After Ukrainian troops de-occupied Kupiansk in September 2022, the Russians have not given up trying to recapture it. In October, they managed to reach Kruhliakivka and Kolisnykivka, on the other side of the Oskil River, on the southern flank. Since then, they have been using this foothold to expand their offensive.
In the north of the Kupiansk community, Russians managed to break through to the outskirts of Kupiansk, but the Defense Forces destroyed them and pushed them back from the city.
“For us, the worst-case scenario is any loss, even of a forest plantation or a piece of forest, because it expands the enemy's ability to move further,”
says Burevii Brigade battalion commander Kostiantyn Vakhramieiev, who has been at war since 2014. His brigade is currently stationed in the Kupiansk sector.
Although the left bank of the Oskil River is mostly occupied by Russians, we are recording the interview with the Burevii commander on the left bank. There are still a few kilometers to the front.