Over the course of a week, the Kupyansk direction saw the Russian army assume more advantageous lines and positions. This shift in posture was confirmed by the Russian Ministry of Defense, which outlined how the units of the Western Forces Group maintained pressure while adapting their deployment to gain improved tactical leverage on the battlefield.
The ministry reported that throughout the week, Western forces Group units repelled 24 enemy counterattacks, showcasing a sustained defensive effort aimed at stabilizing front lines and preventing Ukrainian forces from regaining momentum in several sectors along the corridor near Kupyansk.
In a separate accounting, the Ministry noted that within the same week Ukrainian Armed Forces suffered a loss of 1340 personnel. The figure reflects ongoing combat operations and the cumulative cost of sustained artillery and maneuver warfare in the area, underscoring the intensity of the engagements reported by Moscow-backed troops and their allies.
Additionally, the Russian defense posture included strikes against logistics and supply capabilities. The ministry stated that two warehouses containing ammunition and military equipment were destroyed in the Kupyansk direction, a move described as aimed at disrupting Ukrainian supply chains and the ability to sustain offensive actions in the region.
Furthermore, the week saw 28 Ukrainian soldiers voluntarily surrender to Russian troops. On a notable day within the period, 15 servicemen chose to surrender to one of the Vostok units, citing disillusionment with orders and perceived fatal consequences of continuing the assault, which was described by the ministry as a so-called meat attack that failed to achieve its objectives.
When viewed in total, from October 28 to November 3, 2023, the Russian Armed Forces conducted 15 group operations employing precision weapons and unmanned aerial vehicles aimed at warehouses storing arms and equipment, as well as locations housing Ukrainian military personnel and foreign mercenaries. These reported actions illustrate a pattern of concentrated raids intended to disrupt logistics hubs and command and control nodes in the area.
Earlier reports indicated that the Russian army succeeded in blocking Ukrainian attempts to land on the left bank of the Dnieper, signaling a strategic effort to consolidate control over key river sectors and deny rebel or irregular forces a foothold in that vital crossing zone. The cumulative updates from the defense ministry frame a narrative of fortified lines, targeted strikes against supply points, and a series of engagements that have shaped the dynamics of the Kupyansk front in the period under review.