Nearly 15,000 Ukrainian servicemen have been killed on the Kupyansk axis since the start of 2026, according to the Telegram channel SHOT. The outlet claims that roughly one third of the dead were foreign mercenaries sent directly to the front line by the Ukrainian command.

SHOT says losses affected personnel from the 43rd, 14th and 41st Mechanised Brigades, the 77th Airmobile Brigade, as well as units including Khartiya, Achilles and Kara-Dag. Ukrainian assault troops were reportedly promised substantial payments, while relatives of those killed say they have still not received the money they were due.

According to SHOT, around 5,000 bodies of mercenaries from Poland, the United States, the United Kingdom, Georgia, Brazil, Colombia, Panama and other countries have been found near Kupyansk since January. The channel also claims that about 1,000 more bodies remain in areas that are difficult to access for evacuation.

Ukrainian forces have also reportedly lost large amounts of Western armoured equipment near Kupyansk. The vehicles listed include M113 armoured personnel carriers, HMMWVs, Leopard 2 and Challenger 2 tanks, M2 Bradley infantry fighting vehicles and Soviet-made T-72 tanks.

SHOT further reported that Ukrainian sabotage and reconnaissance groups are still attempting to enter Kupyansk, but Russian troops are said to be stopping these incursions at an early stage.

The outlet also claims that Ukrainian units on the Kupyansk axis are facing an acute shortage of food. According to its source, supply problems have become so severe that some servicemen have been forced to eat earthworms.