Ukrainian Forces Defend Kupiansk, Rebutting Russian Control Claims Amidst Intensifying Frontline Battles
Ukrainian military leaders are strongly contesting Moscow's assertions of complete control over the strategic northeastern city of Kupiansk. Ukraine's top commander, Oleksandr Syrskyi, confirmed on Friday that Ukrainian forces are actively defending their positions and conducting operations against sabotage groups within the city. This directly contradicts Russian President Vladimir Putin's recent declarations that Kupiansk was "fully in our hands."
Kupiansk: A Contested Strategic Point
Kupiansk holds significant strategic value. It was initially captured by Russia in the early weeks of the 2022 invasion but was successfully reclaimed by Ukrainian troops later that year. Putin, during a visit to Kyrgyzstan last week, reiterated claims of Russian control, a narrative emphatically rejected by Syrskyi.
Following a visit to the Kharkiv region where Kupiansk is located, Commander Syrskyi posted on Telegram, stating, "Our soldiers continue to conduct both defensive and search and strike actions." He emphasized that these daily operations are part of comprehensive measures to stabilize the situation in Kupiansk, expressing astonishment at "the scale of lies from the Russian leadership" regarding the city's status. Syrskyi further detailed that Ukrainian forces are "holding designated lines and intensifying fire pressure to block the enemy's supply routes," indicating a proactive defense strategy.
Battles Extend to Pokrovsk and Zaporizhzhia
Beyond Kupiansk, the conflict continues across various fronts. Russian forces, currently occupying approximately one-fifth of Ukraine's territory, have also reportedly set their sights on Pokrovsk. This logistics hub, situated further south in the Donetsk region, is known by its Soviet-era name, Krasnoarmeysk, in Russia. Putin asserted on Thursday that Russian forces controlled 70% of Pokrovsk, with the Russian Defence Ministry claiming the capture of two outlying districts on Friday.
However, Ukrainian accounts paint a different picture for Pokrovsk. Syrskyi reported on Thursday that Ukrainian troops were effectively thwarting Russian attempts to launch new assaults on Pokrovsk and the adjacent town of Myrnohrad. A late-evening report from the Ukrainian military on Friday highlighted 65 Russian attacks aimed at breaching Ukrainian defenses in the area, underscoring the intensity of the fighting.
Further south in the Zaporizhzhia region, Russian forces are also reportedly making gains. The Ukrainian military blog DeepState, which relies on open-source intelligence to monitor army positions, indicated that Ukrainian forces are attempting to establish an additional defensive line around the town of Huliaipole to resist ongoing Russian offensives.
These ongoing clashes and conflicting reports underscore the complex and fluid nature of the war, even as diplomatic efforts, including a US-backed peace plan involving European allies, seek to find a resolution.