Russia-Ukraine war: Frontline update as of January 4
Ukrainian forces continue to hold their positions (Illustrative photo: Getty Images)
Russian forces, over the course of January 4, attempted to assault the positions of the Armed Forces of Ukraine on almost all fronts. In total, 154 combat engagements were recorded, some of which are still ongoing. The highest number of battles occurred on the Huliaipole direction, according to a report by the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine.
During the day, Russian forces carried out 23 air strikes on AFU positions and populated areas, launched one missile, and dropped 75 guided aerial bombs.
“In addition, the Russian units employed 4,663 kamikaze drones and carried out 3,057 shelling attacks on the positions of our troops and populated areas,” the statement said.
The General Staff also outlined the situation on various sectors of the front:
- Northern-Slobozhanskyi and Kursk directions: 93 shelling attacks, including strikes from multiple launch rocket systems.
- Southern-Slobozhanskyi direction: 7 attempts by the Russians to assault were repelled in the areas of Vovchansk, Starytsia, Prylipky, Fyholivka, and toward Izbytske and Kutkivka.
- Kupiansk direction: 3 enemy attacks were repelled in the areas of Stepova Novoselivka, Pershotravneve, and toward Petropavlivka.
- Lyman direction: 9 attacks by the Russian units were recorded near the settlements of Novoselivka, Kolodiazne, and Torske. One engagement is still ongoing.
- Sloviansk direction: 6 Russian attacks were repelled near Dronivka, Siversk, and Sviato-Pokrovske.
- Kramatorsk direction: 1 Russian attack was repelled in the area of Stupochky.
- Kostiantynivka direction: 17 attacks by the Russian forces were recorded in the areas of Pleshchiivka, Oleksandro-Shultyne, Rusyn Yar, Yablunivka, and toward Sofiivka.
- Pokrovsk direction: Over the past day, 47 attacks by the Russian units were recorded in the areas of the settlements of Shakhove, Nykanorivka, Rodynske, Myrnohrad, Pokrovsk, Kotlyne, Udachne, Molodetske, and toward Novopavlivka. Some of the fighting is still ongoing. Russian forces suffered their heaviest losses here: 95 Russian troops were killed, 26 wounded; 29 unmanned aerial vehicles, ten vehicles, a satellite communications terminal, three ground robotic systems, and three ammunition depots were destroyed. One tank and three vehicles were damaged.
- Oleksandrivka direction: 22 attacks in the areas of the settlements of Zelenyi Hai, Oleksandrohrad, Sosnivka, Vorone, Oleksiivka, Vyshneve, Solodke, and Yehorivka. Two engagements are still ongoing.
- Huliaipole direction: The hottest and most challenging sector over the past day. Fifty-three attacks by Russian occupiers were repelled in the areas of Zelenyi, Huliaipole, Varvarivka, Dorozhnianka, and toward Sviatopetrivka.
- Orikhiv direction: 6 attacks by the Russian units were repelled in the areas of Mala Tokmachka, Shcherbaky, and Stepove.
- Prydniprovskyi direction: No offensive actions by the occupiers were recorded.
Over the previous day, January 3, 211 combat engagements took place along the front line. During that day, Russian forces were most active in the Pokrovsk direction. At the same time, Russian losses over the past day amounted to 900 personnel.
As of 4:00 p.m. Kyiv time on January 4, 95 combat engagements had occurred along the front since the start of the day. The Defense Forces had already repelled 33 Russian attacks in the Pokrovsk direction, which at that time was the hottest sector.
However, the most difficult direction is now becoming Huliaipole. In particular, Russian units managed to enter Huliaipole in the Zaporizhzhia region. At the same time, Ukrainian defenders also remain in the city and continue to hold the defense.
