The Chief of the Russian General Staff, Valery Gerasimov, visited the troops in eastern Ukraine, announcing progress in the offensive.

General Valery Gerasimov, the head of the Russian General Staff, made a visit to the Russian troops fighting in eastern Ukraine, according to the Ministry of Defense in Moscow. During the inspection, Gerasimov stated that Russian soldiers continue the offensive on all axes, mentioning that the Russian army has taken control of 17 localities and over 500 km² of Ukrainian territory since the beginning of January.

He emphasized that Russian forces are advancing in the direction of Zaporizhzhia, being approximately 12-14 km from the outskirts of this city. In the context of these developments, Ukraine is requesting a peace agreement that would freeze the current front lines, while Russia is demanding the complete withdrawal of Ukrainians from Donbas. Discussions between Russians, Ukrainians, and Americans are scheduled to begin on February 1 in Abu Dhabi.