Russian Forces Continue Offensive Operations Across Ukraine, Report Advances in Novopavlivka Direction

Frontline Activity Intensifies on January 23

Russian forces continued their offensive operations across multiple directions in Ukraine on January 23, with reports indicating recent advances in the Novopavlivka direction. The General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine reported a total of 119 combat engagements along the frontline by 10:00 p.m. on that day. Russian forces also conducted 62 airstrikes, deployed 3,339 kamikaze drones, and carried out 2,779 shelling attacks against Ukrainian positions and populated areas.

Advances and Engagements in Novopavlivka Direction

In the Novopavlivka direction, Russian forces reportedly made recent advances. However, Ukrainian defenses actively engaged the attacking units. A Ukrainian brigade operating in this sector released geolocated footage on January 23, showing the successful repulsion of a roughly platoon-sized Russian mechanized assault on the northern outskirts of Filiya. During this engagement, Ukrainian forces struck one tank and three BMP infantry fighting vehicles (IFVs). The brigade further reported the destruction of one tank and two armored fighting vehicles (AFVs), with 20 Russian servicemembers killed and three wounded. The Pokrovsk direction, which encompasses Filiya and Novopavlivka, experienced the highest number of enemy assaults, with 31 attacks recorded by 10:00 p.m., and fighting continuing in several locations.

Other Active Frontline Sectors

Beyond Novopavlivka, Russian offensive efforts were concentrated in several other areas:

• In the Pokrovsk direction, Russian forces conducted 31 attacks, targeting settlements including Dorozhnie, Chervonyi Lyman, Rodynske, Sukhetske, Pokrovsk, Kotlyne, Udachne, Molodetske, Filiia, Novyi Donbas, Bilytske, Hryshyne, Shevchenko, and Novopavlivka. Preliminary reports from this direction indicated that 109 Russian troops were neutralized, including 75 killed.
• The Kostiantynivka direction saw 20 combat engagements near Kostiantynivka, Kleban-Byk, Pleshchiivka, Sofiivka, and towards Illinivka, Stepanivka, and Novopavlivka. Ukrainian defenders repelled 22 Russian attempts to breach defenses in this sector.
• In the Lyman direction, eight enemy assaults were repelled near Novoselivka, Tverdokhlibove, Drobyshcheve, Torske, Yampil, and towards Lyman, Stavky, and Dibrova.
• Russian forces also continued offensive operations in the Huliaipole and Oleksandrivka directions, though confirmed advances were not reported. In Huliaipole, the Russian army attempted to advance 11 times.

Broader Context of the Conflict

The continued military actions occurred amidst ongoing diplomatic efforts. Russian President Vladimir Putin met with a U.S. delegation on the night of January 22-23, leading to an agreement for trilateral working group meetings involving the U.S., Russia, and Ukraine in Abu Dhabi on January 23 and 24. Despite these talks, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov reiterated Russia's firm stance that Ukraine must surrender the land Moscow has failed to occupy in the Donbas region.