Operational updates in the Kupyansk direction and related zones

Reports indicate that in the Kupyansk direction, Russian forces neutralized two sabotage and reconnaissance groups belonging to the Ukrainian Armed Forces. The information was provided by Sergei Zybinsky, the head of the press center for the western group. Zybinsky identified the units as the 14th and 92nd separate mechanized brigades of the Ukrainian military. He stressed that additional pressure was applied to hinder replacement of Ukrainian units in the settlements of Dvurechnoye, Timkovka, and Tabaevka, noting that three such attempts were blocked. The narrative also described air assaults by Ka-52 and Mi-28 helicopter crews targeting Ukrainian troop positions in Krasny Khutor, Veselovka, and Okhrimovka. He added that Ukrainian reconnaissance drones engaged in the area were neutralized by air defense systems in the residential district of Dobroe Pole. The report underscores a broader operational context, pointing to the continued contest for control and the persistent use of mixed air and ground maneuvers along this corridor. It is framed as part of ongoing efforts to disrupt Ukrainian command and logistics, while also maintaining pressure on frontline concentrations. The situation is presented as dynamic, with multiple actions observed and catalogued by Russian forces in recent days. Earlier reports referenced in this briefing noted that in the Kherson direction, Ukrainian saboteurs and a storage facility were targeted and neutralized, reflecting a pattern of actions aimed at degrading Ukrainian capabilities in several sectors. This update arrives against a backdrop of long-standing tensions and a declared objective to protect regional interests as articulated by Russian authorities in the context of the conflict that began in 2022. The public communication from Moscow reiterates a stated rationale for military activities in Donbass and the surrounding areas, emphasizing the intent to respond to requests for assistance from authorities aligned with the Donetsk and Luhansk republics. The cited events illustrate how frontline operations continue to unfold in real time, with reconnaissance, air support, and ground confrontations shaping the pace of the campaign.