Russia’s timeframes to capture Kupyansk, Avdiivka change - officer Polyakov

He told about this on Espreso TV

"They are trying to advance on the road that goes from Synkivka to Kupyansk-Vuzlovyi, respectively, to Kupyansk. The thing is that we have seen convicts from Storm-Z units, and there are also some prisoners from other units. So, by the New Year, they had a task to capture the whole Kupyansk and Kupyansk-Vuzlovyi, as there is a rather serious transport hub there - the railway, because the Moscow army uses the railway for logistics. But, as my colleague from the Avdiivka area recently said, all their plans for the New Year failed, and now they will have the task of capturing Kupyansk and Avdiivka at least until the presidential elections in Russia," the military explained.

According to a Legion of Freedom officer, the Ukrainian military are pulling up units in the Synkivka direction, as does Russia.

"Forces have been brought here from other directions, for example, the 25th Brigade of the Russian Airborne Forces from the Kherson direction, where Krynky are, because they somehow need to renew their reserves, that is, more or less trained brigades, because right now it is a technical goal for the near future, so to speak, they have been throwing their forces primarily at Avdiivka and Kupyansk, partly at Bakhmut, but according to soldiers from the Legion of Freedom, there is more or less a lull in Bakhmut now," Polyakov concluded.

He also added that Russian enemy is trying to use heavy equipment and infantry.

• In an evening statement by the General Staff on January 16, it was reported that Russia had stopped its offensive in the Kupyansk sector.  
• Last week, the Ukrainian Defence Forces captured up to 10 Russian soldiers in the Kupyansk sector: they surrendered because of the cold.