Russian advances slowed in late December 2025 and early January 2026, likely due to less advantageous winter weather conditions and the end of efforts to meet arbitrary deadlines at the end of the year.
Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov indicated that Russia’s objectives in Ukraine go beyond the territory that is currently under discussion in the latest peace plans to include all of Kharkiv, Dnipropetrovsk, Mykolaiv, and Odesa oblasts.
Kremlin officials continue to insist that the United States, Ukraine, and Europe accept Russian demands, rejecting recent US-led peace efforts to find compromises to end the war.
Russian forces are continuing their cognitive warfare campaign that uses small-scale cross-border attacks in previously dormant frontline areas in northern Ukraine to try to convince the West that the frontlines in Ukraine are collapsing.
Russian forces have still not set conditions for a major ground offensive in northern Sumy or Kharkiv oblasts, however, and ISW continues to assess that these cross-border attacks are not part of a major Russian offensive.
Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov highlighted Russia’s partnerships with Venezuela and Iran on January 14 while criticizing the Trump Administration’s recent actions in Venezuela.
The Ukrainian Verkhovna Rada approved several personnel changes within the Ukrainian government on January 14.
Polish officials reported that Russia conducted cyberattacks against the Polish energy grid in late December 2025.
Neither Russian nor Ukrainian forces made confirmed advances on January 14.
Russian Offensive Campaign Assessment, January 14, 2026 | ISW
