Ukrainian Forces are continuing to sweep the city of Kupyansk in the Kharkiv region of Russian units that have been cut off from ground supply lines and are unable to hold their positions. Some occupiers are surrendering, including reported cases of foreign mercenaries laying down arms.
Viktor Tregubov, head of communications for the Joint Forces grouping of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, said on the national news broadcast that roughly 50 Russian servicemembers are currently in the city. He said the Russian attempt to entrench in Kupyansk’s northern districts has failed and their defenses are effectively shattered.
“They are surrendering; there have even been cases of foreigners surrendering — meaning foreign mercenaries fighting for Russia. The defense of the city by those Russian units that entered and tried to hold the northern areas has failed; it will not be possible to relieve them,” Tregubov said.
He emphasized that Russian units can be resupplied only by air, which prevents them from holding positions for long.
Tregubov also pointed to posts by some Russian military bloggers who have begun acknowledging the complete loss of Kupyansk by Russian forces, as well as villages to the north of the city.
Russian bloggers describe only isolated pockets of resistance by their troops in the city and concede their critical situation. They largely blame the decision to seize settlements “on credit,” which led to heavy losses and depleted potential reserves.
Bohdan Tyshchenko, chief of unmanned systems for the 125th Separate Heavy Mechanized Brigade of the Ukrainian Ground Forces, also commented on the situation. He said Kupyansk remains under the control of Ukraine’s Defense Forces, and Russian claims of a full takeover are not true.
At the same time, the Russians are using infiltration tactics - small groups attempting to enter the city from the north under cover of fog.
“The enemy is trying to create a picture that it uses along the front line: under fog, it brings in one or two of its soldiers with a flag, tries to hang it and film it as if the city or settlement is under their control. They tried several times to do this in Kupyansk, to reach the city stele, but they failed; the enemy was detected in advance and eliminated,” Tyshchenko said.
According to him, some small Russian units are present in the city, but they are unable to build up their numbers. Those who have managed to slip into Kupyansk are unable to retreat and are effectively trapped.
Earlier, Viktor Tregubov said Russian troops in Kupyansk, Kharkiv region, were encircled and gradually laying down their arms.
