UKRAINE, KHARKIV OBLAST, Jan. 28 — Russian assaults on the Kupiansk axis have decreased following a successful Ukrainian counteroffensive and winter frosts, Anastasia Khaletska, the head of the communications department of the 4th separate heavy mechanized brigade, said on Jan. 27. 

Ukraine launched a successful counteroffensive in Kupiansk on Dec. 12, 2025, pushing Russian troops out of the northwestern part of the city and trapping remaining Russian soldiers in its center. 

Khalteska added that despite the lack of Russian military personnel, weather conditions have had an equally significant impact on the reduction in assault activity. 

“It is difficult for the enemy to rotate troops, given the weather conditions and new camouflage features necessitated by snow cover,” she said. 

Now, Ukraine is enduring the toughest winter for 20 years, meteorologist Natalia Ptuha said. According to weather forecasters, the average temperature in January is expected to be -1°— -7°(30.2 °F — 19.4 °F), which is about 1.5° (2.7°F) below normal. 

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