Russian forces intensify pressure on Kupyansk — military expert

Russian forces have advanced near Kupyansk in Kharkiv region and increased their penetration into the eastern part of the city.

This is reported by Ukrainian military expert Konstantin Mashovets.

The most notable changes the expert identifies are south of Kupyansk. Russian groups have expanded their presence in Kurilovka, including the area of a former military base and a lyceum, and have also advanced along the Lozovatka River toward the railway station. In addition, Russian units have penetrated the northeastern part of Kovsharovka and are attempting to advance along the railway toward Kupyansk-Uzlovoy.

To the north, Russian forces are filtering toward Petropavlivka, Kucherivka, and the eastern part of Kupyansk. Individual groups have been spotted near the dairy and canning plant, Lyceum No. 7, and the Ambar store. At the same time, Mashovets considers Russian sources’ claims of a large-scale breakthrough in Zaoскillya premature for now. Attempts to penetrate toward Podoly, Novoosynove, and the western part of Kupyansk via Holubivka are also being recorded, though they have so far yielded no significant result.

In Mashovets’s assessment, the Russian command is attempting to split the Ukrainian bridgehead in two — by advancing from Pyshchane toward Kupyansk-Uzlovoy. After that, the plan is first to eliminate the northern part of the Ukrainian Armed Forces’ defenses in the area of eastern Kupyansk, Petropavlivka, and Kucherivka, and then to move on to the Kovsharovka and Novoosynove area.

The expert notes that the situation for the Ukrainian Armed Forces is deteriorating slowly but steadily. Russia is exploiting its advantage in the number of assault infantry, the dense urban development and vegetation that help small groups hide from drones, and intensive air and artillery support.

At the same time, Mashovets notes that for full-scale fighting over the eastern part of Kupyansk and Kupyansk-Uzlovoy, Russia will need significantly more infantry. Available reserves are already committed near Lyman, Borova, and on other axes.

On this basis, the expert believes that the Ukrainian command still has time to make decisions on the further defense of the Kupyansk area. The key question, he says, is how effectively it will make use of that opportunity.

Ukrainian Armed Forces personnel had previously reported a new Russian offensive in Kupyansk. It was also reported that Ukrainian authorities had stepped up evacuations from the Kupyansk area.