Russian forces attempting to advance toward Chasiv Yar and in Siversk direction, Ukraine's top commander reports

Today, on January 26, the military commander once again visited the areas directly involved in the ongoing combat and heard reports from brigade commanders on the current situation.

In the Siversk direction, the Russian forces continue their offensive actions to improve their tactical position and create conditions for advancing towards Siversk.

"Using assault groups actively supported by mortar and artillery units, they are unsuccessfully attempting attacks in the direction of Kreminna and Hryhorivka," Syrskii reports.

He also notes that the enemy compensates for its failures in offensive actions by increasing the intensity of its firepower.

"In particular, over the past two days, they have been actively shelling the city with reactive artillery, employing airstrikes, and kamikaze drones," he adds.

In the Bakhmut direction, the occupiers are conducting offensive actions, attempting to break through the defense north and west of Bakhmut and advance towards Chasiv Yar.

Syrskii mentions that the enemy is regrouping its forces and employing units from the "volunteer corps." Additionally, the enemy is unsuccessfully trying to regain lost ground in the areas of Klishchiivka and Andriivka.

"Due to the lack of tactical success on certain fronts, the enemy has temporarily switched to defensive actions while keeping assault groups ready for further offensive actions," says the Lieutenant General.

Assessment of the situation and operational decisions

Syrskii emphasizes that the headquarters of the Defense Forces and commanders "respond promptly to any changes in the operational situation."

During the visit to military positions on the Eastern front, an assessment was jointly conducted, and "decisions were made on further actions."

"We clarified specific tasks and made a series of decisions to increase the effectiveness of enemy fire. Currently, we focus on identifying important enemy objects using reconnaissance, delivering precise fire strikes, employing kamikaze drones, and protecting our positions using electronic warfare means," Syrskii reports.

He also stresses that despite the goal of the Armed Forces of Ukraine to inflict maximum losses on the enemy, "the main priority for us is always the preservation of the lives of our soldiers."

"We continue to hold the defense and destroy the enemy on all fronts," the Lieutenant General declares.

Frontline situation

In today's evening summary from the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, it is reported that the Defense Forces continue to hold positions on the left bank of the Dnipro River, repelling attacks by Russians near Terniv (Donetsk region). Meanwhile, Russian invaders are attempting to improve their tactical position in the Mariupol direction.

The military command has added that the operational situation in the east and south of Ukraine remains complex. Over the past day, there have been 94 combat clashes.

In recent days, Russian sources, including the Ministry of Defense, claimed that Russian forces had supposedly captured Vesele (northeast of Bakhmut). However, ISW (Institute for the Study of War) did not find visual confirmation of this statement.

Additionally, earlier this week, the Commander of the Ground Forces of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, Oleksandr Syrskii, reported that the situation remained extremely tense in the Bakhmut and Siversk directions in the Donetsk region.

For more details on the situation in Avdiivka, where Russians are pressing, and whether there are new threats to the Ukrainian Armed Forces on the front, read RBC-Ukraine's material.