Ukrainian forces have reportedly fully encircled more than 200 Russian soldiers in Kupyansk following a major counteroffensive that killed hundreds of Russian servicemen and reversed months of Russian advances.
According to a press release from the 2nd National Guard Corps “Charter” obtained by LIGA.net, all Russian ground access into Kupyansk has been cut off.
The group says Ukrainian forces have placed every exit from the gas pipeline, previously used by Russian forces to infiltrate the city, under complete fire control, forcing the surrounded contingent to rely “exclusively on aerial drones” for supplies.
The unit noted that operations inside the city are advancing carefully because up to 500 civilians remain, and Russian troops “are trying to use them as human shields.”
Independent DeepState maps had for months shown Russian forces pushing up to six kilometres from the Oskil River, entering northern Kupyansk and occupying most of the right-bank area. The map on December 12 displays a sharp reversal, with the northwestern outskirts of Kupyansk cleared of Russian presence.
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Open-source intelligence (OSINT) analysts confirmed that “the enemy was blocked in Kupyansk and the entire northwestern outskirts of the city were cleared.”
Ukrainian counterstrike kills Russian soldiers
The Charter Command outlined how Ukrainian forces launched a decisive counteroffensive in October–November 2025, during which units of the Charter Search and Strike Group defeated multiple Russian battalions and assault detachments.
According to the press release, hundreds of Russian soldiers were killed, the villages of Kindrashivka and Radkivka were fully liberated, and Ukrainian units broke through to the Oskil River north of Kupyansk, “completely blocking the occupiers’ ground routes.”
When the Kupyansk situation reached critical levels in September 2025, Commander-in-Chief Oleksandr Syrskyi formed the Charter Search and Strike Group, comprised of the 13th Operational Brigade “Charter”, 475th Assault Regiment “Code 9.2”, 92nd Assault Brigade, Defence Intelligence Foreign Legion and the 144th Mechanized Brigade.
During the autumn battles, these units defeated Russian formations supported by the 7th Regiment of Unmanned Troops and UAV groups “Rubicon” and “Judgment Day.”
Among Ukrainian gains inside Kupyansk, the 13th Brigade “Charter” liberated Radkivka, nearby forests, and expelled Russian troops from several dozen houses in northern Kupyansk.
The 475th Brigade “Code 9.2”, on its part, supported by the 4th Battalion of the 92nd Brigade, liberated Kindrashivka and the surrounding areas.
“Fighting in the city center is still ongoing, but Ukrainian Kupyansk will be completely liberated later,” said Commander of the 2nd Corps of the National Guard “Charter” Colonel Ihor “Kornet” Obolensky.
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Russian President Vladimir Putin and Russian Chief of Staff Valery Gerasimov have repeatedly claimed that Kupyansk is already “fully occupied” by Russian forces and that “15 battalions of the Ukrainian Armed Forces” are surrounded.
On December 2, Syrskyi said Ukrainian forces had “significantly improved the tactical situation” in Kupyansk. Ukraine’s Armed Forces on December 11 also reported that Russians entrenched in the north had achieved “no success,” and fresh reinforcements could not advance because Ukrainian forces had severed Russian communications.
Zelenskyy visits Kupyansk, just 1.15 km from Russian positions
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy visited Kupyansk on December 12, appearing in a video filmed at the city entrance.
“Today, I am in the Kupyansk sector, with our warriors who are getting the job done for Ukraine here. The Russians kept going on about Kupyansk – the reality speaks for itself. I visited our troops and congratulated them. I thank each of the units, everyone who is fighting here, everyone who is destroying the occupier.”
He further emphasized that battlefield success is directly tied to diplomatic leverage.
“Today, achieving results on the frontline is crucial so that Ukraine can achieve results in diplomacy. This is exactly how it works: all our strong positions within the country translate into strong positions in the negotiations to end the war,” Zelenskyy added.
OSINT geolocation places Zelenskyy 1.15 km from Russian positions and roughly 500 meters from the gray zone, marking one of his closest visits to active combat since the full-scale invasion. His visit also coincided with Ukraine’s Ground Forces Day.
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