Ukrainian forces are conducting careful operations to liberate Kupiansk in the Kharkiv region, with approximately 200 Russian soldiers currently trapped inside the town. Viktor Trehubov, head of communications for Ukraine’s Joint Forces Grouping, disclosed the estimate in a statement on December 15.
According to preliminary intelligence estimates from the end of last week, Ukrainian forces detected 40 active call signs on Russian radio communications inside Kupiansk. “This indicates that 40 individuals are actively using radios, meaning 40 unique radio users,” Trehubov said.
He explained that typically one radio is shared by three or sometimes four soldiers. Based on this calculation, Ukrainian forces estimate the number of Russian troops in the city at between 100 and 200, with the figure likely closer to 200.
“The situation is evolving, as Russian forces are now effectively blocked inside the town and are being gradually pushed out,” Trehubov said. “It would be easy to strike only the positions where Russian troops are entrenched, but that could lead to civilian casualties and unnecessary destruction, which we are trying to avoid.”
Ukrainian commanders are also seeking to minimize losses during urban assault operations, prompting a cautious approach to clearing the city of remaining Russian forces. Actions to eliminate Russian forces in the town are being carried out carefully as a result.
Trehubov also provided updates on other areas of the front. Russian troops are attempting to advance around Vovchansk, while Ukrainian defensive lines are currently built along the Vovcha River. Active Russian assaults have been recorded in the Lyman direction, particularly toward Lyman. The situation in the Velykyi Burluk direction remains relatively stable. Near Borova, Russian forces are also attempting to advance, but without success.
On December 12, Russian forces were surrounded in Kupiansk. The command of the 2nd Corps of Ukraine’s National Guard Khartiia reported a successful counterattack by Ukraine’s Defense Forces near the town.
Ukrainian troops managed to clear the Yuvileinyi residential district of Russian soldiers. During the counteroffensive operations, Russian forces reportedly lost more than 1,000 soldiers killed. Ukrainian forces in Kupiansk also destroyed a gas pipeline that Russian troops had been using to infiltrate the town, effectively cutting off their access routes.
The current situation represents a reversal of Russian claims from late October. On October 26, Russian Armed Forces Chief of the General Staff Valery Gerasimov falsely reported that Russian troops had completed the encirclement of Ukrainian forces in Kupiansk.
Three days later, on October 29, Ukraine’s Joint Forces grouping said heavy fighting was ongoing near Kupiansk, with Russian troops attempting to entrench themselves in the northern part of the city, but stressed there was no encirclement of Ukrainian forces.
On December 2, Ukrainian Armed Forces Commander-in-Chief Oleksandr Syrskyi said Defense Forces units had significantly improved their tactical position in Kupiansk and blocked infiltration routes used by Russian sabotage and reconnaissance groups.
On December 12, analysts with the DeepState project reported that Ukrainian forces had successfully blocked Russian troops inside Kupiansk, adding that the city’s northwestern outskirts had already been cleared.
Ukrainian troops continue to identify and eliminate remaining Russian forces in the central part of the city. The Hartia National Guard Corps command has also confirmed the success of the operation. President Volodymyr Zelenskyy visited the Kupiansk direction the same day, underscoring the strategic importance of the operation.
