Ukrainian officials say that significant reinforcements received by the Russians have turned the northern front in the Kupyansk district, in eastern Kharkiv Oblast, into the “epicenter” of fighting, but they assure that Ukrainian defenses are holding up, although the authorities have ordered the evacuation of civilians , reports CNN, quoted by News .ro.

National Guard spokesman Ruslan Muzytsyuk said on Thursday on Ukrainian television that “the Kupyan direction remains the epicenter of hostilities, where the enemy’s main efforts are concentrated.”

“The number of forces and means of the enemy and its activation recently on this part of the front is aimed at trying to change the situation on this part of the front,” Muzychuk added.

The official said that the Russians had withdrawn their airborne assault units and “received tank units as reinforcements, which, with the support of aviation and artillery, are trying to attack the positions of the Ukrainian defenders.”

“In recent weeks, there have been more than 50 airstrikes every day, sometimes more than 80,” he said.

The Russian army withdrew new forces in the direction of Kupyansk

The Russian offensive was aimed at attracting more Ukrainian units there, Muzytsyuk explained, but he did not rule out an attempt to recapture the city of Kupyansk itself.

Another National Guard official, Mykola Urshalovych, said Ukrainian units had managed to maintain control of the dominant heights around Vilshana and Novoselivskyi, two villages east of Kupyansk where the Russians say they have made some progress.

In turn, Deputy Commander of the Eastern Military Group, Serhiy Cherevaty, said that “the Kupyan direction remains one of those where the enemy is trying to seize the initiative.”

Cherevati stated that the defense “has been strengthened and the offensive capabilities have been improved. Therefore, the situation is difficult, but under control,” the soldier assured. He added that during the day, the Russians used artillery 559 times, in addition to airstrikes.

The State Emergency Service reported that on Thursday morning the city of Kupyansk was bombed again, a fire broke out, but there were no victims.

The city of Kupyansk was evacuated by Ukrainians

Meanwhile, the Ukrainian authorities issued an order for the mandatory evacuation of the city of Kupyansk and surrounding areas due to intensive Russian bombing of the area. Kupyansk was one of the cities liberated last September during a lightning Ukrainian offensive, but in recent weeks Russia has stepped up its efforts to retake the city.

The order states that mandatory evacuation of residents of the city, as well as Zaoskil, which is located on the eastern bank of the Oskil River, has been announced.

Andriy Kanashevich, acting head of the military administration in the Kupyan district, said that “Russian terrorists are becoming even more cynical and completely indifferent to human life. As a result, almost every day we have dead and wounded civilians.”

“We suggest the residents of Kupyansk district to make a responsible and balanced decision regarding temporary departure to safe territories of Kharkiv region,” Kanashevich said.

Two civilians were wounded overnight by Russian shelling in a village north of Kupyansk, a Ukrainian military official said Thursday, as Moscow forces stepped up shelling in the area. The head of the Kharkiv Regional Military Administration, Oleg Sinegubov, reported that there were casualties in the village of Kindrasivka.

At the same time, according to him, an airstrike was carried out on the city council building in Kupyansk.

“Over the past day, the Russians have massively shelled the settlements of Bogodukhov, Kharkiv, Chuguyiv, Izyum, and Kupyan districts with aerial guided bombs and other weapons,” Synegubov said.

Ukrainian defense repelled Russian attacks in the area of ​​Synkivka and Ivanovka northeast of Kupyansk, he added.

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