ISW observes advance of Russian troops near Kreminna and Bakhmut

Ivashkiv Olena — Wednesday, 17 January 2024, 04:56

Ukrainian military. Stock Photo: General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine on Facebook

Russian forces have made confirmed progress near Kreminna and Bakhmut, with positional combat operations occurring along the entire front line.

Source: Institute for the Study of War (ISW)

Details: Russian forces have recently made confirmed progress near Kreminna during positional battles along the Kupiansk-Svatove-Kreminna line on 16 January. Geolocation footage posted on 15 January reveals that Russian troops have moved north of Dibrova (southwest of Kreminna).

Additionally, the Russians have achieved minor gains near Bakhmut and continued positional combat operations against Ukrainian forces in that area on 16 January. Geolocation footage from 15 January shows that Russian forces have advanced slightly north of Klishchiivka (southwest of Bakhmut).

To quote the ISW's Key Takeaways on 16 January:

Russian President Vladimir Putin continued to demonstrate that Russia is not interested in negotiating with Ukraine in good faith and that Russia’s maximalist objectives in Ukraine – which are tantamount to full Ukrainian and Western surrender – remain unchanged.
Russian President Vladimir Putin notably amplified a longstanding Kremlin effort to set information conditions for future escalations against Baltic countries, likely as part of his wider effort to weaken NATO.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy reiterated the importance of defeating Russia in Ukraine at the Davos World Economic Forum on 16 January.
Russian tactical aviation operations are reportedly decreasing near the Sea of Azov, and Russian aviation capabilities may be degraded after Ukrainian forces destroyed a Russian A-50 long-range radar detection aircraft and caused severe damage to a Russian Il-22 airborne command post aircraft on the night of 14 January.
At least two state-owned Chinese banks reportedly ordered reviews of their business with Russian clients and will sever ties with sanctioned Russian entities and entities with ties to the Russian defence industry.
Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov thanked North Korean Foreign Minister Choe Son-hui for North Korea’s support for Russia in the war during Choe’s official state visit to Moscow on 16 January.
The Ukrainian Verkhovna Rada adopted a law on its second reading to digitalise Ukrainian military records on 16 January.
Russian forces made confirmed advances near Kreminna and Bakhmut as positional engagements continued along the entire frontline.
Russian State Duma deputies from the Liberal Democratic Party (LDPR) proposed a bill on 16 January that would create a legal status for volunteers of the Russian war in Ukraine that would grant them compensation in case of injury or death.
Russian occupation officials from occupied Kherson, Zaporizhzhia, and Donetsk oblasts attended a meeting of Russian municipal representatives in Moscow with Russian President Vladimir Putin on 16 January.