Tregubov: Russian troops remain in Kupiansk, AFU attempts to block their rotation

Situation in the northern districts of Kupiansk

Viktor Tregubov, spokesperson for the Joint Forces Group, described the current state of fighting in the city in detail during a TV broadcast. According to him, dozens of Russian fighters are still present in the northern parts of Kupiansk. They are located in low-rise buildings and pose a certain threat.

Tregubov emphasised that the enemy is acting in an organised manner and is putting up resistance, so it cannot be said that they are being finished off there.

«У Куп’янську продовжує перебувати кількадесят російських бійців у північних районах міста, розосереджених у низькоповерховій забудові. Вони певну загрозу представляють, тобто тут не можна сказати, що ми їх там добиваємо, ні, вони достатньо організовані, вони чинять певний спротив. Але за умови, якщо вдасться перебити їм можливість вести ротації, перебити їм можливість відводити і заводити, то тут для них будуть дуже скрутні часи. От над цим зараз безпосередньо іде робота», - зазначив Трегубов. (Dozens of Russian fighters continue to remain in the northern districts of Kupiansk, dispersed in low-rise buildings. They pose a certain threat, meaning we cannot say that we are finishing them off there, no, they are quite organised, they are putting up some resistance. But if we manage to cut off their ability to conduct rotations, to cut off their ability to withdraw and bring in reinforcements, then they will have very difficult times ahead. This is what work is directly being done on right now, Tregubov noted.)

The main task of the Defence Forces at present is to deprive the enemy of the ability to conduct rotations, that is, to withdraw and bring in new forces.

Refutation of claims about the capture of settlements

The officer also reacted to reports from the Russian side about the alleged capture of the settlements of Hlobivka and Shevchenkove in Kharkiv Oblast. Tregubov stated directly that this information is not true.

According to his information, the enemy is providing false information in reports to its command.

«Росіяни не встановили нормальний контроль за Голубівкою, намагаються встановити контроль над нею, просуватися в бік Радьківки, іще п’ять разів стільки, і тоді буде Шевченкове. Ну, ось це приблизно те, які їхні зусилля насправді, і як вони їх малюють у звітах», - підкреслив Трегубов. (The Russians have not established normal control over Hlobivka, they are trying to establish control over it, to advance towards Radkivka, five times as much, and then there will be Shevchenkove. Well, this is approximately what their efforts actually are, and how they depict them in reports, Tregubov emphasised.)

Prospects for the enemy's offensive

Commenting on possible further actions by Russian troops, the spokesperson noted that it will be more difficult for the enemy to use the direction through Hlobivka for an offensive towards Radkivka.

He explained that the enemy is trying to restore its positions in the Hlobivka area. If they managed to expand the zone of control, they would partially compensate for this loss.

«Вони намагаються відновити позиції в районі Голубівки і наступати в бік Радьківки, це від Голубівки трішки на захід. Якщо їм це вдасться, якщо вони там розширять трішки зону контролю, тоді вони частково компенсують цю втрату. Але знов-таки ніхто не збирається їм віддавати ту Радьківку, ніхто не збирається дозволяти їм розширювати оцю ось існуючу зараз, як це сказати, оцю ось вузьку смугу перед Осколом. Якщо нам вдасться її остаточно скоротити, це означатиме, що росіянам далі просто не буде як заводити війська в той нещасний Куп’янськ», - пояснив речник. (They are trying to restore positions in the Hlobivka area and advance towards Radkivka, which is a bit west of Hlobivka. If they manage this, if they expand the zone of control there a bit, then they will partially compensate for this loss. But again, no one is going to hand over that Radkivka to them, no one is going to allow them to expand this existing, how to put it, this narrow strip before the Oskil. If we manage to reduce it finally, it will mean that the Russians will simply have no way to bring troops into that unfortunate Kupiansk, the spokesperson explained.)

Thus, if Ukrainian troops manage to finally reduce the narrow strip of control before the Oskil River, it will mean that the Russians will simply have no way to bring troops into Kupiansk.