Ukraine denies Russian claims of encircling Kupiansk
Photo: Ukrainian forces continue to hold their defenses in Kupiansk (t.me/landforcesofukraine-3)
As of now, Russian forces are present in the northern part of Kupiansk. They are trying to outflank the city on one side and break through directly to the center on the other, stated Viktor Trehubov, head of communications for the Joint Forces Group.
"They continue using the same tactic — operating in small groups that cling to certain buildings, accumulate, and once they have enough manpower, attempt to advance further. Their main supply comes through drones," he said.
Trehubov also emphasized that Russian claims about allegedly encircling Kupiansk are false.
"Even their own citizens have started asking — if the city is surrounded, how is Ukraine still defending it? After that, the Russians began saying, 'We didn’t mean a full encirclement, we meant we can hit Ukrainian logistics with drones,'" Trehubov explained.
According to him, this is only technically true, as FPV drones using fiber optics can fly up to 40 kilometers from the front line. However, Ukrainian drones can strike targets at the same distance.
"Our logistics are indeed complicated by constant Russian drone attacks, just as logistics are complicated for the Russians," Trehubov noted.
He added that while the Ukrainian army still maintains relatively stable logistics under fire, the Russian forces do not have any.
Earlier, Ukrainian defenders reported that the situation in the Pokrovsk agglomeration remains difficult. Russian forces are trying to encircle the city, conducting assault operations and using drones and guided bombs to cut off the Defense Forces' supply routes.
The situation is the most difficult south of Pokrovsk, where Russian troops are trying to turn the settlement of Zvirove into a gray zone — an area without full control.
