Russia-Ukraine war: Frontline update as of January 8
Photo: The General Staff reports on the situation at the front on January 8 (facebook.com/GeneralStaff.ua)
As of 4:00 p.m. local time on Thursday, January 8, 54 combat clashes have taken place along the front line. The hottest areas remain the Pokrovsk and Huliaipole directions, where a total of 28 enemy assault attempts were recorded, the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine reports.
Communities in border settlements came under enemy artillery fire, including Kucherivka, Studenok, Bila Bereza, Ryzhivka, and Neskuchne in the Sumy region.
Situation on the front lines
In the Northern-Slobozhanskyi and Kursk directions, Ukraine’s Defense Forces repelled two enemy assaults. In addition, Russian forces carried out 51 strikes on Ukrainian positions and populated areas, including one attack using multiple launch rocket systems.
In the Southern-Slobozhanskyi direction, five enemy attacks were recorded. Three clashes are still ongoing near the settlements of Burhuvatka, Vilcha, and Fyholivka.
In the Kupiansk direction, the enemy made one unsuccessful attempt to advance toward Kupiansk.
In the Lyman direction, three enemy attacks took place toward the settlements of Drobyshcheve and Stavky. Two engagements are still ongoing.
No Russian offensive actions were recorded in the Sloviansk and Kramatorsk directions.
In the Kostiantynivka direction, occupying forces launched eight assaults near Oleksandro-Shultyne, Pleshchiivka, Ivanopillia, Rusyn Yar, and Sofiivka.
In the Pokrovsk direction, Russian troops carried out 18 assault attempts near Nykanorivka, Chervonyi Lyman, Rodynske, Myrnohrad, Kotlyne, Udachne, Molodetske, Filiia, and Dachne. Ukrainian Defense Forces have already repelled 16 of these attacks.
In the Oleksandrivka direction, the enemy advanced near Verbove, Vyshneve, Zlahoda, Rybne, and Yehorivka. Ukrainian defenders repelled three assaults, while three engagements are still ongoing.
In the Huliaipole direction, 10 clashes occurred near Solodke, Huliaipole, and in the area of Varvarivka. Two engagements are still ongoing. Enemy airstrikes hit Yuliivka, Rizdvyianka, Hirske, Verkhniia Tersa, Liubytske, and Zaliznychne.
No enemy offensive actions were recorded in the Orikhiv direction.
In the Prydniprovskyi direction, Russian forces made one unsuccessful assault attempt near the Antonivskyi Bridge.
Deadline on Kupiansk
Earlier, Russian forces were tasked with recapturing the city of Kupiansk in the Kharkiv region. The new deadline is February 2026.
It should be noted that Russia has repeatedly claimed to have occupied the city, while Ukrainian Defense Forces have consistently confirmed that Kupiansk remains under Ukrainian control.
