16:46 11-08-2025

Russian Forces Advance in Kupyansk, Threaten Encirclement

By Mil.ru, CC BY 4.0, Link

Russian assault units secure northern Kupyansk, aiming to cut key supply roads. Analysts warn Ukrainian forces risk encirclement amid growing logistical issues.

Reports from military channels indicate that Russian assault units have secured positions in the northern and northwestern sectors of Kupyansk. Ukrainian sources even claim that some Russian soldiers recently attempted to buy cigarettes in a local shop using rubles.

Military analyst Gennady Alekhin stated that Russian forces are continuing to break through Ukrainian defenses and consolidate their gains, which, in his view, highlights serious challenges for Kyiv’s troops in the Kupyansk area. He pointed to a recent breakthrough near the village of Moskovka that prompted Ukrainian commanders to withdraw certain units beyond the city limits and establish a new defensive line near the old airfield.

Alekhin suggested that if Russian troops manage to cut the Kupyansk-Shevchenkove-Chuhuiv road, the Ukrainian garrison could face encirclement. He noted that severing the N-26 highway — currently the main supply route for Ukrainian forces in Kupyansk — could force them to retreat. Otherwise, the entire Kupyansk grouping risks being trapped.

According to the analyst, Russian units are pressing on the city from multiple directions while also clearing nearby villages. He argued that mounting logistical difficulties and weakening defenses may ultimately compel Ukrainian forces to abandon Kupyansk and fall back to new positions.