Ukraine slowly pushes Russians out of Kupiansk, frees civilians, military says

UKRAINE, KUPIANSK, Dec. 15 — Ukraine’s army continues to push Russian troops, who are reportedly surrounded in Kupiansk, out of the city, reported Viktor Trehubov, the head of communication for the military grouping organizing the defence of the area, live on Ukrainian state TV.

Ukraine’s army conducts the operation slowly, in particular, to free civilian hostages, including children, that were used by Russian forces as “human shields,” Trehubov added.

“That’s why [pushing Russian out of Kupiansk] isn’t happening instantly,” Trehubov says. “Of course, it would be easy to hit areas where Russians hide, [from where they] ruin the city. But that could cause civilian casualties and destruction, which we don’t want to allow,” Trehubov said.

Russia intensified its offensive on Kupiansk in the summer of 2025, entering Kupiansk with small assault groups. Their primary goal is to occupy the city and seize Kupiansk-Vuzlovyi, a village south of Kupinask, which is an important logistics hub on the left bank of the Oskil River.

On Dec. 12, war monitors and military commanders reported that Ukraine’s army managed to push Russians out of the northwestern part of the city. The combat is still ongoing in the center of Kupiansk. President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has recently recorded an address near Kupiansk’s entrance sign.

According to Trehubov, 100-200 Russian soldiers are currently “surrounded” in Kupiansk – they are getting supplies via drones.

“Drones can carry a limited weight and cannot fly everywhere, and, when they drop [supplies], Ukrainians also see where [they] dropped and who runs to pick it up. It’s an additional danger,” Trehubov said. “Consequently, it is unpleasant to be Russian in Kupiansk now.”

“Khartia” brigade’s sergeant with a call sign Ayacho also said that the number of Russian troops in the city is decreasing.The gas tube leading into Kupiansk – which Russians had used to accumulate their forces – is under Ukraine’s fire control, according to Ayacho.

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