Earlier this week, Ukraine announced it had withdrawn its forces from the village of Krokhmalne to take up more advantageous defensive positions on higher ground. Reports suggest Russian forces continue to press in the area. A readout from the Army General Staff on its Facebook page said Ukrainian forces had faced down 13 attacks on the settlements of Tabaiivka and Stelmakhivka, to the northwest and south, respectively, of Krokhmalne. A Ukrainian serviceman prepares 155-mm artillery shells near the front line in Zaporizhzhia, amid Russia's attack on Ukraine, on January 14, 2024. ReutersFurther southeast, the area around Bakhmut, which was the overwhelming focus of Russia’s winter offensive exactly a year ago, Ukrainian forces also report coming under increased pressure.

---

Persons: spokespeople, Sergeant Oles Maliarevych, …, Oleksandr Shtupun, “ Organizations: CNN, Russian, Army, Staff, Land Forces Command, Ukrainian, Reuters, 92nd Separate Brigade Locations: Kharkiv, Luhansk, Ukraine, Krokhmalne, Tabaiivka, Ukrainian, Zaporizhzhia, Bakhmut, Klishchiivka, Kyiv, Orikhiv, Tokmak, Crimea, Russia