ISW: Ukraine advances near Kupiansk, hits Russian forces in city heart
Illustrative photo: Ukrainian Armed Forces have success near Kupyansk (GettyImages)
Ukrainian forces have made gains near Kupiansk, advancing north of Pishchane, located southeast of the city, according to the Institute for the Study of War (ISW).
Footage also shows Ukrainian strikes on Russian positions in central Kupiansk. According to ISW, this indicates Russian units have entered the city, though the activity does not currently affect the overall front line.
American analysts note that Ukrainian forces are holding their positions and achieving local successes in central Kupiansk and east of Petropavlivka — areas where Russian sources had previously claimed to have troops.
At the same time, ISW does not confirm claims by Russian military bloggers about the supposed capture of Sobolivka or Russian advances east and south of Kupiansk, east of Kurylivka, or west of Pishchane and near Kamianka.
Fighting for Kupiansk
In September, Russian occupation forces managed to break into Kupiansk along the gas pipeline, sharply worsening the situation as enemy sabotage groups entered the city from the north.
Ukrainian troops later destroyed the pipeline used by the occupiers, forcing them to cross the Oskil River on boats and rafts.
The Armed Forces of Ukraine are preventing Russians from consolidating positions in northern Kupiansk. Despite enemy attempts to hold ground and establish defensive lines, Ukrainian units are actively counterattacking and pushing the enemy out of occupied positions.
Recently, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy emphasized that Ukraine intends to fully liberate Kupiansk from Russian forces.
According to RBC-Ukraine, fewer than 50 Russian soldiers remain in the city. They are isolated from each other and from main Russian forces due to disrupted logistics. Earlier estimates suggested around 70 occupiers were in Kupiansk.
