Intense fighting continues in eastern Ukraine,with recent reports detailing both Ukrainian gains and sustained Russian attacks. Ukrainian forces on Friday regained control of Kupiansk City Hall, a symbolic victory in the contested Kharkiv region.However, the area remains under heavy fire, with at least 25 Russian strikes targeting the region in the past week, alongside ongoing battles and tragic incidents impacting civilians.
10:03 PM
Ukraine Regains Control of Kupiansk City Hall, Officials Say
Ukrainian forces have once again raised their flag over the city hall in Kupiansk, a key eastern city that has seen intense fighting in recent months. The building was retaken by a reconnaissance and assault unit of the 4th Battalion of the “Hartiya” Brigade, according to a statement released by the 2nd Corps of the National Guard of Ukraine. Footage of the operation, captured on body cameras, was shared online, with officials emphasizing Kupiansk’s status as a Ukrainian city.
The “Hartiya” search and assault group, along with the “Kupiansk” tactical group, are currently working to clear the city following an operation led by the command of the 2nd Corps of the National Guard of Ukraine.
Video: 2nd Corps of the National Guard of Ukraine “Hartiya”
8:56 PM
Russian Attacks on Kharkiv Region Intensified Last Week
The Kharkiv region was targeted by Russian missile and drone attacks at least 25 times over the past week, resulting in 11 injuries, regional officials reported. According to Kharkiv Oblast Head Oleh Syniehubov, the attacks involved:
▪️Nine missiles (type currently being determined);
▪️48 “Geran-2” drones;
▪️Two “Lancet” drones;
▪️Six “Molniya” drones;
▪️Three FPV drones;
▪️Five drones (type currently being determined).
In Kharkiv, the strikes damaged 12 apartment buildings, a garage cooperative, a vehicle, and critical infrastructure and energy facilities.
6:47 PM
On the Southern Slobozhanskyi front, Ukrainian forces repelled four Russian attacks near Kruhle, Ternova, Obukhivka, and in the area of Prylipka, with one ongoing battle still in progress.
On the Kupiansk front, Russian forces attempted to advance toward Petropavlivka and Kurylivka.
3:29 PM
Driver Dies in Kharkiv Region Crash, Passengers Hospitalized
A 25-year-old woman died in a single-vehicle accident on January 10 around 6:00 PM on the Nova Vodolaha – Olkhovatka highway near the village of Shchebetuny, according to the Kharkiv Regional National Police.
“The 25-year-old woman driving a Geely Emgrand-7 lost control of the vehicle, resulting in a collision with a tree on the roadside. She died at the scene from her injuries,” police stated.
A 28-year-old passenger and two children – a 3-year-old daughter of the deceased and a 3-year-old son of the passenger – were hospitalized with numerous injuries and bruises.
Authorities have opened an investigation into the incident.
2:52 PM
A local official in the Kharkiv region is under investigation for alleged negligence, prosecutors announced. According to the Kharkiv Regional Prosecutor’s Office, the official in the education, youth, and sports department of a city council authorized contracts with a limited liability company in December 2023 for the design of bomb shelters at two schools.
“These projects are reuse projects: when documentation for one facility is almost completely copied for another, preserving the main architectural and structural solutions. According to current legislation, in such cases, the cost of design work should be a maximum of 50% of the full price of a new project,” authorities explained.
A construction and technical examination confirmed that the documentation for the second shelter was copied from the first, retaining the core design elements. Consequently, the cost of the work should have been significantly lower.
“Despite this, the official of the Department signed acts of completed work without proper verification, and the full amount was transferred to the contractor from the budget. A forensic economic examination established an overpayment of budgetary funds in the amount of approximately 770,000 hryvnias,” prosecutors said.
1:18 PM
Icy conditions across the Kharkiv region led to over 100 injuries over the weekend, officials reported. The majority of incidents occurred on Saturday, according to Viktor Zabashtha, director of the Regional Center for Emergency Medical Care and Disaster Medicine.
On January 10, two people were treated for hypothermia and frostbite, while 67 others were injured due to falls on the ice, with 66 requiring hospitalization.
“On Sunday, the center received fewer calls: 36 cases were recorded due to ice, 31 of which required hospitalization,” regional officials said.
As of Monday morning, the situation has stabilized, with only six reported incidents.
Zabashtha also noted that the weather contributed to a series of traffic accidents, with eight collisions reported on Saturday and 11 on Sunday.
12:49 PM
Russian FPV drones attacked the village of Ivashky at 7:30 AM, officials said. “As a result of the strikes, a private house was destroyed, and farm buildings and power grids were damaged. There were no casualties,” Viktor Kovalenko, head of the Zolotchiv District Military Administration, told reporters.
12:13 PM
Kharkiv Mayor Ihor Terekhov said the city has been targeted by Russian strikes 11 times in the past week, primarily in the Nemyishlyan and Slobozhskyi districts.
“The occupiers launched ‘Shahed’ drones, an ‘Iskander-M’ missile, two ‘Molniya’ drones, and seven ‘Tornado-S’ multiple launch rocket systems at the city,” Terekhov stated. No fatalities were reported, but one person was injured.
“The destruction is significant. Early last week, a critical energy facility providing power to a large part of Kharkiv came under attack. Another important transport facility was also severely damaged,” Terekhov said.
He added that 12 apartment buildings were damaged, and a garage cooperative was destroyed.
“I would like to express my great respect to our utility workers for eliminating the consequences of enemy attacks all week and now, without a break, eliminating the consequences of the blizzard,” the mayor wrote.
9:43 AM
Oleh Syniehubov, head of the Kharkiv Regional Military Administration, provided an update on the situation in the region over the past 24 hours. According to Syniehubov, Russian forces shelled six settlements in the region, but there were no reported casualties.
Russian forces reportedly used the following weapons during the attacks:
- Five “Geran-2” drones;
- Four “Molniya” drones;
- One FPV drone.
A private house was damaged in the Kupiansk district, and shelling was also reported in the settlement of Velykyi Burluk.
“In the Bohodukhiv district, a private house, a hangar, a car, and a farm building were damaged (s. Zolotchiv), as well as railway infrastructure (s. Maiak),” Syniehubov added.
7:38 AM
The Institute for the Study of War (ISW) reported that Russian forces made incremental gains on the Kharkiv front.
Geolocated footage shows Russian troops advancing in the western part of the village of Redkodub on the Borivske direction.
“On January 10 and 11, Russian forces attacked north of Borova near Bohuslavka; northeast of Borova near Zahryzove; southeast of Borova near Hrekovka, Karpivka, Druzheliubivka; and south of Borova near Oleksandrivka, Volchyi Yar, and Shandryholove,” the ISW stated.
Analysts also reviewed video footage showing Russian forces storming Ukrainian positions north of the settlement of Podoly. However, the ISW does not believe these engagements have significantly impacted the front line in the Kharkiv region.
The situation in other areas of the Kharkiv region remains stable.
7:32 AM
A 90-year-old woman died in a house fire in the Kharkiv region, authorities said. The fire occurred in the village of Shelestove in the Bohodukhiv district, according to the State Emergency Service of Ukraine in the Kharkiv region.
“The fire destroyed two square meters of flooring in the room. The body of a woman was found at the scene. The cause of the fire was a low-calorie ignition source coming into contact with combustible material,” officials said.
Overnight, a drone strike damaged a house in the village of Velykyi Burluk in the Kupiansk district. No injuries were reported.
Emergency services also completed search and rescue operations at the site of a January 2 missile strike in central Kharkiv. The operation resulted in the discovery of two bodies and fragments of five others. More than 11,500 tons of concrete and metal structures were removed during the operation, which lasted over eight days. Psychological assistance was provided to 30 people by emergency service psychologists.
Pyrotechnicians also discovered and neutralized three explosive devices.
