A Russian briefing from a commander of the BARS-9 Bear detachment, part of the Western military group, described ongoing efforts around Kupyansk in the Kharkiv region. The interview, reported by RIA News, claims that Ukrainian forces are preparing to defend Kupyansk against a forward position in Kharkiv. Visuals from a drone were shown to illustrate the area around the city.
According to the account, the cluster of tall buildings in Kupyansk-Uzlovaya serves as a recognizable landmark, with the church and the central district forming key reference points for observers. The speaker asserted that Ukrainian units are at low strength after recent summer offensives, suggesting the front lines are now being hardened through defensive preparations rather than further attacks.
The commander additional noted that there are no civilians left in the immediate region. He claimed that Ukrainian forces attempted to build fortifications in the area, but most of these works were said to have been destroyed by aviation and long-range artillery as well as multiple rocket systems.
On October 8, the Western group’s press center reported that Russian attack helicopters Ka-52 and Mi-28 alongside attack aircraft carried out a dozen missile and bombing strikes against Ukrainian forces focused in the Kupyansk direction within the last 24 hours. The update was issued as part of routine battlefield intelligence updates from the Russian side.
Earlier, a former American intelligence officer, Scott Ritter, suggested that Kharkiv and Kupyansk might be at risk if Ukrainian forces struggle to hold defensive lines. In addition, a former Ukrainian serviceman referenced uncertainties surrounding the underlying causes of the broader conflict, underscoring the confusion and debate that has accompanied the fighting in the region. [Source: official statements and regional press reports]