UKRAINE, KUPIANSK, Oct. 16 — After Ukraine destroyed the gas pipe that Russia used to enter Kupiansk, their infantry troops changed the tactics of getting into the city, said Yurii Fedorenko, commander of the “Achilles” unit during the national telethon.

“The Russians choose the densest areas of the Oskil River, where the swampy terrain and greenery come as close as possible to the water itself. But we are effectively attacking them, with seven out of ten infantrymen being killed on the left bank or while crossing the Oskil river,” Fedorenko said.

After Ukraine’s counteroffensive in Kharkiv Oblast in autumn of 2022, Russian troops have been attempting to reach and cross the Oskil river to the right bank. 

Part of the Oskil river flowing through Kupiansk and dividing the city into two banks, which the Russians are trying to cross
Oskil river, which flows through Kupiansk and which the Russians are trying to cross / Photo: DeepState

They’ve managed to do so near Dvorichna settlement in 2025, and now, according to Fedorenko, are attacking the bridges to the left bank of the river in Kupiansk from artillery and drones. 

“We detect the location of enemy artillery and target it effectively. In some cases, we destroy their machine, in others, we damage it so that it’s inoperable, or we force them to relocate and not use it for some time,” he said.

On Oct. 16, the General Staff reported about seven Russian attacks on the Kupiansk axis and seven assaults north of Kharkiv oblast.

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