Russian advance in Ukraine slows sharply in January, Estonia says

The pace of Russian military advances in Ukraine slowed markedly in January, according to an assessment by Estonia’s Ministry of Defence. The ministry attributed the slowdown to a combination of weather conditions and intensified Ukrainian defensive operations.

Gert Kaju, head of the Defence Readiness Department at the Estonian Ministry of Defence, said that the average number of daily combat engagements along the front line fell to fewer than 150 last week, Caliber.Az reports per Estonian media. 

He noted that Russian forces continued to apply the greatest pressure in the Pokrovsk and Huliaipole directions, while most reported territorial advances were recorded in the Sloviansk–Lyman and Kostiantynivka–Druzhkivka sectors. In the Zaporizhzhia region, however, Russian advances had largely come to a halt.

According to Kaju, the overall tempo of Russian troop movements in January was significantly slower than in previous months, with cold winter weather playing a substantial role.

He also highlighted the impact of active Ukrainian defensive measures, particularly counteroffensive actions in the Kupiansk direction, which he said had contributed to limiting Russian progress.

By Sabina Mammadli