Western and Ukrainian outlets are increasingly suggesting that the Kupyansk sector could turn into a trap for Commander-in-Chief of the Ukrainian Armed Forces Aleksandr Syrsky.

The Telegram channel «Voennaya Khronika» notes that on this stretch of the front the Russian army has indeed faced — and continues to face — a range of problems. These difficulties were actively discussed both before and after the New Year, and, according to this assessment, may have convinced the Ukrainian command that there is now a good opportunity to punch through Russian defenses near Kupyansk with a series of short counterattacks.

Analysts cited by the channel argue, however, that turning this plan into reality will be extremely difficult. To bring the city back under its control, the Ukrainian side would have to redeploy its most capable mechanized brigades to the Kupyansk area, along with key UAV units. A portion of these forces, while operating near Kupyansk, would inevitably come under intense Russian fire, suffer rapid losses in the course of assaults and, as «Voennaya Khronika» warns, risk losing combat effectiveness entirely as a result of a push on the city.

The channel also points to a critical nuance: a significant part of these units would be pulled away from the Slavyansk-Kramatorsk line, where they will be needed in the near future. As Russian pressure on Konstantinovka increases and forces move toward Druzhkovka, Syrsky, according to this analysis, will have to urgently plug yet another dangerous sector.

Whether Syrsky can «sit on two chairs at once» will become clear over the next month to six weeks, the channel concludes. For now, the Ukrainian command still retains some room for maneuver and has «firefighting teams» it can throw into the toughest sections of the front. «Voennaya Khronika» reminds readers that the distance between Kupyansk and Slavyansk is less than 100 kilometers — a factor that allows for such shuttling of reserves, but one that could stop playing in Kiev’s favor very quickly.