Russian Forces Intensify Efforts to Capture Kupiansk in Kharkiv Region

The capture of Kupiansk in Kharkiv Oblast remains the Russian forces’ main strategic objective in the region. This stance was voiced by the OSUV “Dnipro” spokesperson Oleksiy Belsky during a briefing on the current front-line situation.

According to data as of September 15, 2025, the enemy has not yet breached the city limits, but is actively deploying reconnaissance and sabotage units near Kupiansk, operating on the approaches to the city.

The Enemy’s Tactics and Their Impact on Local Residents

In army-style approaches they often appear in civilian clothing with forged documents, which allows them to infiltrate the city and avoid rapid identification. Most residents, despite the threat of bombardments, have not left the city, awaiting further actions from the enemy.

They are trying to concentrate on the northern outskirts of the city, infiltrate the city itself: many of them are in civilian clothing with forged documents. Unfortunately, many locals did not want to leave, staying there under bombardments. Those occupiers who infiltrated are conducting a counter-sabotage operation, sweeping through the districts of Kupiansk, operating on the outskirts, but such infiltrations are very hard to track

According to Belsky, Russians among the locals can be identified by their pronunciation and approximate facial features. He also noted that the gas pipeline through which the occupiers allegedly entered the northern outskirts of Kupiansk is under the fire control of the Ukrainian Armed Forces. Such data underscore the complexity of the situation and the need for heightened vigilance by both the population and the defense forces.