Ukrainian troops made progress near Toretsk and near Pokrovsk, but enemy also makes advances - ISW

Fierce fighting continues in Ukraine, particularly in the Donetsk region. Ukrainian troops made advances in Toretsk and in the Pokrovske direction.

However, the Russian invaders also had successes in these areas, as well as in the Kurakhove area. The development of the situation on January 27 and 28, 2025, and changes in the front line are described in a new analytical material by the Institute for the Study of War (ISW).

Kharkiv region

In the north of Kharkiv region, over the past two days, Russians have been attacking near Vovchansk and Starytsia, but have failed to advance.

According to the head of the outpost of the Forpost brigade, call sign Telik, the invaders are trying to seize the Vovchansk aggregate plant with particular zeal: every day they attack in groups of 3 to 10 assault troops, including many former prisoners, including women.

Luhansk region

On January 28, Russian troops attempted to advance in the Kupiansk sector without any confirmed advances.

Although the day before the Russian Defense Ministry claimed that units of the 25th Separate Motorized Rifle Brigade had allegedly captured Dvorichna, northeast of Kupyansk, analysts found no evidence of this.

Meanwhile, Russian propagandists are celebrating a "victory": they wrote that the alleged capture of Dvorichna would allow Russian troops to advance toward Kutkivka and Zapadne (west and southwest of Dvorichna) and try to either capture Kupyansk from the west or advance northwest toward Velykyi Burluk to support Russian offensive operations near Vovchansk.

However, on January 28, the head of the Kharkiv Military District, Oleh Syniehubov, stated that Russian troops had not captured Dvorichna and that fighting was continuing in the town.

In total, on January 27 and 28, Ukrainian soldiers repelled Russian attacks northeast of Kupyansk near Dvorichna; north of Kupyansk near Kutkivka and Kindrashivka; east of Kupyansk near Petropavlivka; southeast of Kupyansk near Pishchane; and south of Kupyansk near Hlushkivka.

According to Captain Yuriy Fedorenko, commander of the Achilles battalion of unmanned aerial vehicles92 of the Ivan Sirko assault brigade, Ukrainian forces repelled four enemy mechanized attacks in the Kupyansk sector since January 22. In total, Ukrainian troops destroyed more than 15 Russian armored personnel carriers and tanks, approximately 80% of them using drones.

According to the ISW, the occupants are actively using fiber-optic FPV drones in the sector, particularly in the area of Petropavlivka.

The Russians also tried to advance in the Borova area yesterday without any progress. Their "successes" were only reported by Russian propagandists, who "captured" Novoyehorivka southeast of Borova in their Telegram channels. At the same time, they admitted that the invaders did not succeed in occupying Tverdokhlibove nearby.

Over the last two days, fighting has been taking place in the area of Lozova, Bohuslavka, Zelenyi Hai, Nova Kruhlyakivka, near Kopanky, as well as near Novoyehorivka, Makiivka and Hrekivka.

The spokesman for the 3rd assault brigade, Oleksandr Borodin, said the day before that Russians are conducting assaults in groups of up to 6 people every day. They are particularly active near the Oskil river and near Borova. The assaults are carried out on foot or on motorcycles, while heavy armored vehicles are used only to fire from closed positions: unlike the personnel, the Russian command is trying to save tanks amid significant losses.

Also, on January 27-28, Russians tried to advance on the Liman direction without confirmed success. Enemy attacks the day before were recorded northeast of the Lyman near Terny, Kolodyazy, Yampolivka and in the direction of Zelena Dolyna; east of the Lyman near Zarichne; and southeast of the Lyman near Serebryansky Forest.

Donetsk region

Russia's priority remains to capture the entire Donetsk region.

In an effort to achieve this, on January 27 and 28, Russian troops continued ground attacks northeast of Siversk near Bilohorivka and east of Siversk near Verkhnekamianske and Novoselivka, with no advances according to ISW.

Instead, Russian propagandists were spreading the "victory" of alleged advances in the center of Chasovyi Yar and near the town, west of Kalynivka. ISW analysts found no evidence to support these claims.

The day before, the Khortytsia unit reported a recent enemy attack supported by armored vehicles near Bila Hora, south of Chasovyi Yar. Ukrainian soldiers repelled the attack and destroyed two Russian tanks and three armored vehicles with the help of drones.

In general, on January 27 and 28, Russian troops continued assault operations near Chasovyi Yar itself and south of it near Stupochky, Predtechyne, and Bila Hora.

According to ISW, the Ukrainian Defense Forces have recently advanced in northern Toretsk, as evidenced by geolocation footage taken on Dargomyzhskoho Street, which was published on January 28.

On the same day, the General Staff of the Ukrainian Armed Forces published a map showing the settlements of New York in the south and Yurivka in the west of Toretsk as occupied. It is unclear when the Russians captured them.

Meanwhile, Russian "military commanders" claimed that Russian troops had advanced in the western part of Toretsk and further west of the city, with intense fighting, according to them, taking place on the outskirts of the town. At the same time, analysts "found no confirmation of these statements about Russian achievements."

The Khortytsia unit also reported the recent defeat of a Russian convoy of five vehicles that attempted to land Russian infantry near the Ukrainian frontline positions in the area of Shcherbynivka.

On January 27 and 28, enemy assaults continued in Toretsk, north of the city - near Krymske, Dachne, Diliyivka, and west of Toretsk near Shcherbynivka.

In the Pokrovsk sector, both Russian and Ukrainian troops have been advancing recently.

Ukrainian troops made gains west of the town in Kotlynne, as well as south of the town in the southeastern part of Kotlynne and south of Zvirove.

Instead, Russian troops have recently advanced along the Donetsk railroad on the southeastern outskirts of Udachne (west of Kotlynne).

According to the Ukrainian Armed Forces General Staff, as of January 28, the enemy occupied Uspenivka and Novoandriivka (both southwest of Pokrovsk).

Russian "military commanders" spoke about the advance of occupation troops to Chunyshyno, south of Udachne, in the direction of Kotlyarivka, north and south of Nadiyivka, and in Novooleksandrivka. As usual, they did not provide confirmation.

In general, Russia continued its offensive near Pokrovsk and in the vicinity of the city: to the east - near the settlements of Vodiane Druhe, Myroliubivka, Yelizavetivka, Promin, Vozdvyzhenka, Zelene Pole, Baranivka, to the southeast - near Sukhyi Yar and Lysivka; to the south - near Zelene and Shevchenko; to the west - near Udachne and towards Serhiivka; to the southwest - in the area of Nadiyivka, Uspenivka, Novovasylivka, Novooleksandrivka, Kotlyarivka, Novoandriivka and Preobrazhenka and Bohdanivka.

"Russian milbloggers claimed that Russian troops were attacking Sribne from three directions, apparently in an attempt to cover the settlement with a broad front and push back Ukrainian forces from positions along the Vovcha River, which runs south of Sribne and west of Kurakhove. The Russian source claimed that Ukrainian forces had unsuccessfully counterattacked in Udachne and near Kotlyne, and that Russian troops were trying to gain a foothold in Udachne, which had suffered significant damage," the article says.

Here, as in other areas, the Russians are trying to attack in small infantry groups, preferring foggy weather. According to the Ukrainian military, the invaders have significant infantry reserves in the Pokrovske direction. And the occupiers are using drones here very actively: sometimes up to 30 Russian FPVs can arrive at one position

The defenders also claim that it takes the occupiers about 2-3 weeks after the arrival of new Ukrainian equipment on the front line to come up with means to counteract it.

Currently, Russian troops are focused on finding weaknesses in the Ukrainian defense near Pokrovsk and concentrating significant forces where they are achieving tactical success.

Meanwhile, Russian military commanders complain that Ukrainian drones are preventing the occupiers from advancing near Uspenivka and Novooleksandrivka.

Russian troops also continued their offensive in the Kurakhove sector on January 28. According to the General Staff, as of yesterday, the occupants captured Slovianka (northwest of Kurakhove) and advanced in the fields west of Slovianka and south of Dachne (west of Kurakhove).

Russian military bloggers claimed that Russian troops had advanced in the center of Andriivka (northwest of Kurakhove), but ISW found no confirmation of this claim.

According to the Ukrainian military, the Russians are attacking in small groups of 1-3 attack aircraft, and are also using equipment, though not for assaults, but for landing infantry near Ukrainian positions. Apparently, the Russian command's tactic is to use its superiority in manpower to exhaust Ukrainian units in the Kurakhove sector.

"Russian military bloggers claimed that units of the Russian 114th Motorized Rifle Brigade (51st Motorized Rifle Brigade) were expanding their advance northeast of Andriivka and that Russian troops were trying to seize positions along the T-0515 Andriivka-Pokrovsk road near Slovianka (northeast of Andriivka). Russian troops continued their assault northwest of Kurakhove near Andriivka and Shevchenko; west of Kurakhove near Dachne, Ulakly, Kostiantynopil, Rozlyv, Oleksiyivka and Bahatyr; and southwest of Kurakhove near Yantarne and Zelenivka," the analysts described the main areas of fighting near Kurakhove on January 27 and 28.

On January 28, the Russians also attacked in the direction of Velyka Novosilka, where the enemy had success. A map of the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine dated January 28 shows the occupiers' advance northeast of Rozdolne.

"Russian military bloggers claimed that Russian troops continue to clear Velyka Novosilka of Ukrainian forces and are regrouping near the settlement," ISW noted.

Over the past two days, the invaders continued their assault operations near Velyka Novosilka itself, northeast of the village - near Rozdolne and west - near Novosilka.

Zaporizhzhia and Kherson region

On January 27 and 28, Russian troops conducted limited ground attacks in the Zaporizhzhia sector near Novodanylivka (north of Robotyne).

According to the General Staff, as of January 28, Russians seized Stepove (northwest of Robotyno) and advanced northeast of Kopany (west of Robotyno) and south of Mali Shcherbaky (northwest of Robotyno).

On January 27 and 28, Russian troops continued their offensive in the Prydniprovia sector, but did not advance.

Kursk region of the Russian Federation

On January 28, Russian troops continued their offensive operations within the Ukrainian advance in the Kursk region, but made no confirmed advances.

Meanwhile, the day before, footage of Ukrainian drones repelling a Russian mechanized attack in the Kursk region was posted online.

"The Russian Defense Ministry claimed that units of the Russian 83rd Airborne Brigade were advancing along the Snahost River and participated in the capture of Mykolaiv-Daryino (west of Sudzha). Russian military bloggers also claimed that Russian troops had advanced north of Guievo (south of Sudzha) and near Sverdlikovo (west of Sudzha). However, ISW has not found confirmation of these claims," the analysts noted.

They also cited Russian statements about attacks by Russian troops northwest of Sudzha near Viktorivka, Nikolske, Nova Sorochyna and Stara Sorochyna, south of Sudzha near Kurylivka, and that Russians had recently allegedly repelled a Ukrainian attack near Nikolske.

"It is reported that the North Korean grouping of forces in the Kursk region continues to suffer significant losses in manpower and may temporarily withdraw from the fighting due to these losses. The head of the Ukrainian Center for Countering Disinformation, Lieutenant Andriy Kovalenko, said on January 28 that North Korean troops had not learned how to counter Ukrainian drone and artillery strikes and had suffered significant losses as a result. Kovalenko said that Russian commanders and North Korean officers are working to correct these "mistakes," the article said.

Meanwhile, Sky News, citing the commander of a unit of the Ukrainian Special Operations Forces, reported on January 27 that the temporary withdrawal of North Korean troops from the front line in Kursk region after significant losses was a likely fait accompli. It is also possible that the Koreans are currently waiting for reinforcements to arrive and will soon return to the front.

"Other Ukrainian servicemen told Sky News that North Korean forces seemed unaware of the threat of drone and artillery strikes when they first arrived in the Kursk region and often operated in easily identifiable groups of 20 to 60 people. Ukrainian military officials reiterated that North Korean and Russian forces do not communicate well due to the language barrier and that North Korean forces have better small arms and uniforms than Russian forces, but often lack access to armored vehicles and are forced to attack and deliver supplies on foot," ISW wrote.

Earlier, ISW said that the talks between Russia and Syria had reached a deadlock: satellite images showed that the Russians were evacuating military equipment from the port of Tartus, despite the fact that the first official Russian delegation had arrived in Damascus the day before.

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