UKRAINE, KHARKIV OBLAST, Jan. 5 — Russian forces are trying to expand the combat area near the Kharkiv and Sumy border, reported Andrii Demchenko, the spokesperson for the Ukrainian border guard during the national telethon.

In Kharkiv region Russian troops are attempting to widen the combat areas  on the Vovchansk axis, near the Sotnytskyi Kozachok in the Bohodukhiv district and Dvorichanske in the Kupiansk district, said Demchenko.

On these axes, Russians use small assault groups without heavy equipment.

In December, 2025, the Institute for the Study of War said that Russian forces conducted cross-border operations in northern Sotnytskyi Kozachok (northwest of Kharkiv, about 15 kilometers (9 miles) east of Grayvoron, Belgorod oblast, and less than half a kilometer (0,3 mile) from the Russia-Ukraine  border).

On Jan. 5, the DeepState OSINT war monitoring group reported about Russian advances near Stepova Novoselivka village in the Kupiansk district.

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Hi! Winter has come, and Russian airstrikes on power infrastructure disrupt our daily lives & work a lot here in Kharkiv. Despite it all, we keep working to bring you reports from the city and the Kharkiv region. Please consider supporting our newsroom with a one-time tip or become a member of our community.