Russians are already on the outskirts: fighting has begun for a village near the border with Dnipropetrovsk, according to a Ukrainian Armed Forces soldier.

The advance of the Russian Armed Forces in the Donbas has intensified near the village of Velyka Novosilka, close to the border with the Dnipropetrovsk region. Fighting has begun for the settlement, reported a soldier of the Armed Forces of Ukraine with the call sign "Muchnoy".

The soldier explains that the occupiers are launching assaults via a destroyed bridge and have managed to enter the outskirts of the village. He mentions that the Russians are exerting psychological pressure on Ukrainian servicemen and are urging them to surrender. The occupiers publish videos featuring prisoners, but according to "Muchnoy," most of the fighters remain in their positions and resist.

"Muchnoy" believes that Ukrainian units from Velyka Novosilka should be withdrawn, as the Russians may begin to "throw everything there, from air drops to artillery barrages, just like in Ugledar."

On January 17, analysts from the DeepState group reported that the occupiers are attempting to encircle Velyka Novosilka.

"In the last three days, the enemy has captured Neskuchne and is conducting mopping-up operations in Vremivka. The latter is virtually lost, and even if there is still our observation post in the village, it will no longer play a role," the analysts wrote.

As of 22:36 on January 18, DeepState wrote about the intensification of assaults by the occupiers in the east and north of Velyka Novosilka.

In the report from the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, it was reported about 17 enemy attacks near Velyka Novosilka over the course of January 18, and as of 22:00, fighting was ongoing.

"The enemy conducted airstrikes with guided bombs on the areas of the settlements of Otradne, Konstantynopil, Novosilka, Razliv, Veselye, and Temyrivka," the General Staff noted.

As a reminder, at midnight on January 18, analysts from DeepState reported that the Russian Armed Forces advanced in Kharkiv and Donetsk regions.

The press service of the Joint Forces Operation "Khortytsia" denied the entry of Russian Armed Forces into Pokrovsk, as stated in the evening of January 17 by people's deputy Maryana Bezuhla. According to the military, the situation in the Pokrovsk direction remains complicated, but there are no occupiers in the city.