Russian Troops Attack 138 Times in One Day, Lose Over 1,000 Soldiers

Russian troops lost 1,080 troops in 138 attacks across the front line Thursday, Jan. 2, Ukraine’s Armed Forces reported in a Friday war summary.

According to the Armed Forces General Staff, most attacks occurred in the Kurakhove, Pokrovsk, Lyman, and Vremivka sectors in Ukraine. There were also attacks in Russia’s Kursk region, where Ukrainian troops hold positions.

The majority of attacks (38) were in the Pokrovsk sector, followed by Kurakhove (27), Vremivka (24), Lyman (16), and Kursk Region (10).

Russian troops conducted more than 3,800 artillery attacks, including over 150 using multiple launch rocket systems (MLRS), and launched more than 150 airstrikes, including guided aerial bombs.

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According to the General Staff, along with human losses, the Russian army lost 14 armored vehicles, three artillery systems, one MLRS system, 49 drones, and 41 trucks.

The General Staff reported that Russian troops’ advance toward Pokrovsk has slowed, but the Russian army continues to advance south of Pokrovsk and in the Zaporizhzhia region.

Key Takeaways from the Institute for the Study of War (ISW) for Jan. 2:

• Ukraine’s decision to not renew its contract to transport Russian gas through Ukrainian territory will likely significantly impact Russian gas revenues despite Kremlin posturing to the contrary.
• Gazprom is likely attempting to exploit the cessation of gas transits through Ukraine to create an artificial energy crisis to destabilize Moldova.
• Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky signaled that Ukraine will increase drone and missile strikes against Russia in 2025 as part of efforts to bring Russia to accept Ukraine’s demands for a “just peace” in future negotiations.
• Russia intends to issue Russian licenses for the operation of all six of Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant’s (ZNPP) reactors by 2028 as part of Moscow’s long-term efforts to legitimize its illegal occupation of the plant and exploit Ukraine’s energy supplies.
• Ukrainian forces conducted a missile strike in Kursk Oblast, reportedly against a Russian military command post.
• Ukraine’s Main Military Intelligence Directorate (GUR) specified new details about the December 31 Ukrainian naval drone strike against Russian Mi-8 helicopters in the Black Sea as Ukrainian strikes continue to degrade Russian operations in occupied Crimea.
• Russian forces recently advanced near Siversk, Toretsk, Pokrovsk, Kurakhove, and Vuhledar and in western Zaporizhia Oblast.
• The Russian Ministry of Defense (MoD) continues to inadequately supply Russian military personnel with basic equipment and ammunition, forcing soldiers to provide their own materiel.