Moscow (Brussels Morning Newspaper) – A Russian commander reported on Tuesday that Russian forces had advanced deep into Kupiansk, Ukraine, and moved southward to seize several train stations.
A few days ago, Russia stated that Ukrainian troops in the encircled areas of Pokrovsk and Kupiansk should surrender, asserting they have no other survival options.
How far have russian forces advanced into Kupiansk?
As reported by Reuters, the commander, known by his call sign “Hunter” and leading Russia’s 1486th Motorised Rifle Regiment’s attack unit, stated that his forces had seized an oil depot on the eastern outskirts of Kupiansk.
In a video statement from the Russian Defence Ministry, he mentioned that his forces had also seized several train stops along the railway leading to Kupiansk Vuzlovyi, a settlement approximately 6 km south of Kupiansk’s centre.
He also mentioned that Russian forces were battling to secure the railway station at the nearby settlement of Kupiansk-Sortuvalnyi.
What is Russia’s objective in encircling Pokrovsk and Kupiansk?
Russia has employed pincer movements in an attempt to encircle the Ukrainian cities of Pokrovsk in the Donetsk region and Kupiansk in the Kharkiv region. Geographically, Donetsk is in Europe, on the headwaters of the Kalmius River.
Since 2024, Russia has been attempting to seize Pokrovsk, known as “the gateway to Donetsk,” aiming to control the entire Donbas region, where Ukrainian forces still hold approximately 10 per cent, or 5,000 square km.
Meanwhile, small, highly mobile units and drones have disrupted logistics and created chaos behind Ukrainian lines.
What evidence supports Russian claims of progress near Pokrovsk?
On Tuesday, Russian war bloggers shared an unverified video claiming to show Russian forces entering Pokrovsk along a foggy or mist-covered road.
According to reports, Russian forces, including motorcycle units and a variety of vehicles- many without doors and windows- were observed travelling along a debris-covered road while soldiers watched. Some soldiers sat atop a damaged vehicle’s roof. Additionally, a drone was visible beside the road.
How is Ukraine defending against Russia’s encirclement tactics?
Ukraine’s leading military commander, Oleksandr Syrskyi, told the New York Post that Russia was deploying around 150,000 troops in an effort to seize Pokrovsk, including mechanised units and marine brigades involved in the operation.
Syrskyi informed the same newspaper that Ukrainian forces are utilising built-up urban areas to hinder Russian troop advances and are engaging Russian sabotage units.
