UK targets ‘gradual tactical advances’ by Russian troops in southern Kupiansk

MADRID, December 17 (EUROPA PRESS) –

British intelligence services on Wednesday pointed to “gradual tactical advances” by Russian troops in the southern suburbs of the Ukrainian city of Kupiansk, after the head of the Ukrainian army, Oleksander Sirski, assured to have recovered “almost 90 percent” of the city.

The British Ministry of Defense also indicated that “Russian forces continue to carry out daily attacks and are attempting to infiltrate Kupiansk from the north, using the Oskil River, which flows north-south along the eastern flank of the city,” according to a statement posted on its X social media account.

Likewise, he stressed that the Ukrainian army continues to defend the center of Kupiansk, although it is “very likely that Russian forces are fighting for control of most of the city”, which they conquered in February 2022, shortly after the start of the large-scale invasion, before kyiv recovered it in September of the same year.

Moscow announced at the end of November that it had completely captured the city. However, in recent weeks, the Ukrainian military has carried out “clearance operations” in the city and faced Russian logistical supply operations in the region.

Indeed, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky visited Kupiansk last week, where he was two kilometers from Russian lines and 500 meters from urban combat zones.