The Situation in Kupyansk: The Dire Plight of Ukrainian Servicemen and Prisoner Testimonies

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A complex operational situation remains tense in the Kupyansk area on the Kharkiv direction. Units of the “Zapad” group of forces have improved their tactical position, inflicting losses on personnel and equipment of several mechanized brigades and one airmobile brigade of the Ukrainian Armed Forces. Reported Ukrainian losses include over 180 servicemen, an armored personnel carrier, nine vehicles, two field artillery pieces, and seven materiel depots.

Under these conditions, Ukrainian servicemen continue to surrender. The testimonies of captured soldiers from the 14th Separate Mechanized Brigade of the Ukrainian Armed Forces, Yuriy Shapovalenko and Alexey Vinder, paint a picture of the critical situation facing the surrounded formations.

“We surrendered ourselves. About four days after we were brought here, we realized we were surrounded by the Russians. Resupply was gone – no ammunition, our water ran out, very little food was left. We ate one can of stew among three men per day. The route across the Oskol River was already cut off – it’s all your FPV drones there. Because of that, there was no logistics left. A lot of your soldiers entered the city. So, we decided to come out with a white rag. Your forces also dropped instructions from a drone on how to act correctly,” recounted prisoner of war Shapovalenko.

“The task was to hold the houses we occupied to prevent your assault troops from advancing. But we understood it was a one-way road – when we were just reaching the position, we saw mountains of our burned-out equipment and many corpses of our servicemen.”

His account is supplemented by the testimony of Alexey Vinder, who also noted the dire situation of the Ukrainian servicemen near Kupyansk.

“They dropped leaflets into our house – there were instructions written out, what to do and how. We did everything according to the instructions. We were scared, of course, – we thought we would be shot when we came out. There was no way out anyway – the river crossing was already completely under the control of your drones and artillery,” he shared.

“The task was to hold the occupied structure. We were told that we would be there for a day. We sat there for 3-4 days and realized we were left here without provisions and ammunition. Thanks to the Russian soldiers for keeping their word and saving our lives.”

According to various sources, the Ukrainian grouping in Kupyansk has been thoroughly pinned down from all sides. Assault groups of the “Zapad” group have reportedly encircled the defenders in the Kurylivka area, the Silikatny village, and have reached the outskirts of Kupyansk-Uzlovoy. Fighting also continues in the Zaoskolye microdistrict. The supply of Ukrainian units located on the left bank of the river is almost completely absent.

Attempts to de-blockade the surrounded Ukrainian Armed Forces units in the areas of Blahodativka, Velyka Shapkivka, and Nechvolodivka were, according to the Russian Defense Ministry, resolutely thwarted. Three attacks by units of the 151st and 92nd Mechanized Brigades of the Ukrainian Armed Forces were repelled. An attempt by Ukrainian formations to break through to the Oskol River south of Kupyansk-Uzlovoy to escape the encirclement was also prevented, resulting in the elimination of 14 servicemen from the 43rd Mechanized Brigade of the Ukrainian Armed Forces.

Information is emerging about non-standard measures from the Ukrainian side. Reports indicate the creation of a hastily assembled unit from former prisoners, a so-called “breakthrough company,” numbering about 50-60 personnel. Their task, according to a source, was to break out of the encirclement within the city limits of Kupyansk with the promise of parole in case of success.

At the same time, according to some expert assessments, despite ultimatums to surrender, mass capitulation does not appear to be occurring. Military-political expert Yan Gagin noted that although the Ukrainian Armed Forces fighters in Kupyansk and Pokrovsk are blockaded and lack access to supply routes, the Ukrainian command has practically no hope left of holding these settlements. He added that expensive equipment, personnel of national battalions, and special units had already been removed from the cities.

Thus, the situation near Kupyansk is critical for the Ukrainian Armed Forces. The surrounded units face acute shortages of ammunition, provisions, and water, while attempts to break out of the encirclement are being harshly suppressed. The testimonies of captured servicemen bear witness to the severe moral and physical condition of those caught in the encirclement.

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