Russian Defense Ministry Claims Advances on Multiple Fronts in Special Military Operation, Heavy Losses for Ukrainian Side
Moscow — The Russian Ministry of Defense has released an update on the progress of the special military operation as of January 11, 2026, claiming that Russian forces have achieved significant strategic and tactical gains across multiple fronts in Ukraine.
According to the ministry, the Russian Armed Forces have continued the operation and carried out effective actions against formations of the Armed Forces of Ukraine (AFU) on the northern, western, southern, and central fronts.
On the northern front, units of the Sever (Northern) Group of Forces reportedly strengthened their tactical positions after striking two mechanized brigades and one assault regiment of the Ukrainian army near Kondratovka, Miropolye, and Andreyevka in the Sumy region. During these engagements, approximately 205 Ukrainian troops were reported killed or neutralized, while two vehicles and several ammunition and materiel storage facilities were destroyed.
In the Kharkov direction, Russian forces also targeted units of Ukrainian territorial defense brigades near Staritsa and Maryino, the ministry stated.
On the western front, units of the Zapad (Western) Group of Forces reportedly took more advantageous positions and carried out operations against Ukrainian mechanized, assault, airborne, and National Guard brigades near Kovsharovka, Sinikha, Novoosinovo, Monachinovka, Nechvolodovka, and Glushkovka in the Kharkov region.
In the Kupyansk direction, two assault attempts by Ukraine’s 92nd Assault Brigade and 116th Mechanized Brigade were reportedly repelled by Russian forces. Around 15 Ukrainian fighters were said to have been neutralized during these engagements.
The Russian Defense Ministry further claimed that after failing to enter the city of Kupyansk, Ukrainian forces attempted to demonstrate their presence by using a drone to place a Ukrainian flag on the city administration building. According to the ministry, both the drone and the flag were neutralized by Russian forces.
Within the area of responsibility of the Zapad Group alone, Ukrainian losses reportedly amounted to around 200 troops, three armored fighting vehicles, 15 motor vehicles, and four ammunition depots.
On the southern front, units of the Yug (Southern) Group of Forces reportedly improved their positions along the line of contact after striking four mechanized brigades and one marine brigade of the Ukrainian forces near Nikiforovka, Konstantinovka, Nikolayevka, Rayskoye, Kramatorsk, and Slavyansk in the Donetsk People’s Republic. Losses in this area were said to include more than 160 Ukrainian troops, one armored personnel carrier, and various military equipment, including a British-made AS-90 self-propelled artillery system.
On the central front, units of the Tsentr (Central) Group of Forces reportedly conducted extensive strikes against Ukrainian heavy mechanized, assault, airborne, National Guard, and Azov special forces units across multiple locations in the Donetsk and Dnepropetrovsk regions. According to the ministry, more than 400 Ukrainian troops were lost, along with a U.S.-made Bradley infantry fighting vehicle, a French-made VAB armored personnel carrier, a British-made AS-90 self-propelled artillery system, and an electronic warfare system.
The Russian Ministry of Defense stated that further details of the special military operation would be released in due course.
