The Russian army is attempting to enter the city of Kupyansk in the Kharkiv region from the northern direction.
According to Modern.az, the Ukrainian side states that although the situation is difficult, the city has not been completely encircled.
Viktor Trequbov, spokesperson for the Ukrainian army's “Dnepr” group, stated in an interview with “Suspilne” TV channel that the situation in Kupyansk somewhat resembles the battles in Pokrovsk:
“Russian servicemen are trying to enter the city from the north, utilizing all available infrastructure and geographical capabilities. However, the city is not under siege.”
According to Trequbov, the Pokrovsk direction still remains the most intense front: “A few days ago, unprecedented intensity was observed there. Although it has relatively decreased now, the Russian forces' intention to capture the city has not changed.”
However, Yevgeni Dikiy, former commander of the “Aidar” battalion and a Ukrainian serviceman, assessed the situation more critically. In an interview with Radio NV, he called the battles reaching the outskirts of Kupyansk a “major failure”:
“As we speak, battles are ongoing in the settlements of Kupyansk. This means that the Russians have managed to consolidate their positions on the western bank of the Oskol River and are attempting to infiltrate the city. This should not have happened.”
Dikiy stated that the Russian army is currently making limited use of heavy equipment, instead attacking with a method called “cockroach tactics,” involving the simultaneous advance of small groups:
“The main problem is that we lack the human resources to defend Kupyansk. Russia is attacking with small groups, and we are unable to gather enough forces to protect every position.”
