Russia captures Krohmalne in Kharkiv region – ISW

Russian troops advanced along the Kupyansk-Svatove-Kreminna line on January 20 and captured the village of Krokhmalne, the ISW report says.

Geolocation footage published on January 20 indicate that Russian troops captured the town 20 km northwest of occupied Svatove, while Russian military bloggers had previously claimed that Ukrainian troops had withdrawn from positions near the village.

Key takeaways from ISW report

• Russian President Vladimir Putin falsely claimed that Russia supports the "unconditional equality" and "sovereignty" of all states in a letter from 20 January to the Non-Aligned Movement Summit, contradicting Russia's official position on its war in Ukraine and its wider imperial ambitions.
• Russian Ambassador to Denmark Vladimir Barbin threatened Denmark, a founding member of NATO, on 20 January in response to a recent US-Danish agreement allowing US forces access to military bases in Denmark.
• Russian energy exports to China significantly increased in 2023 amid increasing Russian reliance on oil revenues to manage the fiscal burdens of the war in Ukraine.
• European Union (EU) Internal Market Commissioner Thierry Breton stated on 20 January that the EU will have the capacity to produce 1.3 to 1.4 million artillery shells by the end of 2024 and will ensure that it delivers the "majority" of the shells to Ukraine.
• Russian forces made confirmed advances along the Kupiansk-Svatove-Kreminna line, near Bakhmut, and in the Donetsk-Zaporizhia Oblast border area amid continued positional engagements along the front.
• A Russian Storm-Z instructor claimed on 16 January that Rosgvardia (Russian Guard) personnel operating in occupied Ukraine have systematic issues with equipment and weapons storage.
• Occupation authorities continue preparations for the March 2024 Russian presidential election.