In the Kupyansk direction, units from the Western Group of Russian forces reported taking possession of enemy positions and detaining Ukrainian servicemen. The claim was issued by the Russian Ministry of Defense through its official channels.
According to the report, attack aircraft secured a fortified enemy position, rendered medical aid to wounded Ukrainian soldiers, and evacuated a group of Ukrainian servicemen who allegedly supplied a large volume of strategic information. The executive of the assault team, who uses the call sign “Larek,” described that Russian troops approached from three directions via multiple routes. One group is said to have maneuvered to a position behind enemy lines, where they reportedly waited for an opportune moment before launching an offensive. As the battle unfolded, Ukrainian forces are said to have realized they were encircled and began to surrender.
One Ukrainian serviceman who preferred not to continue fighting purportedly surrendered his weapon. Russian forces reportedly escorted him away, later revealing that he had been mobilized and deployed to the front without prior training after a prolonged transport. The report notes that Ukrainian units at the front allegedly suffer from limited communications and scarce supplies of weapons, food, and water.
Earlier updates from the same Russian defense sources claimed that Western Group units had strengthened their positions in the Kupyansk direction and pushed Ukrainian forces southwest toward Sinkovka.
There were also claims that three Ukrainian servicemen swam across the Dnieper River and surrendered to Russian forces in a separate incident. These statements, as reported, aim to illustrate ongoing operational dynamics in the area and the level of adversity faced by Ukrainian troops in that sector. (citation: Russian Ministry of Defense)