Local authorities in Ukraine have issued evacuation orders for residents in numerous villages near the heavily damaged city of Kupiansk due to the deteriorating security situation amid ongoing Russian attacks. Governor Oleh Syniehubov of the northeastern Kharkiv region announced on Telegram that 409 families, including 601 children, have been instructed to leave 27 localities. Subsequently, an official in the affected area disclosed to public broadcaster Suspilne that the evacuation list has been expanded to encompass 40 areas.
Russian forces have been engaged in prolonged assaults on Kupiansk, a key target in their westward advancement through central and Eastern Ukraine. The city was initially captured by Russian troops during the full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022 but was later reclaimed by Kyiv’s forces. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has emphasized the defense of crucial front-line regions, including Kupiansk, while also mentioning a Ukrainian counter-offensive near Dobropillia to the south.
In a recent address to senior officers, Russian President Vladimir Putin asserted that Moscow’s forces maintain a strategic advantage across front-line territories. Ukraine’s top military official, Oleksandr Syrskyi, estimates the front line to span over 1,200 kilometers.
