The Ukrainian troops are holding their designated defensive positions in the Kupyansk direction despite the Russian army's attempts to improve its tactical position, Ukrinform reported, quoted by BTA.
A statement published on "Facebook" by the Armed Forces of Ukraine (AFU) states that "the enemy seeks to advance mainly on foot, taking advantage of difficult weather conditions and (specificities of) the terrain to secretly approach the positions of (AFU). But thanks to the coordinated work of aerial reconnaissance, observation posts and combat units, the movements of the invaders are detected in advance."
Kupyansk, in Kharkiv Oblast, northeastern Ukraine, is among Moscow's main targets at this moment. The city was already captured by the Russian army shortly after the full-scale invasion in February 2022, but was recaptured by the Ukrainian Armed Forces in their counteroffensive in the fall of the same year.
Russia regularly reports captured villages in eastern Ukrainian regions, where it is advancing slowly but methodically. On the other hand, it has not established control over any major Ukrainian city for a long time, and currently, against the backdrop of a cold wave, fierce battles are being waged for Kupyansk and Pokrovsk, in the neighboring eastern Donetsk region.
Yesterday, Ukrinform reported, citing a Ukrainian military spokesman, that the Ukrainian Armed Forces control the southern outskirts of Vovchansk, but the city is almost completely destroyed and the Russian army continues its offensive.
Vovchansk is also located in the Kharkiv region. It is located a few kilometers from the border with Russia in the Belgorod region.
This Russian region is regularly shelled by the Ukrainian army.
Today, local authorities reported, quoted by TASS, that a man was killed in a drone attack on a car.
As a result of the attacks, there is no electricity in a number of settlements in the Belgorod region, as the energy infrastructure is partially damaged. The Ministry of Emergency Situations announced, quoted by TASS, that it will deliver 176 portable power plants to help local residents in conditions of low temperatures.
In Belgorod, the temperature is now -10 degrees Celsius.
The General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine reported in its regular report that there were 201 battles yesterday, Ukrinform also reported. The fiercest fighting was in the Pokrovsk region and the city of Gulyaipole in the southeastern Zaporizhia region.
The next round of trilateral talks between Ukraine, Russia and the United States to end the war began in Geneva today - just days before the fourth anniversary of its beginning.