Russia pushes toward Kupiansk — but fails: Ukrainian Forces thwart breakthrough attempts
Illustrative photo: Ukrainian Armed Forces maintain control of the situation in Kupiansk (Getty Images)
Russian forces have intensified pressure in the Kupiansk direction, but their attempts to penetrate the city itself are failing. Ukrainian defense forces maintain full control of the situation and are thwarting enemy infiltration efforts, states Viktor Trehubov, Head of Communications for the Joint Forces Group.
"Russia has concentrated its main efforts on the left bank of the Oskil River, attempting to create conditions for further advances toward Kupiansk," Viktor Trehubov reported.
According to him, this does not involve regaining positions north of the city, but rather represents intense pressure in the left-bank area. At the same time, Russian units have repeatedly tried to enter Kupiansk in small groups.
"They sent infiltration groups directly into the city, but they simply don’t get through," Trehubov emphasized.
He also noted that if the enemy had achieved even partial success, they would not have lost the foothold in Kupiansk that they held two months ago.
"All Russian attempts to return to the city so far remain unsuccessful," he stressed.
Kupiansk direction
Kupiansk is a strategically important logistics hub in the Kharkiv region, which is why Russian forces regularly attempt to reestablish a presence there after losing positions.
Over the past few months, Russia has intensified combat operations in this direction, relying on infiltration groups and flanking pressure.
Earlier, the Ukrainian military repeatedly reported that attempts to break through to Kupiansk result in significant losses for Russia, and the city remains under the control of Ukrainian defense forces.
According to Viktor Trehubov, spokesperson for the Joint Forces Group, Russian troops have increased the intensity of airstrikes in the Kupiansk and Lyman directions in an attempt to push Ukrainian forces off the left bank.
Thus, the Russian forces are trying to change the situation along this section of the front.
At the same time, Trehubov reminded that the Joint Forces Group previously debunked Russian propaganda claims about allegedly establishing control over Kupiansk.
He added that clearing the city of remaining Russian units may take several more weeks, as isolated pockets of Russian troops are still present in Kupiansk. He also noted that on December 12, Russian forces were encircled despite Moscow’s claims that the city had been "liberated twice."
Ukrainian defense forces carried out a successful counterattack, blocking at least 200 Russian troops and liberating the Yuvileynyi residential area. During the operation, which had been in preparation since autumn, the enemy lost over a thousand soldiers killed, and reinforcement routes to the city were cut off.
