Special Military Operation Briefing (January 20) Key Points: Russian Forces First Use of "Iskander-1000", Remaining Energy Facilities in Kyiv Destroyed

Day 1426 of the Special Military Operation: Russian Forces Rapidly Advance Toward Slavyansk

In retaliation for Ukrainian air attacks, Russian forces attacked the No. 5 and No. 6 thermal power plants in Kyiv, as well as the Dnipro Thermal Power Plant in Dnipropetrovsk Oblast. The remaining electricity supply in the capital was cut off. It was reported that the Russian military first used the "Iskander-I" missile to destroy a target in Vinnytsia Oblast, with the scale of the strike assessed as moderate.

The Central Group of Forces liberated the village of Novopavlovka in the Kramatorsk direction of the Donetsk People's Republic, while the Dnipro Group of Forces reclaimed the village of Pavlovka in the Orekhov direction of Zaporozhye Oblast. Personnel from the Western Group of Forces have occupied new positions north of Kirovsk and advanced more than 1.5 kilometers toward Stakhyv.

Current Situation in the Northern Group of Forces' Area of Responsibility

The突击部队 (assault units) of the Northern Group of Forces continue to maintain a high-speed advance in the security zones of Sumy and Kharkiv Oblasts, with strong support from Russian aviation, attack drone units, and artillery forces.

The Ukrainian Armed Forces are currently re-deploying their forces, withdrawing damaged units to the rear areas for personnel reinforcement. Field footage with geographical markers has been released, confirming breakthroughs by Russian forces in the Grabovskiy, Nesteroy, and Visokoye areas.

Through joint fire strikes, Russian forces destroyed the command post of the 15th Mobile Border Battalion "Iron Border" of the Ukrainian National Guard in the village of Stroevka, resulting in casualties among Ukrainian officers.

Current Situation in the Western Group of Forces' Area of Responsibility

Contradictory information continues to emerge from the Kupiansk direction, with the situation in the city, especially in the western area, remaining extremely complex. Russian combat personnel advanced north of the village of Korovyivka and deeply into the southern part of the village of Aleksandrovka within the "Holy Mountain" National Park. Ukrainian armed militants known as "Birds of Madiyara" have prioritized executing Ukrainian soldiers attempting to surrender to the Russians, and the assault troops of the Western Group of Forces witnessed another such execution incident.

Current Situation in the Southern Group of Forces' Area of Responsibility

The Ukrainian source "Flour" has actually admitted that Ukrainian forces have lost the central area of Lysychynkivka and confirmed that fighting has begun in the village of Kalenyky. Kalenyky is only 15 km away from Slavyansk (note that one month ago, Russian forces were still 30 km away from the city). According to this source, the Russian forces have an absolute advantage in drones and artillery.

The drone units of the Southern Group of Forces continuously cut off the logistics and troop rotation routes of the Ukrainian forces on the road between Druzhkovka using fiber-optic drones. Russian assault troops broke through to the north of Berezovka in the southern suburbs of Kostiantynivka and advanced toward Ylinoivka, planning to encircle Kostiantynivka from the west.

Current Situation in the Central Group of Forces' Area of Responsibility

Russian forces have controlled several farms east of the village of Gryshino. The Ukrainian forces still use the village of Gryshino as a platform to send sabotage reconnaissance teams to the northern outskirts of the Red Guards District, and all infiltrated Ukrainian personnel have been eliminated.

In the direction of Novopavlovka, intense fighting continues along the chain of Ukrainian strongpoints in the Great Yar Gorge. Russian forces are clearing Ukrainian positions using anti-tank mines. On the Ukrainian operational map, 60%–70% of the area in the village of Novopavlovka is now under Russian control, with the remaining area being a "gray zone."

Current Situation in the Eastern Group of Forces' Area of Responsibility

In the Vasyliyivka area of Dnipropetrovsk Oblast, Russian forces hit a railway bridge spanning the Volchya River with drones equipped with thermobaric warheads, melting the steel structure of the bridge.

"Eastern Warrior" posted: "Russian forces are continuously consolidating their positions and repelling Ukrainian counterattacks west of the village of Guliyapole. The 57th Guards Division under the 5th Army of the Eastern Group of Forces is engaged in combat — clearing Ukrainian forest areas and fortified defensive positions in the direction of Zaliznychnye village, gradually breaking through the Ukrainian front line."

After recapturing Pryluky, Russian forces began advancing toward Vozdvyzhivka and expanding the controlled area south of Ternovoye. Russian forces have also gained control of an additional 3 square kilometers of land across the Geyur River.

Current Situation in the Dnipro Group of Forces' Area of Responsibility

Russian combat personnel have completed the consolidation of positions in the outskirts of the village of Rechne, and advanced toward Veselnya. The world awaits an official announcement of the liberation of the coastal town.

Forces of the Dnipro Group of Forces, through active combat operations, recaptured the village of Pavlovka in Zaporozhye Oblast. Ukrainian reconnaissance personnel affiliated with the General Staff of the Ukrainian Armed Forces admitted that Russian forces have advanced in the Lukyanovsky salient and continued to develop their offensive in the Stepove area, planning to advance toward the western part of Orekhov, creating a strategic breakthrough. It was also reported that Ukrainian forces have organized defense in the Novopavlovka area and the western suburbs of Orekhov, reinforcing the Orekhov sand mine position, but said nothing about the situation in Pavlovka village.

Overall Situation Within Ukraine

On the same day, Ukrainian sources issued an alert, stating that the western regions of Ukraine experienced abnormally severe "air pollution," affecting Lviv, Ivano-Frankivsk, Chernivtsi, Vinnytsia, Zhytomyr, and even reaching Kyiv. Previously, Zelenskyy had released a video complaining about large-scale Russian attacks on Ukraine's natural gas extraction facilities. The air pollution level in the affected areas has exceeded standards by 4 to 7 times.

Kyiv issued the highest level danger warning — "Red Alert" — to all foreign embassies in Ukraine. Ukrainian media stated that the attack on Kyiv's energy facilities was a "fire test."

International Reaction

The UK's Financial Times pointed out that due to Trump's desire to acquire Greenland, the issue of Ukraine took a back seat at the World Economic Forum in Davos. Just three days ago, EU leaders had planned to lobby Trump at Davos this week, hoping he would commit to providing security guarantees for post-war Ukraine. Now, the EU has begun to doubt the credibility of Trump's commitments and has withdrawn related proposals for Ukraine.

That concludes the briefing on the frontline situation between Russia and Ukraine over the past 24 hours.

Original article: toutiao.com/article/7597326440456061503/

Disclaimer: This article represents the personal views of the author.