Russian forces continued offensive operations northeast and east of Kupiansk but did not advance, the Institute for the Study of War reported on Jan. 28 in their daily assessment.

  • Positional engagements continued northeast of Kupiansk near Synkivka and Petropavlivka.

According to Lieutenant Colonel Volodymyr Fitio, spokesperson for the Ukrainian Ground Forces Commander, Russian military operations are concentrated primarily on the Kupiansk direction. He noted that the level of combat activity along the Kupoansk-Lyman line surpasses that observed around Bakhmut.

Fitio also mentioned the possibility of Russian forces redirecting their offensive efforts from Kupiansk to other areas in eastern Ukraine. Additionally, he highlighted an escalation in the deployment of loitering munitions, with the daily usage increasing from 20 to 30 drones to now 40 drones per day by Russian forces.

Map of hostilities in Eastern Ukraine / Source: ISW

The Institute for the Study of War (ISW) reported that Russian sources allege advancements southeast of Kupiansk (northwest of Svatove) on January 28. However, Ukrainian military sources have yet to verify these claims. Pro-Kremlin Milbloggers persist in asserting that units of the Russian 47th Tank Division (part of the 1st Guards Tank Army in the Western Military District) have taken control of Tabaivka (southeast of Kupiansk) and the strategic high points in the vicinity after the seizure of Krokhmalne (southeast of Tabaivka). Russian outlets have also amplified a Ukrainian interactive map indicating Tabaivka’s occupation by Russian forces.

Read also: Ground forces do not confirm Russian occupation of Tabaivka village in Kharkiv Oblast.

The Russian army’s key objective in this direction is to occupy Pishchane, Tabaivka and Stelmakhivka (20 km southeast of Kupyansk) and reach the Oskil River bank to cut off Ukrainian supply lines.

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Kharkiv Oblast builds fortifications around the clock. The region works on the issue 24 hours a day and 12 months a year, despite the challenging weather conditions.

According to the Institute for the Study of War (ISW), Russian forces may intensify their efforts to capture Kupiansk in Kharkiv region in the coming weeks and have a grouping of forces in the area that appears less degraded than the units responsible for offensives elsewhere in the Ukraine’s East.