Russian Armored Assault Across Open Field Fails Near Kupyansk

Russian forces attempted a frontal assault across open terrain near Kupyansk, sending an armored group into a mined field under Ukrainian observation.

Troops from Ukraine’s 43rd Separate Mechanized Brigade intercepted the column as it crossed the field, using artillery, anti-tank mines, 155-mm cluster munitions, and drones to destroy the vehicles and eliminate the infantry.

According to the brigade, the Russian side lost 38 soldiers, four infantry fighting vehicles, a buggy, a civilian car, and a motorcycle in the failed assault.

The attack took place north of Stepova Novoselivka, an area where Russia has repeatedly tried to push Ukrainian lines in recent weeks, DeepState analysts said.

Such an assault suggests that the Russian army is not abandoning its attempts to capture Kupyansk and is bringing up new forces in this direction.

The territory surrounding Kupyansk bears a resemblance to Kyiv’s geography, with rolling hills and proximity to the Oskil River’s broad floodplains.

Kupyansk itself is located on the right bank of the Oskil River, atop one of these hills, while the left bank remains flat and exposed.

South of the city lies Kupyansk-Vuzlovy, a critical railway settlement that serves as a major transport hub. The very name of the settlement points to its strategic importance, with railway branches converging from five directions.

Kupyansk and Kupyansk-Vuzlovy are essential to Russian plans primarily due to their logistics value. They offer a vital base for deploying military personnel, setting up supply warehouses, and establishing command centers — far more advantageous than being stuck in an open field or forest.

Back in early April, Oleksandr Syrskyi, Ukraine’s Commander-in-Chief, warned that Russia had initiated coordinated offensives on both the Sumy and Kharkiv fronts.