Governor of Kharkiv Oblast Oleh Syniehubov says residents who stay on the Kupiansk front are advised to evacuate as zone of active combat actions expands, according to UkrInform.
The city was captured by Russian troops at the beginning of the large-scale invasion in February 2022. It played a key role in military supply, as military personnel, weapons, and equipment were transferred through it from the Belgorod Oblast for the Russian troops operating near Ukraine’s city of Izium.
However, in September 2022, the Armed Forces of Ukraine launched a counteroffensive and liberated Kupiansk, forcing the Russians to retreat and pushed them far east beyond the Oskil River.
In the summer of 2023, Russian forces launched another offensive on the Kupiansk front, but despite the size of the military grouping, progress was slow. Nevertheless, by the autumn of 2024, the Russian army managed to approach Kupiansk at a threatening distance. The city is being shelled constantly, with most residents having left before the evacuation order, as per BBC.
During the latest battles, Russian forces advanced to within four kilometers of Kupiansk. The Ukrainian military continues to destroy the occupiers, but the dynamics of the fighting pose a danger to the civilian population of this area. For the Ukrainian forces to effectively defend the land, the authorities must evacuate the civilians as much as possible.
A significant threat to Kupiansk and the broader Kharkiv Oblast currently comes from guided bombs launched by Russian aircraft from Belgorod Oblast. Residents have up to three minutes from the air alert signal to take shelter before the strike.
“We have submitted the necessary documents to change the status of several settlements, including Kupiansk, from a zone of possible combat operations to an active combat zone. We are currently awaiting decisions from the relevant ministries,” said Syniehubov.
He clarified that the authorities submitted this request last week and expect a decision on the matter “in the nearest future.” The status of an active combat zone would mean that providers of social, administrative, banking, and other services would be evacuated from these areas.
“It is a signal for people that they need to leave,” said Syniehubov.
According to the Kharkiv governor, there are no children left in the Kupiansk city, while 36 remain in the Kindrashivka and Kurylivka communities.
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