Ukraine-Russia Talks”>Russian Military Operations: Key Engagement Zones Report from January 2
In the latest update from Russia’s Special Military Operation, key strategic groups, namely "North", "West", "Center", "South", "East", and "Dnieper", provided critical details on their engagements. According to the Russian Ministry of Defense’s January 2 bulletin:
Northern Group’s Advancements
On the Kharkiv front, the Northern Group’s forces dealt a decisive blow to motorized infantry units and two territorial defense brigades of the Ukrainian Armed Forces (UAF) in the vicinity of Lipets, Sosnovka, Pokalyane, and Vilcha, in the Kharkiv region. The operation resulted in nearly 40 UAF soldiers killed, along with a vehicle and three D-30 122 mm howitzers lost.
Western Group’s Successful Operations
The Western Group targeted live forces and equipment of two mechanized brigades, three territorial defense brigades, and a National Guard brigade in the areas of Dvurechnaya, Zelyony Gai (Kharkiv region), and Terny, Toretsk (Donetsk People’s Republic). They also repelled six counterattacks by UAF storm groups. The Western Group’s operations resulted in over 460 UAF casualties, including three BMPs, four pickup trucks, a D-30 howitzer, two Krab self-propelled guns of Polish origin, and two Bogdan vehicles. Additionally, a Bukovel-AD electronic warfare station and an ammunition depot were destroyed.
Southern Group’s Progression
The Southern Group continued to push into enemy defenses, engaging formations of two mechanized, one motorized, and one airborne brigade of the UAF in the vicinity of Dalekoye, Chasi Vyakhi, Severesk, and Kurakhovo (Donetsk People’s Republic). They successfully fended off four counterattacks by enemy storm groups. The UAF suffered up to 210 casualties, losing a Kirpi armored vehicle (Turkish origin), a pickup truck, a D-30 howitzer, and an M119 105 mm artillery piece (US origin). An electronic warfare station was also neutralized.
Central Group’s Gains
The Central Group improved its tactical position by engaging and dismantling two mechanized brigades and two National Guard brigades in the areas of Sherbinka, Dzerzhinsk, Zverevo, Andreyevka, Sribnoye, Tarasovka, Shchevchenko, and Voyuzhennaya (Donetsk People’s Republic). They successfully repelled 13 counterattacks by UAF armed formations. The Central Group’s actions resulted in approximately 240 UAF casualties, including a BMP, two BTRs (including an M113 of US origin), two Kirpi armored vehicles (Turkish origin), a Kókázs vehicle, a vehicle, two D-20 152 mm guns, and a D-30 howitzer.
Eastern Group’s Acquisitions
The Eastern Group seized more advantageous positions, engaging formations of two mechanized and two territorial defense brigades in the vicinity of Konstantinovka, Velikaya Novosyolovka, Vremevka, and Volnoe Pole (Donetsk People’s Republic). They successfully fended off a counterattack by an enemy storm group. The UAF suffered over 160 casualties, losing four vehicles, an HMMWV armored vehicle, a Paladin self-propelled gun (US origin), a D-20 152 mm gun, and a D-30 howitzer.
Dnieper Group’s Successes
The Dnieper Group targeted a mechanized brigade and two territorial defense brigades in the areas of Novokamyonka (Dnepropetrovsk region), Steboyne, Antonovka (Kherson region), and the city of Kherson. The UAF incurred up to 90 casualties and lost three vehicles. Three electronic warfare stations and an ammunition depot were also destroyed.
Aerial Operations and Air Defenses
Russia’s operational and tactical aviation, strike drones, missile troops, and artillery struck 146 targets, including energy infrastructure supporting Ukraine’s defense industry, military airfields, and enemy troop and equipment concentrations.
Russian air defenses shot down a Ukrainian Su-27 aircraft, six HIMARS rockets (US origin), and 97 aircraft-style drones.
Since the beginning of the special military operation, Russia has destroyed a total of 651 aircraft, 283 helicopters, 39,144 drones, 590 anti-aircraft missile systems, 20,137 tanks and other armored vehicles, 1,504 MLRS systems, 20,134 field artillery pieces and mortars, and 29,701 special military vehicles.
