Moscow says Kupiansk is Russian. Ukrainian forces insist only 100 Russian soldiers left in city

Russia continues to claim it has seized Kupiansk in Kharkiv Oblast. In reality, there are only about 100 Russian soldiers left in the city, hiding without food and almost no ammunition, according to Victor Trehubov, head of the Communications Department of the Joint Forces Grouping, Suspilne reports.

In the fall of 2025, the Russian Ministry of Defense publicly confirmed its plans to expand military operations deeper into Kharkiv Oblast, following the potential capture of Kupiansk. Clearing operations continue, but cautiously

Trehubov says that a phased clearing operation is ongoing in Kupiansk, with the remaining Russian forces concentrated in the central part of the city.

The number of occupiers is decreasing, but very slowly. Ukrainian units are acting cautiously to avoid unnecessary losses. An additional factor is that civilians are still present in the city.

The main problem of the occupiers

The key weakness of the surrounded Russian forces is their completely disrupted logistics.

“The question is when they will finally realize that without food and almost no ammunition, it’s a hopeless situation. The problem isn’t just delivering supplies but delivering them without revealing your positions,” Trehubov explains.

He notes that attempts to resupply via drones are almost ineffective: drones have limited carrying capacity, and any attempt to retrieve dropped supplies immediately exposes positions and triggers counterattacks.

In effect, the encircled Russians in Kupiansk are gradually being exhausted, with no realistic options for a breakthrough or stable resupply. 

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