ISW: Russian troops trying to increase intensity of fighting near Avdiivka

Russian troops are trying to intensify the intensity of fighting near Avdiivka in the Donetsk Region and continue their offensive in the area.

Russian forces reportedly advanced in the Kupyansk and Lyman directions on January 5, but there were no confirmed changes to the frontline, Caliber.Az reports, citing the Institute for the Study of War (ISW).  

A Russian military blogger claimed that Russian forces pushed Ukrainian forces from positions in northern and central Synkivka (northeast of Kupyansk) and that Synkivka is now a contested grey zone.

Another blogger claimed that Russian forces advanced to positions within three kilometres of Terny and Yampolivka (west of Kreminna), and stated that Russian forces are trying to eliminate the Ukrainian bridgehead on the right bank of the Zherebets River in this area.

However, ISW has not yet observed visual confirmation of these purported gains in the Kupyansk or Lyman directions. Russian and Ukrainian sources reported that positional engagements continued in the Kupyansk direction near Synkivka and east of Petropavlivka, and in the Lyman direction near Terny and in the Serebryanske forest area.

Russian and Ukrainian forces continued positional battles northwest and south of Bakhmut on January 5, but there were no confirmed changes to the front line. Russian and Ukrainian sources stated that positional fighting continued northwest of Bakhmut near Bohdanivka, west of Bakhmut near Ivanivske, and southwest of Bakhmut near Klishchiivka and Andriivka.

Elements of the Russian 331st VDV Regiment (98th VDV Division) reportedly continue to operate near Bakhmut and elements of the ”Russian Hawks” detachment (33rd Motorized Rifle Regiment, 1st Donetsk People’s Republic [DNR] Army Corps] are reportedly operating south of Bakhmut near Horlivka.