Army Corps of Ukrainian Defense Forces around the city from the north and northwest in order to reach the Siverskyi Donets River south of the city in the Raihorodok–Zakytne sector. By maintaining a bridgehead on the Siverskyi Donets River, the 3rd Army Corps of Ukrainian Defense Forces will make it much more difficult for the enemy to conduct offensive actions towards Sloviansk from this direction.
On the Sloviansk Direction, the 3rd Combined Arms Army will attempt to break through from the Dronivka–Siversk line to the Zakytne–Riznykivka–Kalenyky–Kryva Luka area, which will facilitate an offensive on Lyman by the troops of the 25th Combined Arms Army. Ukrainian Defense Forces will seek opportunities to slow the enemy’s advance along the southern bank of the Siverskyi Donets in the direction of Raihorodok and Sloviansk
On the Kostyantynivka Direction, the enemy command will attempt to conduct a deep envelopment of Kostyantynivka from the north, east, and southeast and to break through from the southwest to the near approaches to Druzhkivka, that is, to enter the deep rear of the 19th Army Corps of Ukrainian Defense Forces defending in Kostyantynivka and to its south and southwest. Enemy troops will advance in the general direction of Volodymyrivka – Rayske to reach the near approaches to Druzhkivka and will attempt to break through from the east and northeast to the Bilokuzmynivka – Virolyubivka – Izhevka – Kurtivka area. Simultaneously, the enemy will conduct a frontal offensive within the defense zone of the 12th “Azov” Separate SOF Brigade of the National Guard of Ukraine. The troops of the enemy’s 3rd Army Corps will advance to the Novodmytrivka – Chervone line, collapsing the defense of the 24th Separate Mechanized Brigade of the 11th Army Corps of Ukrainian Defense Forces in Chasiv Yar by an offensive from the south. The aggressor will attack along both banks of the Kazennyi Torets River in the Sofiivka area, attempt to seize the village, and advance toward Novopavlivka and Torske. In the offensive zone of the 8th Combined Arms Army, the enemy will advance in the general direction of Volodymyrivka – Sofiivka.
The Pokrovsk–Myrnohrad defense area of the 7th Rapid Reaction Corps of the Air Assault Forces of Ukrainian Defense Forces will be seized by the enemy by the end of January 2026. By capturing Pokrovsk and Myrnohrad, the enemy gains the chance to launch an offensive toward Dobropillya and potentially break through rapidly, with the 2nd Combined Arms Army advancing from Pokrovsk and the 51st Combined Arms Army moving from the bridgehead on the Kazennyi Torets River. The command of the enemy “Tsentr (Center)” Operational Grouping will not be able to bypass/envelop the defense area of the Armed Forces of Ukraine from the flanks, as the Defense Forces firmly hold the Vilne – Novyi Donbas line, leaving only a frontal offensive on Dobropillya, which will entail enormous losses.
On the Oleksandrivka and Huliaypole Directions, the enemy’s “Vostok (East)” Operational Grouping will advance on the widest possible front, attempting to maximally stretch the forces of Ukrainian Defense Forces and their reserves, and through active offensive actions by the 36th Combined Arms Army ensure, on the main strike direction toward Huliaypole, a maximum concentration of its own forces and assets in the zone of the 5th Combined Arms Army
The enemy will attempt to develop the offensive of the 5th Combined Arms Army in the general direction of Varvarivka–Verkhnya Tersa–Omelnyk. Considering that in the offensive zone of the 58th Combined Arms Army the enemy will advance northward along the Dnipro, has already reached the delta of the Konka River in the Prymorske area and has bypassed Stepnohirsk from the west and east, it will attempt to reach the defense line of the 17th Army Corps of Ukrainian Defense Forces along the Konka River on the Malokaterynivka–Komyshuvakha sector. The aggressor will attempt to cut the logistics of the 17th Army Corps of Ukrainian Defense Forces in Orikhiv and, with the troops of the 5th Combined Arms Army, the main forces of the 76th Air Assault Division and the 35th Combined Arms Army, break through to the near approaches to the city from the northeast, from the area north of Huliaypole, after which it will assault Orikhiv. The success of this plan directly depends on the ability of Ukrainian Defense Forces to stabilize the situation in Huliaypole.
On the Prydniprovske direction, the command of the enemy’s “Dnepr” Operational Grouping will continue trying to take control of most of the island zone in the Dnipro delta in the direction of Kherson, will try to create a tactical bridgehead on the right bank, and to eliminate the tactical bridgeheads of the 30th Marine Corps of Ukrainian Defense Forces in the area of the automobile and railway bridges near Antonivka.
Russian operational losses from 24.02.22 to 13.01.26
Personnel - almost 1,220 950 (+950);
Tanks – 11,544 (+3);
Armored combat vehicles ‒ 23,899 (+7);
Artillery systems – 36,024 (+51);
Multiple rocket launchers (MLRS) – 1,600 (+2);
Anti-aircraft warfare systems – 1,270 (0);
Vehicles and fuel tanks – 73,887 (+145);
Aircraft - 434 (0);
Helicopters – 347 (0);
UAV operational and tactical level – 105,354 (+933);
Intercepted cruise and other missiles – 4,155 (0);
Boats/ships – 30 (0).
Humanitarian + general:
In 2025, Ukraine recorded the highest number of civilian casualties since the start of the Russian Federation’s full-scale invasion: the UN Human Rights Monitoring Mission confirmed the deaths of 2,514 people and injuries to 12,142 individuals. This figure is 31% higher than in 2024 and 70% higher than in 2023, with 97% of the casualties recorded in territory controlled by Ukraine as a result of attacks by the Russian armed forces. According to the mission, this sharp increase is driven not only by fighting along the front line but also by the intensive use of long-range weapons, which has significantly worsened the security situation for civilians across the country.
Russian strikes against Ukraine’s energy sector during extremely low temperatures are aimed at creating conditions calculated to physically destroy Ukrainians, which fully falls under the definition of Article II(c) of the Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide, Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha stated.
From the evening of 12 January, Russian occupiers launched a massive strike against Ukraine, firing 25 missiles and 293 UAVs of various types, including approximately 200 Shahed strike UAVs. According to the Air Force Command of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, as of 09:30 air defense neutralized 2 Iskander-M ballistic missiles, 5 Iskander-K cruise missiles, and 240 enemy UAVs. Despite air defense operations, impacts of ballistic and surface-to-air missiles, as well as 48 strike UAVs, were recorded at 24 locations in Kharkiv, Zaporizhzhia, Dnipropetrovsk, and Kyiv Oblasts, while as of the morning the enemy attack was ongoing.
As a result of enemy shelling, as of the morning of 13 January there are de-energized consumers in the city of Kyiv and in Kyiv, Odesa, Kharkiv, Dnipropetrovsk, Donetsk, Chernihiv, and Zaporizhzhia Oblasts. Overall, on the night of 13 January the Russian Federation attacked 15 critical infrastructure facilities in various regions of Ukraine, including thermal power plants, combined heat and power plants, and facilities of heat and water supply systems.
Following another nighttime Russian strike, emergency power outages were introduced in Kyiv, and approximately 500 buildings currently remain without heat supply. According to the Kyiv City State Administration, due to disruptions in the energy system, surface electric public transport is temporarily not operating, and buses have been deployed on substitute routes. Due to the consequences of enemy shelling and the difficult situation in the energy system, surface electric transport on the right bank of Kyiv is temporarily suspended.
As a result of a nighttime missile strike on the Nova Poshta Kharkiv Innovation Terminal, four employees were killed and another four were injured and are currently hospitalized. The enemy attack led to almost complete destruction of the cargo terminal and partial damage to the postal terminal. Two of the four killed were in a shelter near the Nova Poshta terminal at the time of the attack.
On the evening of 12 January and during the night, the enemy attacked Dnipropetrovsk Oblast with missiles and UAVs, resulting in injuries to two elderly people and significant infrastructure destruction. In the Zelenodolsk community, a massive attack caused a fire, damaged two private houses and a gas pipeline, and a 69-year-old woman was hospitalized in moderate condition. Similar UAV attacks on the Vasylkivka, Solonianka, and Nikopol communities resulted in injuries to an 86-year-old man, damage to residential buildings, outbuildings, power lines, and vehicle fires.
On the night of 13 January, Russian occupiers struck critical infrastructure facilities in the Korosten and Zviahel districts of Zhytomyr Oblast. According to the head of the Zhytomyr Oblast Military Administration, Vitalii Bunechko, fires broke out at the impact sites, and rescue services are currently working to extinguish them. Preliminary information indicates no casualties, and specialists continue to assess the consequences of the enemy attack.
On the night of 13 January, an enemy attack significantly damaged two DTEK energy facilities in Odesa, resulting in extensive destruction. According to the company, approximately 47,000 households are currently without electricity due to the shelling. DTEK emphasized that, given the scale of the destruction, restoration of the energy facilities will take time.
As a result of Russian strikes on Kyiv Oblast, destruction and fires were recorded in residential areas and at industrial facilities in the Vyshhorod, Brovary, and Fastiv districts, but no casualties were reported. According to the head of the Oblast Military Administration, Mykola Kalashnyk, emergency power outages were introduced in the Bucha, Brovary, and Boryspil districts due to damage to the energy system. Emergency services are currently operating on site, critically important facilities have been switched to alternative power supply, and resilience centers are functioning for residents of the Oblast.
On the night of 13 January, the Russian army once again attacked the DTEK Kryvyi Rih Thermal Power Plant in Zelenodolsk, Dnipropetrovsk Oblast, resulting in significant damage to the plant’s equipment. According to the company’s press service, this was already the eighth massive attack on DTEK thermal power plants since October 2025, and the total number of shelling incidents against the company’s TPPs since the start of the full-scale invasion has exceeded 220. As a result of systematic strikes, 59 power engineers have been injured and four employees have been killed.
During the day, seven Russian strike UAVs attacked Starovarvarivka in Donetsk Oblast, killing one person and injuring another. According to the State Emergency Service, 17 private houses were damaged during the attack, and a fire broke out in one of them.
On Tuesday, 13 January, Russian occupiers struck Kharkiv with a Molniya drone; an impact on a sports facility was recorded, and a 16-year-old girl was injured.
Russian occupiers transferred 42 children from the Kherson Oblast orphanage, who were illegally taken away in 2022, to foster families in temporarily occupied Crimea. According to the Telegram channel Krymskyi Veter and IPC-Pivden correspondents, children abducted during the occupation of Kherson are now placed with families on the peninsula. This fact is further evidence of the illegal deportation and forced transfer of Ukrainian orphaned children into custody in territories controlled by Russia.
Due to the security situation and voltage fluctuations in the grid, Ukrzaliznytsia recorded significant delays of suburban trains on the Korosten, Kharkiv, and Fastiv Directions. In particular, departures of services from Korosten and Malyn were postponed for an indefinite period, and trains to Kharkiv are delayed due to power supply disruptions on the Merefa–Kharkiv section. In addition, on 13 January in Zhytomyr Oblast, train services between Korosten and Ovruch were temporarily suspended for security reasons, and a number of other routes, including Directions from Slavutych and Myronivka, are running with delays ranging from 47 minutes to more than 2 hours.