UKRAINE, KUPIANSK, May 1 —  In February, Ukrainian soldiers of the Lava regiment, part of Khartia corps, killed 10 Russian troops that had held their position in a city’s building using only drones and robotic ground complexes, reported Khartia’s press service. 

“No soldiers were (present) on the battlefield,” Lava’s personnel told Suspilne Kharkiv, Ukrainian public media. During the operation, Ukrainian soldiers used heavy drones equipped with grenade launchers, kamikaze drones and other weapons, destroying the Russian stronghold and ammunition storage. 

“Since now, Khartia’s units can enter the “cleared” territory,” wrote Khartia’s press service. 

In 2025, Russia launched a large offensive on Kupiansk, infiltrating the city with small assault groups. By the end of autumn, Moscow completely occupied the north of Kupinask — there was fighting in the city’s center. 

On Dec. 12, 2025, Ukraine’s military units, Khartia among them, reported on launching a successful counteroffensive, aimed to push Russian troops out of the city. Still, small groups of Russian infantry remained in the center of Kupiansk until now. 

In 2026, Russian troops renewed their offensive on the city. On Apr. 23, Viktor Trehubov, a spokesperson of the military group responsible for the Kharkiv axis, reported that Russian troops had moved “slightly” closer to Kupiansk. 

On Apr. 27, Trehubov said Russian troops renewed assaults on both banks of the Oskil river, adding, that they have been preparing for the spring campaign: conducting rotations, preparing for mass infiltration (of Kupiansk — ed.), and waiting for the green tree cover to appear. 

On the right bank of the Oskil river, Trehubov explained, Russians renewed the attempts to infiltrate the city through Holubivka village, north of Kupiansk, including through gas pipes. Ukraine “more or less” is managing to stop them, he added. 

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