The Russian Ministry of Defense’s (MoD) efforts to claim that Russian troops replied to an attack launched by the Ukrainian military on Russian positions in Makiivka on December 31 are causing more resentment within the Russian communication arena. The application of a framework of grievance and revenge by the Russian Ministry of Defense to a significant number of its activities has resulted in the establishment of a negative feedback loop with major members of the pro-war Russian communication sphere. Yevgeny Prigozhin, a financier for the Wagner Group, may be seeking to financially exploit the natural riches of Ukraine located near Bakhmut. He is also using the conflict in Ukraine to link his armed troops with Russian provincial politicians. Prigozhin is also continuing his public alignment with a limited group of Russian governors in an attempt to expand his power and further his own personal interests in Russia. This is in contrast to Prigozhin’s primary objective, which is to win the war. Analysts prior assessments have been verified by the Ministry of Defense of the United Kingdom (UK MoD), which said that Russian troops are preparing for the prospect of future Ukrainian counteroffensives in the Zaporizhia or Luhansk oblasts.

Analysis: As Russia loses this battle, Putin may fall. On January 8, Ukrainian National Security and Defense Council Secretary Oleksiy Danilov said Russia will start manufacturing Iranian drones. On January 8, Russian soldiers counterattacked to retake Svatove-Kreminna line positions. On January 8, Luhansk Oblast Head Serhiy Haidai said Russian military moved battalions from Bakhmut to Kreminna. On January 8, Ukrainian Eastern Group of Troops Spokesperson Serhiy Cherevaty said Russian forces do not hold Soledar, while other official Ukrainian sources said Ukrainian forces seized Russian positions near Bakhmut. Famous Russian military bloggers disagreed on Bakhmut’s encirclement. Russian soldiers attacked Bakhmut and the western Donetsk City suburbs. On January 7, Ramzan Kadyrov claimed 300 Chechen Akhmat-1 OMON members moved to Ukraine. Ukrainian authorities said Russian soldiers used incendiary bombs to attack civilian facilities in Kherson City overnight on January 7–8. Russian soldiers are intensifying partisan filtering in seized territory. Russian occupation authorities said Ukrainian partisans mined a gas pipeline in Luhansk Oblast on January 8. On January 8, Russian occupation authorities increased passportization in seized territory.