Mechanized forces of Russia have launched an attack on Kupansk for the first time in a prolonged period.
In the ongoing conflict in Eastern Ukraine, Ukrainian forces have successfully repelled a mechanized assault by Russian forces on the city of Kupiansk in the Kharkiv Oblast. This assault, which occurred on August 16, marked the first significant attack on Kupiansk by Russian forces in a while.
The city, which has been a hotspot of conflict, remains highly contested following the assault. Russian forces, reinforced by the 1st Tank Army, had broken through their bridgehead over the Oskil River and reached the outskirts of Kupiansk by August 23, forcing Ukrainian troops to withdraw from the east bank to strengthen the city's defense.
Prior to this breakthrough, Russian forces had been attempting to infiltrate Kupiansk amid strong Ukrainian resistance, with ongoing tactical clashes causing severe safety and infrastructure crises in the city. Earlier in August, Russian advances near Kupiansk threatened to cut off the city’s main supply routes, indicating strategic pressure leading up to the current battle.
The "Achilles" Battalion played a significant role in repelling the assault on Kupiansk. On August 16, forces from the "Achilles" Battalion targeted and destroyed one tank and two MT-LBs in the white inhabited locality called Liman First, located on the left-bank part of Kupiansk. Another MT-LB was damaged in the same incident.
The commander of the 1st Battalion of the "Achilles" Battalion, Anton Shmagailo, stated that the enemy had been attempting to infiltrate behind the defensive lines of the Defense Forces daily for the past two months. He also revealed that the enemy launched a local blitzkrieg, hoping that no one would expect a storming action using armored vehicles.
The 429th Separate UAV Battalion "Achilles" was involved in both the repelling of the assault on Kupiansk and the destruction of enemy armored vehicles in Liman First. Thanks to the coordinated actions of the 429th Separate UAV Battalion "Achilles", 116th OMBR, and 15th BOP "Kara-Dag", the advance was halted.
Shmagailo also stated that the Russians had been ordered to capture Kupiansk-Vuzlovyi by the New Year in late 2024. However, the determined resistance of the Ukrainian forces has so far prevented this from happening. As of late August 2025, combat dynamics remain fluid with Ukrainian Defense Forces repelling some offensive actions nearby, but multiple clashes continue around the broader Northern Sloboda area, which includes the region surrounding Kupiansk.
Despite the intense fighting, the Ukrainian forces have managed to hold their ground and prevent the enemy from making significant advances. The battle for Kupiansk continues, with both sides showing no signs of backing down.
[1] [News Source 1] [2] [News Source 2] [3] [News Source 3] [4] [News Source 4] [5] [News Source 5]
- The battle for Kupiansk, a hotspot of war-and-conflicts in Eastern Ukraine, is ongoing, with Ukrainian forces successfully repelling a significant attack by Russian forces on August 16.
- The conflict, which is deeply rooted in politics, continues to create severe safety and infrastructure crises in the city, with both sides showing no signs of backing down. [News Source 1, 2, 3, 4, 5]
