Ukrainian forces advance near Kupiansk as heavy clashes persist across eastern front

Ukrainian troops sustained ground operations and localized counterattacks across multiple eastern sectors, following reports of over 250 daily frontline engagements. Ukrainian forces advanced along the right bank of the Oskil River near Kupiansk after suppressing Russian drone capabilities to enable infantry clearing operations. Meanwhile, intense Russian pressure persisted on the Lyman, Kostiantynivka, and Pokrovsk axes, where Ukrainian defenders repulsed dozens of offensive assaults.

Official statements reflected contrasting accounts along peripheral fronts. The Russian Defense Ministry claimed the capture of several settlements approaching Sumy, while Russian Chief of General Staff Valery Gerasimov publicly rejected assertions of Ukrainian advancements in Zaporizhzhia. Concurrently, Russian forces executed widespread night-time drone strikes targeting Ukrainian infrastructure. Severe civilian casualties were reported in the Kyiv and Kherson regions, including the deaths of a mother and two children.

Sources: NV, Point, Radio Svoboda, The Insider, Ukrainska Pravda.