Ukraine's Commander-in-Chief reveals Ukrainian forces' plans for Kupiansk after clearing bridgehead
Photo: Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine Oleksandr Syrskyi (Getty Images)
It has emerged how Ukrainian Armed Forces plan to strengthen defenses and destroy enemy forces on the approaches to Kupiansk after clearing a bridgehead across the Oskil River, Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine Oleksandr Syrskyi said in an interview with Channel 24.
Syrskyi said the Kupiansk direction has become one of the most illustrative examples of the Defense Forces' successful operations in 2025.
Ukrainian troops have now fully cleared a Russian bridgehead on the Oskil River north of Kupiansk, delivering not only a military blow but also a powerful information and psychological strike to the enemy.
The Commander-in-Chief said that the main task now is to continue active operations and destroy Russian forces on the approaches to Kupiansk, especially to the north and east of the town. He placed particular emphasis on destroying enemy crossing sites.
"Our key task is to destroy their crossing sites. First of all, this concerns the pipes the Russians use for covert movement. It’s not just one pipe, and they will be destroyed," Syrskyi said when asked about further plans in the area.
At the same time, Ukrainian forces are continuing to build strong defensive lines on the approaches to Kupiansk. Clearance operations and all necessary filtration measures are ongoing inside the town. Restrictive measures are also being maintained to ensure civilian safety and stabilize the situation.
Special attention is being paid to counter-sabotage operations, which are expected to continue for a long time. According to Syrskyi, Kupiansk’s large size requires thorough inspections of every building. This task is currently being actively carried out by counter-sabotage units.
Meanwhile, search-and-strike units have achieved tangible successes. Their operations have forced Russia to back away from repeated claims of having full control over the town.
Syrskyi also noted that Russia has redeployed a special unit known as Rubikon to the Kupiansk direction. Its main task is to complicate Ukrainian operations and restrict troop movement through the massive use of drones.
"They are trying to impose a drone war. Our task is to find and destroy these units," the Commander-in-Chief concluded.
Situation near Kupiansk
As of today, the Kupiansk area remains one of the key hot spots in eastern Ukraine. Ukrainian forces are reclaiming positions, engaging in heavy fighting in and around the town, while Russian forces are trying to hold their ground. The situation changes daily, with both sides continuing active combat operations.
Previously, the head of the Communications Department of the Joint Forces, Viktor Trehubov, reported that clearing Kupiansk of Russian troops could take several more weeks, as "small pockets" of the Russian soldiers remain in the town.
It is worth noting that on December 12, Russian forces found themselves encircled in Kupiansk, which, according to Russian leader Vladimir Putin, had allegedly already been "liberated" twice.
