Ukrainian Army may be preparing strong response to Russians in Kupiansk direction

Experts do not rule out that the Ukrainian Armed Forces are preparing a powerful response to Russia in the Kupiansk area (Getty Images)

The Ukrainian military may be preparing a new powerful response to the Russian occupiers in the Kupiansk direction, where the Russian army is not giving up its offensive, according to RBC-Ukraine’s article Avdiivka and Kupiansk situation, possibility of major Russian offensive: Frontline overview.

The Russian Federation has deployed about 130,000 Russians, more than 1,000 tanks, almost the same amount of artillery, and about 350 MLRS in the Lyman-Kupiansk direction. The grouping is powerful, roughly speaking, up to a third of what Russia has deployed to the front, explains Oleksii Hetman, a reserve major in the Armed Forces of Ukraine, an expert.

“Perhaps more than Kupiansk, they want to reach Kupiansk-Vuzlovyi, because it is our logistics center, and they want to control the railroad. There is also speculation whether they will turn to Kharkiv. They seem to have enough forces and means, but there are no signs of preparations for an attack on Kharkiv. It is difficult to say what exactly Umerov meant. Perhaps we are planning our counteroffensive. In the east, the enemy is very exhausted,” he tells RBC-Ukraine.

Oleksandr Musiienko, head of the Center for Military Legal Studies, does not rule out this option. The strategically important northeastern flank needs to be strengthened and its pressure must be eased.

“Perhaps the raids of Ukrainian intelligence in the Belgorod region, the strikes, and the arrival of the command are related and indicate preparations for counteroffensive actions. Of course, they will be local, but I think they will be quite powerful,” he says.

Statements of Ukrainian Defense Minister

On January 9, Ukrainian Armed Forces Commander-in-Chief Valerii Zaluzhnyi visited positions near Kupiansk in the Kharkiv region. In addition to Zaluzhnyi, Defense Minister Rustem Umerov and Chief of the General Staff Lieutenant General Serhii Shaptala visited the Kupiansk area.

Following the visit, Umerov made a statement: “We reported on the situation and current challenges. Decisions will be made soon – the enemy will not like it.”