Russian forces have entered Kupiansk from multiple directions and launched attacks on the city center from the north and west. It has become extremely difficult for Ukrainian forces to deploy reserve troops from the Chuhuyev direction along the R07 (also known as N26) highway into the Kupiansk city area to hold their positions. Because Russian forces bypassed the small Rozhnyi forest area south of Sobolevka and reached the R07 highway to the southwest of Sobolevka, they have basically cut off the main reinforcement and supply routes of the Ukrainian forces. Now, more and more Ukrainian reserve forces are entering Kupiansk through the "Fox Trail" (along dirt roads). However, this method is inefficient, only small-scale light infantry can pass through the "Fox Trail" without being easily detected by the Russians, and they cannot transport large amounts of supplies.
There were also friendly fire incidents between different Ukrainian units in the Kupiansk city area. One Ukrainian unit operating in the Khimshyna Street area believed that "a group of Russians" had broken through the controlled area and opened fire. In fact, the so-called "Russians" were an Ukrainian reinforcement unit gathering near the bus station at that time. As a result, two Ukrainian units started fighting each other.
The Ukrainian side said that the firefight only resulted in "two injured," but the outside world generally believes that the Ukrainian statement lacks credibility, significantly minimizing the real losses from the friendly fire incident. This friendly fire incident also indicates that the communication situation among Ukrainian forces within the Kupiansk city area is deteriorating.
Original text: www.toutiao.com/article/1842679501885440/
Statement: This article represents the views of the author.