Month: January 2025

The number of combat engagements on the frontline decreased from almost 200 to 140 over the day of January 1. Russia continues to attack the Pokrovsk sector the most, according to the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine.

Most difficult areas

Over the last day, 140 combat engagements were registered. Russian occupants attacked the Pokrovsk sector the most.

“In the Pokrovsk sector, Ukrainian defenders stopped 38 Russian assaults and offensive actions,” the statement said.

In particular, Russian invaders stormed the areas of Vozdvyzhenka, Myroliubivka, Lysivka, Novyi Trud, Solone, Kotlyne, Pishchane, Pokrovsk, Novoyelyzavetivka, Promin, Zelene, Novoolenivka, Shevchenko, Dachne and Novovasylivka.

Other areas

7 Russian attacks took place in the Kupiansk sector yesterday. Ukrainian Defense Forces repelled Russia’s assault near Kolisnykivka, Zahryzove, Lozova, and Nova Kruhliakivka.

Russians attacked 16 times in the Lyman sector. They tried to advance near Novoserhiivka, Tverdokhlibove, Kopanky, Makiivka, Ivanivka, Zelenyi Hai, Torske, Terny, and Serebryanskyi forest.

In the Siversk sector, Russia attacked Ukrainian positions near Serebrianka.

In the Kramatorsk sector, 14 firefights were registered in the vicinity of Chasiv Yar, Stupochky, and Predtechyne.

In the Toretsk sector, Russia, with the support of aviation, carried out 7 attacks near Toretsk, Dyliivka, and in the direction of Shcherbynivka.

In the Kurakhove sector, the Ukrainian Defense Forces repelled 26 Russian attacks on Ukrainian positions near Ukrainka, Petropavlivka, and Kurakhove.

In the Vremivka sector, Russia carried out 19 offensives against the positions of Ukrainian units in the areas of Dachne, Kostiantynopol, Yantarne, Novosilka, Rozlyv, and Novyi Komar.

Despite Russia’s active use of bomber aircraft in the Orikhiv sector, the Ukrainian Armed Forces successfully repelled a Russian attack near Novoandriivka.

In the Prydniprovskyi sector, Russian invaders stormed the positions of Ukrainian units near Zabych Island twice without success.

In the operational zone in the Kursk region, Ukrainian Defense Forces repelled 5 Russian attacks over the past day. In addition, Russia launched one missile and 24 air strikes, using 7 missiles and 32 guided aerial bombs, and fired 356 artillery shells at the positions of Ukrainian troops and settlements.

Russia did not conduct any assault operations in the Kharkiv and Huliaipole sectors yesterday.

In the Volyn and Polissia sectors, no signs of Russian offensive groups were detected.

On the border with Chernihiv and Sumy regions, Russians are using artillery and aviation in the areas of Ukrainian settlements from the territory of Russia, conducting reconnaissance.

Russia’s losses in Ukraine

Over the past day, January 1, Russia lost 1,370 troops at the front. Ukrainian soldiers also neutralized 4 Russian tanks, 13 armored combat vehicles, 20 artillery systems, 69 operational and tactical drones, 54 vehicles, and 3 units of special equipment.

In addition, over the past day, missile troops and artillery of the Ukrainian Defense Forces hit four areas of concentration of personnel and equipment, as well as 2 Russian air defense facilities.

US police are investigating whether the Tesla Cybertruck explosion in Las Vegas is connected to the terror attack in New Orleans. Both incidents occurred just hours after the start of the new year, CNN reports.

“We are absolutely investigating any connectivity to what happened in New Orleans as well as other attacks that have been occurring around the world,” said Las Vegas Police Department Sheriff Kevin McMahill.

He also noted that law enforcement is working to determine whether the explosion near the Trump Las Vegas hotel is linked to ISIS. However, according to the sheriff, there is “any indication of that here in Las Vegas.”

The FBI believes the Cybertruck explosion was a separate incident.

The vehicles involved in both incidents were rented through Turo, a platform that allows owners to rent out their cars.

Tesla Cybertruck explosion

On Wednesday, January 1, a Cybertruck exploded near the Trump Las Vegas hotel entrance. The vehicle was developed by Tesla, a company owned by billionaire Elon Musk.

Initially, both the police and Elon Musk stated that they were not ruling out the possibility of a terrorist attack. It is known that the explosion resulted in one fatality and several injuries.

The incident is also linked to the terror attack that occurred in New Orleans on January 1. There, a vehicle drove into a crowd, followed by a shooting. Reports indicate 15 fatalities and dozens of injuries.

A flag of the ISIS terrorist group was found in the possession of the driver involved in the New Orleans attack. According to US President Joe Biden, the FBI is investigating the incident as a terrorist act.

A mass shooting occurred outside the Amazura nightclub in New York, USA, leaving at least ten people injured, the Daily Mail reports.

The shots were fired near the Amazura event hall at approximately 11:20 p.m. (6:20 a.m. Kyiv time).

At least three people with injuries sought help at a local hospital. According to law enforcement, several other victims were hospitalized, but none of the individuals admitted to the hospital are currently in critical condition.

#BREAKING

The number of shot is 13 now at Amazura nightclub in Queens, NYC. 3 people are critically injured.

Police are searching for an Grey Infiniti with NJ plates

This is not the first shooting at the club.. it’s been closed temporarily before due to violence in the club. pic.twitter.com/lILxqjl0Ih

— Brian’s Breaking News and Intel (@intelFromBrian) January 2, 2025

“The NYPD spokesperson confirmed that police are investigating a grey sedan in connection to the shooting, but no suspects have been identified yet,” the Daily Mail stated.

#BREAKINGNEWS Mass shooting in Queens New York Night Club. 11 people have been shot. Standby as this is breaking and information is still being released. pic.twitter.com/KHsDm0kWBT

— Ford News (@FordJohnathan5) January 2, 2025

As RBC-Ukraine previously reported, in New Orleans, USA, a vehicle drove into a large crowd during New Year’s celebrations, resulting in ten killed and numerous injured victims.

Meanwhile, a cybertruck exploded near the Trump International Hotel in Las Vegas. Billionaire Elon Musk suggested that the incident might have been a terrorist attack.

Russian troops continue to actively storm the positions of the Ukrainian Defense Forces in Chasiv Yar and Toretsk. Over the past day, Russian occupiers managed to destroy some positions of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, according to Khortytskyi Viter.

Thus, at the Kramatorsk and Toretsk directions, Russia stormed the fortifications of the Ukrainian military in Chasiv Yar and Toretsk and conducted offensive actions in the direction of Stupochky and Leonidivka.

“As a result of Russia’s fire, some positions were destroyed, and measures are being taken to prevent the deterioration of the tactical situation,” the military said.

Situation in Toretsk and Kramatorsk sectors

There were 140 combat engagements in the frontline over the last day. In particular, 14 combat engagements were registered in the Kramatorsk sector near Chasiv Yar, Stupochky, and Predtechyne.

In the Toretsk sector, Russian occupants, with the support of aviation, carried out 7 attacks near Toretsk, Dyliivka, and in the direction of Shcherbynivka.

For the second day in a row, Russians have been destroying the positions of the Ukrainian Defense Forces in these areas. Just yesterday, Russian troops attacked the positions of the Ukrainian Defense Forces in Chasiv Yar and Toretsk in the Donetsk region. As a result of the fighting, some positions were destroyed.

On the night of January 2, Russia launched 72 UAVs of the Shahed type and other drones against Ukraine. Air defense forces managed to shoot down 47 of them, the Air Force of the Armed Forces of Ukraine reports.

The enemy launched drones from the directions of Russia’s Bryansk, Oryol, Kursk, and Primorsko-Akhtarsk regions.

The following were involved in repelling the attack:

• aviation;
• anti-aircraft missile troops;
• electronic warfare units;
• mobile fire groups of Ukraine’s Air Force and Defense Forces.

As of 08:30 a.m., 47 drones were confirmed downed in the Poltava, Sumy, Kharkiv, Kyiv, Chernihiv, and several other regions. Another 24 drones were lost locally without causing any adverse effects.

One of the drones that were launched remains in Ukrainian airspace.

Russian attacks on Ukraine

Since the beginning of the full-scale invasion, Russian terrorists have regularly struck Ukrainian territory, posing a severe threat to civilians. The enemy uses guided aerial bombs, missiles, drones, and artillery for these attacks. Over the past months, Russia has almost daily conducted nighttime shellings.

For instance, Russia launched 111 drones from four directions on New Year’s Eve. While repelling the air attack, Ukrainian defenders destroyed 63 drones, and another 46 were lost locally.

Russians massively attacked Stepnohirsk in the Zaporizhzhia region, and killed a man, according to the head of the Zaporizhzhia Regional Military Administration Ivan Fedorov.

According to Fedorov, Russia struck Stepnohirsk, Vasylivka district, with multiple rocket launchers 11 times.

As a result of a Russian attack, a five-story building was destroyed, and a man was killed. Rescuers removed his body from the rubble of the destroyed building.

The search and rescue operation at the site of the attack lasted more than five hours.

Photo: Russians massively attacked Stepnohirsk with multiple rocket launchers (t.me/ivan_fedorov_zp)

Russian shelling of Ukraine on January 2

On the night of January 2, Russians again attacked Ukraine with drones. Russia launched 72 drones. Ukrainian air defense forces destroyed 47 Russian drones, and another 24 Russian imitator drones were lost in the area.

Ukrainian air defense system was operating in the Kyiv region, as well as in Poltava, Sumy, Kharkiv, Chernihiv, Cherkasy, Kirovohrad, Dnipropetrovsk, Odesa, Kherson, and Mykolaiv regions.

On New Year’s Eve, the Russians launched 111 drones at Ukraine. Debris fell in Kyiv, killing 2 people. Read more about the aftermath of the attack in RBC-Ukraine’s report.