Russian forces operating in northern Kupiansk, using small-group tactics, drones – military spox

Viktor Trehubov, spokesperson for the Joint Forces Group, said this on Ukrainian television, according to an Ukrinform correspondent.

"As of now, Russian forces are present in the northern part of Kupiansk and are trying, on the one hand, to go around the city, and on the other hand, to push directly toward the center. As before, they are using small-group tactics: securing certain buildings, building up their numbers, and once they reach a 'critical mass,' trying to advance further," Trehubov said.

He added that the Russians are supplying their troops via drones and have been claiming for about six months that the city is encircled.

"Even their own citizens began asking: 'If the city is encircled, how is Ukraine's defense still holding and how are supplies getting in?' After that, the Russians clarified that they didn't mean full encirclement, only that they could strike Ukrainian logistics using drones," he said.

Trehubov noted that this is technically true, since drones can reliably operate up to 40 kilometers from the front line. He specified that he was referring to FPV drones with fiber-optic links, but stressed that Ukrainian units can hit Russian logistics at a similar depth.

When asked how strongly the enemy is holding onto buildings, Trehubov stressed that such urban fighting causes destruction on both sides. As for the use of elite Russian units, he said that in city combat this is ineffective: "The Russians rely primarily on numbers, not on quality."