Russian troops in Ukrainian city of Kupiansk cut off from supplies and surrender, Ukraine says
Russian troops in Kupiansk cut off from logistics and surrendering (photo: Getty Images)
Clearing operations are ongoing in Kupiansk in the Kharkiv region, Russian troops are cut off from logistics and are surrendering, said Viktor Trehubov, head of the communications department of the Joint Forces Grouping.
According to him, about 50 Russian soldiers are currently in the city. Some of them are surrendering, including recorded cases of foreign mercenaries laying down their arms. Enemy logistics are limited, with supplies possible only by air.
"They are surrendering, and there have even been cases of foreigners surrendering — meaning mercenaries who are foreigners to the Russians. The defense of the city by those Russian units that entered it and tried to gain a foothold in its northern areas has failed, and it will not be possible to relieve them," Trehubov said.
According to him, Russian supplies are effectively maintained only through an air bridge. This is not the kind of logistics that allows them to hold out for long.
Fighting in Kupiansk
Russian propaganda and the Russian leadership have for several weeks been spreading claims of the alleged capture of Kupiansk. Russian President Vladimir Putin recently repeated this false message.
At the end of November, Russian flags were mass-dropped by drones over Kupiansk to create visuals for propaganda purposes.
At the same time, Ukraine's Defense Forces report that Ukrainian troops have successfully carried out operations directly inside the city. Currently, the enemy holds positions only in the northern part of Kupiansk.
According to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, a Russian general who likely reported to Putin about the capture of Kupiansk has recently disappeared in Russia.
