Ukrainian officials say that substantial Russian reinforcements have turned the northern front in the eastern Kharkiv region into the “epicenter” of hostilities, but that Ukrainian defenses are holding.
Ruslan Muzychuk, the National Guard spokesman, told Ukrainian television Thursday that “the Kupyansk direction remains the epicenter of hostilities, where the enemy is concentrating its main efforts.”
“The number of enemy forces and means and its recent activation in this area of the front are aimed at trying to turn the tide in this section of the front,” Muzychuk added.
Muzychuk said the Russians had brought in airborne assault units “and they have been reinforced by tank units, which, with the support of aviation and artillery, are attempting to assault the positions of Ukrainian defenders.”
“In recent weeks, more than 50 air attacks have been taking place every day, and sometimes more than 80,” he said.
The Russian offensive was designed to draw more Ukrainian units into the area, Muzychuk said, but he did not rule out an attempt to capture the city of Kupyansk itself.
Russia trying to “seize the initiative”: Another National Guard official, Mykola Urshalovych, said that Ukrainian units had managed to hold the dominant heights around Vilshana and Novoselivske, two villages east of Kupyansk where the Russians claim to have made some advances.
Serhii Cherevatyi, Deputy Commander of the Eastern Military Group, said that the “Kupyansk direction remains one of those where the enemy is trying to seize the initiative.”
Cherevatyi said defenses “have been strengthened, and strike capabilities have been enhanced. So the situation is difficult but under control.”
He added that in a single day, the Russians had used artillery 559 times in addition to air raids.
The Ukrainian State Emergency Service said that on Thursday morning the city of Kupyansk had been shelled again, setting off a fire but causing no casualties.
Following the announcement of a mandatory evacuation for civilians in Kupyansk, Andriy Kanashevych, the acting Head of Kupyansk district military administration, said that “Russian terrorists are becoming even more cynical and completely indifferent to human life. As a result, almost every day we have dead and wounded among the civilian population.”
“We suggest that residents of Kupyansk district make a responsible and informed decision to temporarily leave for the safe territories of Kharkiv region,” Kanashevych said.
