NextFin news, Russian forces have intensified efforts to capture Kupiansk, a key city in Ukraine's Kharkiv Oblast, but have yet to secure control despite claims by the Russian General Staff that they hold about half of the city, according to Ukrainian military sources and independent monitoring as of Thursday, September 18, 2025.
Oleksiy Belsky, spokesperson for Ukraine's operational-strategic command "Dnipro," stated on Monday, September 15, that the capture of Kupiansk remains Russia's main strategic objective in the region. He reported that Russian troops are massing on the northern outskirts and conducting infiltration operations into the city using sabotage groups disguised as local residents, a tactic that violates the laws of war.
Ukrainian forces have repelled multiple Russian attempts to break through into Kupiansk, which lies approximately 104 kilometers east of Kharkiv, the regional capital. The city was previously occupied early in the full-scale invasion but was liberated by Ukrainian forces in September 2022.
According to the General Staff of Ukraine's Armed Forces, Russian troops infiltrated Kupiansk by entering through a gas pipeline from an occupied village, reaching the outskirts without significant losses before dispersing into the city. However, Ukrainian forces maintain control over the pipeline's exit point and continue counter-sabotage operations within Kupiansk.
The city remains under relentless Russian attacks involving guided bombs, artillery, multiple-launch rocket systems, and FPV drones. Despite severe damage to infrastructure leaving Kupiansk largely without electricity, gas, and running water, approximately 1,800 civilians remain in the city as of last month.
Local residents have largely chosen not to evacuate despite ongoing bombardments, complicating Ukrainian efforts to track and counter Russian infiltrators who blend in with the population. Belsky noted that Russian operatives can sometimes be identified by their speech and facial features but acknowledged the difficulty in monitoring their movements.
The conflicting reports between Russian official statements and Ukrainian military assessments highlight the ongoing contested nature of the battle for Kupiansk. While Moscow claims partial control, Ukrainian sources emphasize that Russian forces have not yet breached the city limits and continue to face strong resistance.
Sources: The Kyiv Independent (https://kyivindependent.com), Mezha.net (https://mezha.net), General Staff of Ukraine's Armed Forces Facebook page.
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