Following the consolidation of the Russian bridgehead west of the Oskil River (Kharkiv Oblast), Moscow's forces managed to advance into the areas immediately north of the important city of Kupyansk between July and August, despite Ukrainian counterattacks and fierce resistance.

In recent weeks, starting from the village of Radkivka (located a few kilometers north from the center of Kupyansk) and the surrounding wooded areas, Russian troops have advanced along 2 main axes of attack: the first towards the village of Moskovka (2.5 km southwest of Radkivka), located in the immediate vicinity northwest of Kupyansk (about 3.5 km from the center). Here, Russian soldiers managed to drive the Ukrainians out of the industrial area of Kupyansk and almost the entire village of Moskovka, while reconnaissance and sabotage teams pushed on to the village of Sobolivka (3 km to the south), located 3 km west of the center of Kupyansk. The village, which is currently contested, is located near the P07 road, which is used by the Ukrainian Army to supply the Kupyansk garrison.

The second axis of attack was directed at the city center. Russian troops, following the R-79 road, managed to advance along Lenina Street and Michurina Street, reaching the city center. Around the second week of September, after a series of unsuccessful Ukrainian counterattacks, Russian forces resumed their advance, reaching the Spartak Stadium and establishing control over some tall buildings in the area. To the east, Moscow's soldiers advanced along Michurina Street, on the western bank of the Oskil River. To the west, starting from the south-eastern sector of Moskovka and the industrial area of Kupyansk, the Russians reportedly managed to push into the north-westernmost part of the city, taking new positions on Teroborony Street and Dovhailivska Street.

Last week, Russian presence has been reported on Sadova Street, near the railway station, and about a kilometer further east, on Sportyvna Street. This means that Moscow's forces are now only 1.5 km from the main bridge over the Oskil River (on Dzerzhynskoho Street), which connects the Ukrainian salient on the eastern bank of the river, including the eastern part of Kupyansk, to the rest of the Kharkiv oblast. This salient covers approximately 90 km2 and extends from Synkivka in the north to Hlushkivka in the south for about 20 km.

If this artery were to be cut, Ukrainian supplies to the salient could only pass through a bridge further south, at Kupyansk-Vuzlovyi, or via improvised pontoons. This situation would risk aggravating Ukrainian logistical difficulties in the area, with the real danger of the salient collapsing and the consequent realignment of the front along the Oskil River.

Las week, given the extremely critical situation for Kiev's forces, it would appear that the Ukrainian High Command has deployed the 3rd Separate Assault Brigade to support defensive operations in the city. The Russians, for their part, have reportedly deployed the prestigious UAV units belonging to RUBIKON Centre to support the assault operations.

The situation for Kiev's forces appears extremely difficult: it remains to be seen whether the reinforcements will allow the Ukrainians to maintain their positions or whether, on the contrary, the Russians will succeed in conquering the city, depriving the Ukrainian Army of a logistics hub of primary importance and paving the way for the possible annihilation of the salient east of the Oskil River and further advances in the Kharkiv Oblast.

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