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Russian forces push forward: ISW reports gains in Vremivka, Pokrovske, and Kursk Oblast
Russian forces captured the village of Vremivka and made additional gains along the front in their efforts to encircle Velyka Novosilka in Donetsk Oblast, the Institute for the Study of War (ISW) reported on Jan. 17.
ISW cited geolocated footage from Jan. 17 showing Russian troops raising a flag in the northwestern part of Vremivka. Russian military bloggers claim their forces captured the settlement “within three days.” This development continues their offensive near Velyka Novosilka, which had stalled in December 2024.
It remains unclear whether Russian forces intend to directly assault Velyka Novosilka or move west and northwest to encircle the settlement. Ukrainian defensive operations will likely complicate Russian advances in either direction, ISW noted.
Photo: ISW
“Russian forces may aim to use their manpower advantage in the area to close the approximately 3-kilometer gap between the forward positions of their presumed front line to the north and west of Velyka Novosilka in the coming weeks,” the analysts said.
Russian forces have also made progress in other directions. Geolocated footage indicates that they captured the village of Yaseneve near Pokrovsk and advanced along the left bank of the Solona River, north of Uspenivka.
Photo: ISW
In Russia’s Kursk Oblast, occupiers advanced southwest of Viktorivka, southeast of Korenevo. Fighting also continues near Sudzha. Russia’s Defense Ministry claims to have reclaimed 63.2% of the Ukrainian salient in Kursk Oblast. However, ISW estimates they have retaken only 50% of the territory Ukrainian Defense Forces controlled at the start of the operation.
In the Kharkiv direction, Russian forces recently made minor advances toward Zernova Street in northern Vovchansk and along the road in the southern part of the village of Tyche. Near Kupyansk, occupiers are attacking along the P-07 Svatove-Kupyansk highway southeast of the city.
In the Donetsk Oblast town of Toretsk, Russian troops advanced along Lesia Ukrainka Street in the eastern part of Petrivka, west of Toretsk.
Additionally, ISW recorded Russian advances near Kurakhove, northeast of Sukhyi Yaly, and north of Burshtynove.
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