Local authorities in Ukraine have instructed the evacuation of residents from multiple villages near the severely damaged northeastern city of Kupiansk due to the deteriorating security situation amidst heavy Russian attacks. Oleh Syniehubov, the governor of northeastern Kharkiv region, announced on Telegram that 409 families, including 601 children, have been directed to vacate 27 localities. Subsequently, another official mentioned that the evacuation list has been expanded to 40 localities.
Russian forces have been engaged in prolonged attacks and advancement towards Kupiansk, considering it a significant target in their westward progression through central and Eastern Ukraine in the ongoing conflict. Although initially captured by Russian forces during the full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, Kupiansk was later reclaimed by Kyiv’s forces.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy recently emphasized the defense of crucial front-line areas, including Kupiansk, by Ukrainian forces. Moreover, he mentioned a Ukrainian counter-offensive near the town of Dobropillia to the south. In contrast, Russian President Vladimir Putin asserted that Moscow’s forces maintain a strategic advantage across front-line regions. Ukraine’s top officer, Oleksandr Syrskyi, estimated the front line to span over 1,200 kilometers.