The Russian invaders are trying to seize the initiative near Kupiansk in the Kharkiv region.

Serhii Cherevaty, spokesman for the Eastern Group of the Ukrainian Armed Forces, reported that the Defense Forces of Ukraine are aware of the intentions of the invaders, their units, and their commanders.

It is noted that the Defense Forces of Ukraine have taken a number of measures to strengthen strike equipment and defenses.

“The situation is difficult but under control. We know the units of the enemy and the commanders, we are aware of their intentions and act accordingly to thwart their plans,” Serhii Cherevaty reported.

According to his information, on August 9, the Russian invaders fired 559 artillery strikes in this direction and made four attempts to attack Ukrainian positions.

Also, the Russian military dropped a FAB-250 air-dropped bomb on Kupiansk at midnight and damaged the city council building. In just one day, two people were injured in the region.

“The enemy engaged more aviation, in particular, unfortunately, against civilians – they carried out 16 airstrikes during that day,” the spokesman of the Eastern Group of the Ukrainian Armed Forces shared.

According to the military, in the course of repelling the attacks, 35 invaders were killed, 110 were wounded, and three tanks, a D-20 howitzer, an Orlan-10 drone, seven cars, three field ammunition depots, and three enemy dugouts were destroyed.

On August 9, the Ukrainian military demonstrated two neutralized Russian T-72B tanks in the Kharkiv region.

Due to the intensification of the Russian shelling, the authorities are launching a mandatory evacuation of 37 settlements in the Kupiansk district of the Kharkiv region.

“The mandatory evacuation of the population begins on the liberated territories of the Kupiansk district of the Kharkiv region. Andrii Kanashevich, acting head of the Kupyan District Military Administration, signed the order on August 9,” the Kupiansk City Military Administration announced.

In July, it was reported that Russia had concentrated a very powerful group – more than 100,000 personnel – in the Lyman-Kupiansk direction.