UKRAINE, KUPIANSK DISTRICT, Apr. 20 — In the Kupiansk direction, Russians are starting to add motorbikes to their offensives, using the advantages of the better weather, said the commander of a drone crew of Typhoon, a special forces unit of Ukraine’s National Guard, with a call sign Ban, live on Ukrainian national TV. 

Russian forces have been trying to seize Kupiansk, an important logistics hub in the region, since Ukrainian forces mostly pushed them out of the city in the winter of 2026, during the Kupiansk operation that started in autumn of 2025. 

Ban added that, to conduct an offensive, Russia uses the forests that are getting greener. 

“Everything’s getting drier, and (Russians) understand that it’s simpler and faster for them to skip the field on a motorbike rather than go on foot. But that doesn’t give them success because it’s easier to notice them, get intelligence, and (attack them). A great cloud of dust follows them, and it shows,” said Ban. 

He added, no bike moves faster than a FPV drone in the field. 

UPD from 3:57 p.m., Apr. 20: Headline edited for clarity.

Read more

⚡ The fifth year of the Russian full-scale invasion started, so it’s been four years since most of us here at our Kharkiv-based newsroom became war reporters. Please consider supporting our journalism via a one-time donation— or join our community.