Ukrainian armed forces carefully clear Kupiansk: up to 200 occupiers blocked in the city
Ukraine’s Defense Forces continue the operation to liberate Kupiansk in the Kharkiv region, acting with extreme caution to avoid unnecessary losses among both military personnel and civilians.
This was stated by Viktor Trehubov, Head of the Communications Department of the Joint Forces Group, during a broadcast on the national telethon.
According to Ukrainian intelligence assessments, up to 200 Russian troops are currently blocked inside the city and are being gradually pushed out of their positions.
The military command emphasized that the liberation of the settlement is proceeding according to plan, but without the use of “brute force” in densely built-up areas.
Viktor Trehubov explained that intelligence intercepted around 40 active call signs on enemy radio communications, allowing the Ukrainian side to estimate the size of the occupying force at approximately 100–200 personnel. According to standard calculations, one radio typically serves three to four soldiers, making the higher estimate of around 200 occupiers more likely.
All of them are effectively encircled, creating favorable conditions for the Ukrainian Armed Forces to conduct a gradual and controlled clearing operation.
The command stressed that Ukrainian units are deliberately avoiding massive strikes on neighborhoods where Russian forces are entrenched in order to prevent extensive infrastructure damage and civilian casualties. At the same time, there is no intention to send assault groups into frontal urban combat where it could lead to unjustified losses.
Instead, units are operating precisely, combining firepower, maneuver, and the blocking of enemy withdrawal routes.
