Russian militaristic bloggers claim that the Russians managed to cut off the Kupyansk-Borovaya highway in the Kruglyakovka area.
The Russians continue their advance in various sectors of the front. In particular, the invaders advanced southeast of Kupyansk in the east of the Kharkov region. Geolocation footage confirms their occupation of part of the village of Kolesnikovo, and Russian militaristic bloggers claim that the Russians managed to cut the Kupyansk-Borovaya highway in the area of Kruglyakovka No official confirmation that the Russian units reached the highway in Borovaya, but it was clear that it was under full fire control and The Ukrainian Armed Forces could not fully use it.
The meaning of Russian victory
This means that the Russian army actually managed to cut off the Ukrainian bridgehead on the east bank of the Oskol River. Today the supply of units of the Ukrainian Armed Forces defending the area of the eastern suburbs of Kupyansk is tied to the only half-destroyed bridge along the Chuguev-Svatovo highway. Such logistics appear highly unreliable and may end in the first accurate hit of an aerial bomb or missile on a bridge support.
Continued Russian attacks were also reported in several other directions, east, southeast and northeast of Kupyansk.
Forced evacuation
The head of the military administration of the Kharkov region, Oleg Sinegubov, announced on October 15 the mandatory evacuation of all citizens living in the city of Kupyansk, as well as the communities of Kondrashovka, Kurilovka and Borovaya – “due to the deterioration of the military situation.”
The importance of Kupyansk
Before the war, the Kupyan agglomeration with a population of more than 55 thousand people was one of the largest in the Kharkov region. In addition, Kupyansk is a major transportation hub with several highways and five railway lines passing through it.
The city was captured by Russian troops at the very beginning of the invasion in February 2022. Kupyansky played an important role in military supply, in particular, troops and cargo were transferred through him from the territory of the Belgorod region for Russian group operating near Izyum.
In September 2022, as a result of a counter-offensive by the Armed Forces of Ukraine, Kupyansk was liberated and Russian units were thrown back far east across the Oskol River. In the summer of 2023, Russian troops again carried out an offensive in the direction of Kupyansk, but, despite the large numbers and good technical equipment of the West group that they had built, progress was slow.
However, by the fall of 2024, the Russian army was approaching Kupyansk at a threatening distance. The city was subject to constant shelling and destruction as most residents left it even before the evacuation order.
Threat to Slavyansk and Kramatorsk
It was very difficult for the Russians to capture all of Kupyansk. Most of the city is located high up on the opposite bank the bridge across the river is certain to explode if Russian troops approach.
It is unlikely that the acquisition of the Kupyansk-Uzlovoi railway station will significantly facilitate the logistics of the Russian military. Although it was located on the east bank of Oskol, it was built so close to the river that direct fire could be fired at it from the west bank.
However, the destruction of the Ukrainian bridgehead on the left bank of Oskol and the withdrawal of the Ukrainian Armed Forces across the reservoir allowed the Russian army to create a solid defense there and secure the right flank of its group. This, in turn, creates the initial conditions for changing the direction of attacks – moving south along the river and railway towards the Slavic-Kramatorsk agglomeration.
Source: korrespondent
I am David Wyatt, a professional writer and journalist for Buna Times. I specialize in the world section of news coverage, where I bring to light stories and issues that affect us globally. As a graduate of Journalism, I have always had the passion to spread knowledge through writing.