The Kyiv-led counteroffensive in eastern Kharkiv since Tuesday is bearing fruit, in an operation that has caught Russian troops by surprise, according to the British Ministry of Defense. Ukrainian forces say they entered the city of Kupiansk on Saturday morning, dealing a serious blow to the Russians as it is a key town on supply routes to the Donbass front line.
Ukrainian special forces have posted images on social media showing their officers in Kupiansk who, the messages say, "was and always will be Ukrainian." Several photos and a video show a handful of soldiers in camouflage clothing carrying automatic weapons and riding in armored vehicles. They tour the city of 27,000 inhabitants (according to pre-war figures) and which, according to the recording, the Russian forces have abandoned after leaving behind some of their tanks.
This new advance claimed by the Ukrainian forces comes after Kyiv claimed to have regained control of 30 towns in the Kharkiv area, bordering Russia, in recent days.
The city of Kupiansk, located about 120 kilometers southeast of Kharkiv, fell to the Russians less than a week after Moscow's offensive in Ukraine began on February 24.
Kyiv could soon, according to conflict watchers, increase its pressure on other Russian-held cities, notably Izium, which had a population of about 45,000 before the war and is of great importance to Moscow's military operations.
