Russian forces are intensifying pressure on the eastern bank of the Oskil River in Ukraine’s Kharkiv region as they try to dislodge the country’s Defense Forces. Those efforts have not produced battlefield gains, Viktor Trehubov, head of communications for Ukraine’s Joint Forces grouping, said on the “We — Ukraine” TV channel.
Trehubov said the Oskil itself plays little role around Kupyansk because Ukrainian troops are positioned on both banks near the city. “If we take the Oskil, it should be noted that in the immediate vicinity of Kupyansk the river plays no role, because Ukrainians are on both banks of the Oskil around the city,” he said.
The river is more consequential north of Kupyansk, where Russian troops are actively shifting forces. They are attempting crossings there and sometimes achieve limited success, aided by ice, Trehubov added. “They are trying to cross it now that there is ice. And, unfortunately, they sometimes succeed,” he said.
Inside Kupyansk, clearance operations against remaining Russian troops are ongoing, according to Trehubov. He said no more than a few dozen Russian soldiers remain in the city and the operation is “in its final stage.” “Their number is decreasing by about 4–5 people per day,” he said.
On January 9, a Ukrainian soldier with the call sign “Alex” wrote on his Telegram channel that Ukrainian Forces’ actions north of Kupyansk have “effectively pushed the enemy back two years” in the context of the battle for the city, saying Ukrainian troops forced Russia’s main forces back to the Synkivka line.
Earlier, on January 5, Ukraine’s Special Operations Forces said they captured a Russian who had coordinated strikes on Kupyansk.
