UKRAINE, KHARKIV OBLAST, Oct. 1 — In Kupiansk, Russian sabotage groups operate in small units of 2–3 people, constantly trying to get into the city while suffering “heavy losses,” said Tetiana Branytska, spokeswoman of the 10th Army Corps in a comment to Gwara Media. 

Russian Forces intensified their offensive on Kupiansk in July 2024. In August, Gwara reported that Russian sabotage groups had entered the city. 

Branytska said that the Security Service of Ukraine controls most of the city, but Russian troops are still getting in. 

“An hour ago, they were there. We pushed them back, and they came back in. We pushed them back again. So, at this moment, we cannot say anything definite [about the success of the counter-sabotage operation — ed.],” she said.

The spokeswoman says the Russians use a tactic to secure positions in high-rise buildings for further action. To avoid detection, some Russians disguise themselves as civilians.

“We know for certain from interrogations of prisoners that they have orders to shoot civilians, seize houses, and kill everyone if they resist,” Branitskaya said.

In addition, Branytska said that the Russians tried to use gas pipes as a route into the city. According to her, as it turned out from the prisoners’ stories, this route became a “one-way street” for them. 

Ukrainian forces use drones to track the movements of sabotage groups, strike with artillery, and carry out counter-sabotage operations, Branytska said. 

She added that Russian units frequently appear disoriented, used as a “disposable force” to symbolically capture individual targets, such as raising a flag somewhere in Kupiansk.

Meanwhile, Branytska said, Russia’s “global goal” is to advance toward critical logistics routes and gain control of the city.

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