UKRAINE, KHARKIV OBLAST, Apr 8 — On April 6, Russians attacked Kupiansk’s outskirts with infantry, quad bikes, and armored vehicles, but the Ukrainian Armed Forces repelled the attacks. The press service of the Achilles 429th Separate Unmanned Systems Regiment reported this.

Russian troops have been escalating their efforts to capture Kupiansk since September 2024. In the first three months of this year, the Ukrainian Armed Forces stopped the Russian’s further advance and partially drove them back.

The “Achilles,” the 1st Presidential Operational Brigade named after Hetman Petro Doroshenko “Bureviy,” and the 43rd Separate Mechanized Brigade repelled two assault attempts, destroying Russian infantry and equipment.

Russians expected the foggy weather would make Ukrainian drones less effective, so they tried to break through to Ukraine’s army positions near Kupiansk.

“But the bet on rain did not work — we repelled the attacks. In the afternoon, the situation repeated itself — again, a tank and an infantry fighting vehicle tried to get the enemy’s (assault groups — ed.) to Ukrainian positions. The Russians tried to get close to the zero line, but we destroyed their personnel and equipment,” said Yurii Fedorenko, “Achilles” commander.

Anton Shmahailo, the commander of the “Achilles” first battalion, noted that Russians use the weather conditions actively. According to him, the level of coordination among Russians has decreased. Shmahailo attributes this to the fact that the command is constantly pushing their troops, “driving them to their deaths.”

“Their main aim is to get closer to Kupiansk, but Russians are still far away from the city,” said Shmahailo.

Amid Russia’s push to retake Kupiansk, locals are still evacuating from the left bank of the Oskil River.

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