Russian troops on the Kupiansk axis continue advancing in small groups, attempting to infiltrate the defensive positions of Ukraine’s Armed Forces. At the same time, the number of Russian soldiers inside the city of Kupiansk is steadily decreasing. Colonel Viktor Trehubov, head of communications for the Joint Forces grouping, reported this during the national telethon.
According to him, Russian units are trying to bypass Ukrainian strongpoints and slip into Ukrainian positions unnoticed. Along the active combat zone, a 20-kilometer-wide strike area has formed, where Ukrainian and Russian drones operate constantly.
Trehubov explained that armored vehicles and troop numbers are no longer decisive on this part of the front. Instead, Russia relies on stealth — using terrain features and weather conditions, particularly fog, which significantly increases its ability to move covertly in small groups.
The situation inside Kupiansk remains stable and under Ukrainian control. Current data indicate that around 40 Russian soldiers may still be present in the northern part of the city and occasionally attempt to communicate.
“Their number is decreasing — slowly, but it is. This doesn’t mean they are no longer in the city. But if they were schoolchildren, they could all fit in one classroom. And yet Putin claims the city is captured — it’s complete nonsense,” Trehubov said.
He added that Ukraine’s Defense Forces continue to maintain control of the situation despite the activity of small Russian groups on the outskirts of the city and along the front line.