Russian forces have reportedly advanced in two directions in western Toretsk, taking up new positions in the residential area.

Results of yesterday's Iskander-M ballistic missile strike near Pavlohrad, Dnipropetrovsk Oblast. The target was a Ukrainian S-300PS air defence system.

It appears that the 5N63S command post with the 30N6 illumination and guidance radar was destroyed, while the support vehicles parked next to it were hit.

The city of Toretsk is about to fall to Russia. It will be their second major victory of 2025.

Once Russia closes the salient southwest of Toretsk, and the salient west of Kurakhove, the buffer-zone around Donetsk City will be complete, and all Ukrainian long-range artillery will be out of range of the city.

According to the U.S. Africa command (AFRICOM), on December 24, 2024, the U.S. conducted a precision airstrike approximately 10km southeast of the town of Quyno Barrow, in the Middle Juba province of Somalia, killing senior Al-Shabaab leader, Mohamed Mire. Another Al-Shabaab militant was also killed in the strike.

Correct me if I'm wrong, but I believe this is the first Russian FAB-3000 glide bomb strike on Sudzha.

I’ve just been told by a reliable inside source that pro Ukrainian accounts are once again trying to dox me. Apparently there are “a lot of people looking into me”. I thought I’d let you all know. If anyone has any information about anyone doing this, please DM me.

Geolocated footage indicates that Russian forces continue to make significant progress in Toretsk.

Three main advances were made here. In the west, Russian forces advanced in the Fomikha district, reaching the forests on the outskirts of the city, and pushing Ukraine back to the warehouses.

Further east, Russian forces were able to spearhead another advance near the Terykon, this time on the northern side, approaching the next terykon.

And in the east, Russia made a small advance towards the mines, capturing more of the private sector of the city.

+ ~0.71km² in favour of Russia.

Russian forces have begun counterattacks in Novosotnitsky, Kursk Oblast, and are slowly retaking the ground lost to Ukrainian forces on the first day of the new Kursk counteroffensive.

Niger's Armed Forces have reportedly launched a large-scale military operation against the Lakurawa insurgent group, near the border with Nigeria. The Lakurawa group is allegedly affiliated with the Islamic State.

It's also claimed that Wagner is operating with Niger's armed forces.

Map by @RNintel

Brazil announced that Indonesia has officially joined BRICS as a full member. Indonesia has previously expressed its desire to join the bloc as a means of "strengthening emerging countries and furthering the interests of the Global South."

"Indonesia shares with the other members of the group support for the reform of global governance institutions and contributes positively to the deepening of cooperation in the Global South," the Brazilian government said.

A Russian BUK-M1 air defence system was struck and possibly destroyed by two Ukrainian drone-dropped explosives nearly 20 km from the front line.

Recent reports from reliable sources indicate that Russian forces advanced in the northwestern part of the Kursk salient and captured the village of Leonidovo.

While Ukraine conducts their counteroffensive operations to the east, Russian forces continue to grind through Ukrainian positions. As the northwestern approaches of Leonidovo were heavily mined before Russian forces captured Novoivanovka, Russia was forced to used small groups of infantry to enter the village, rather than using armoured vehicles.

Nevertheless, these soldiers were able to enter the village, capture it, and push Ukraine back to the neighbouring two-house settlement of Alexandriya. Fighting is currently ongoing in the forests surrounding these two houses.

+ ~3.94km² in favour of Russia.

Geolocated footage and a report from a reliable source indicates that Russian forces advanced in Novosotnitsky, reversing some of the progress made by Ukrainian forces in their new Kursk counteroffensive.

Once Ukraine captured the western part of Novosotnitsky and pushed Russia back to the eastern houses, Russian forces, possibly seeing that they could get caught in a pincer movement if Ukraine were to attack down the relatively undefended and unmined R-200 highway again, began counterattacks to push Ukraine out of the village.

They were able to advance and capture the centre of the settlement, which was in the grey zone, and for the most part, pushed Ukraine back to Berdin. There are still some Ukrainian formations in the westernmost houses of Novosotnitsky, however.

+ ~1.09km² in favour of Russia.

Geolocated footage and reports from reliable sources indicate that Russian forces advanced in the southern Ukrainian Oskil bridgehead.

They were able to complete the capture of Lozova after fierce fighting for the houses there.

However, the main advance occurred to the northwest, where a Russian armoured column advanced towards the reservoir near Nova Kruhlyakivka. The position of this column indicates Russian control over the treelines to the north and northeast.

+ ~13.7km² in favour of Russia

Recent reports from reliable sources indicate that Russian forces advanced in the Lyman direction and expanded their bridgehead on the western bank of the Zherebets river.

They were able to complete the capture of the village of Ivanivka, and advanced into the trench fortifications southwest of the settlement, taking up new positions there.

To advance further, Russian forces will need to advance uphill to the west, and take up positions on the tactical heights, something that can only be achieved if enough manpower can be concentrated on this bridgehead.

+ ~1.28km² in favour of Russia.

Recent reports from reliable sources indicate that Russian forces have captured the wastewater treatment plant on the western outskirts of Kurakhove.

Russian infantry was able to advance from positions in the mechanical plant, along the highway, capturing the wastewater treatment plant. Clashes are now ongoing for the forest plantations on the eastern outskirts of Dachne.

+ ~0.36km² in favour of Russia.

As much as 95% of Toretsk is now under Russian control. The main remaining Ukrainian positions in the city are in the northernmost residential area and the Krymske mines.

The comment section on any of my twitter posts that gets more than 50k views

Medium-quality satellite imagery of the Engels-2 air base in Saratov Oblast:

As of January 6 (Date of the photo) the following were located at the air base:

- 1x Tu-160
- 3 Tu-95MS
- 1x Il-76MD
- 1x Su-24MR

The Tu-95MS and Tu-160 strategic bombers often conduct training from here, however now the air base is primarily used for the equipment of Kh-101 and Kh-22 cruise missiles.

The Il-76MD aircraft presumably delivered the Kh-101 cruise missiles, although it is unknown when this aircraft landed here.

Yesterday, 3 Tu-95MS aircraft redeployed from Olenya air base in Murmansk Oblast to Engels-2 air base to be equipped with Kh-101 cruise missiles. They then flew back to Olenya air base in preparation for the next large-scale missile attack on Ukraine.

There are currently at least 6 Tu-95MS aircraft equipped with Kh-101 cruise missiles at Olenya air base.

The satellite imagery was purchased by https://news.1rj.ru/str/StrategicaviationT.

Novosotnitsky is now confirmed to be under Russian control once again. Battles are probably ongoing for Berdin, which Ukraine still controls.