Local authorities in Ukraine have instructed the evacuation of residents from numerous villages near the heavily damaged city of Kupiansk in the northeast due to the deteriorating security situation amid ongoing Russian attacks. Governor Oleh Syniehubov of the Kharkiv region shared on Telegram that 409 families with 601 children were directed to vacate 27 localities. Additionally, another official disclosed that the evacuation list now includes 40 localities.
The city of Kupiansk has been a focal point of Russian aggression for several months as part of their westward advance through central and Eastern Ukraine in the long-standing conflict. While initially captured by Russian forces during the full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, Kyiv’s forces regained control later that same year.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy recently affirmed the defense of critical front-line areas, notably Kupiansk, against Russian forces. He also mentioned a Ukrainian counter-offensive near Dobropillia to the south. In contrast, Russian President Vladimir Putin asserted Moscow’s forces’ strategic advantage along the front lines. Ukraine’s top officer, Oleksandr Syrskyi, estimated the front line to span over 1,200 kilometers.
