Vuhledar is priority area for Russian offensive - Major Hetman

Major of the Ukrainian National Guard, a veteran of the Russian-Ukrainian war Oleksii Hetman said this on Espreso TV.

"The invading Russian forces planned to attack Vuhledar before, they had unsuccessful attempts. Now they are trying to advance from the north of Vuhledar, from the south of Marinka, to come out from the side and somehow capture Vuhledar. For them, it is a very important town that is located on a dominant height. This means new logistical opportunities for the Russians and a height from which they can conduct surveillance and more successful artillery fire. That's why they will attack there," he said.

According to him, the Russian army will not be able to create equal offensive power along the entire front line, but they will try to advance in some places.

"It will be the Vuhledar and Kupyansk directions, Kupyansk-Vuzlovy, Chasiv Yar and Kostiantynivka. The invading forces will try to encircle Avdiivka. There will also be attempts by the enemy army near Marinka. The Russians are likely to try to advance from Marinka south to Vuhledar," said the reserve major.

Along this front line, these will be the main areas where they will try to attacks, but the question is whether they will succeed, he added.

"No wonder our military leadership came to the Kupyansk direction. It was announced that there would be some unpleasant surprises for the Russians. Perhaps, that is why the commanders, the Chief of Staff and the Minister of Defense came there," said Hetman.

• On January 10, the General Staff reported that Ukrainian forces repelled Russian attacks in 8 directions in the Donetsk, Kharkiv, and Zaporizhzhia regions. The Ukrainian Armed Forces also destroyed 800 servicemen and 13 armored vehicles overnight.