Ukrainian forces will keep sweeping Kupiansk for hidden Russian threats into early 2026, according to Commander-in-Chief Oleksandr Syrskyi. The ongoing operation focuses on detailed house-to-house checks and eliminating potential sabotage routes, the top general said in an interview.
Ukraine to continue cleansing Kupiansk in 2026
Ukrainian troops will maintain active operations around Kupiansk, particularly on the city’s northern and eastern outskirts, Syrskyi said in an interview with TV channel 24 on 29 December. He emphasized that destroying Russian supply and crossing routes remains a priority.
“The main task is to destroy the crossing paths. Especially the pipes running through there — there’s more than one. We will definitely do that,” he stated.
Beyond holding strong defensive lines near the city, Syrskyi highlighted the importance of internal filtration measures.
“Counter-sabotage efforts must continue for a long time, because the enormous area of the city requires detailed inspection of every single house. That’s what our counter-sabotage group’s servicemen are doing now,” he said.
Think tank ISW noted in its 29 December report that Russia's President Vladimir Putin and senior military officials "continued to heavily aggrandize Russian operations near Kupiansk despite all available evidence indicating that Ukrainian forces have liberated much of the town and surrounding area."
Earlier, Viktor Trehubov, head of communications for the Joint Forces grouping, said the clearing operation inside Kupiansk is moving slowly because of the urban setting and the continued presence of civilians.
Previously he stated that Russian troops are trying to offset recent failures within the city by carrying out attacks near Kupiansk. However, their efforts have not been successful. Inside the city itself, Ukrainian units are continuing to clear out remaining hostile troops.
