"I am in the Kupyansk area with our fighters who are completing their tasks for Ukraine here. Russia continuously talks about Kupyansk, but the reality speaks for itself. I visited the units and congratulated them", Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said on 12/12.

A video posted alongside showed him wearing a bulletproof vest and taking photos next to the Kupyansk sign at the city's entrance. Geolocation data indicates this location is on the southwestern outskirts of the city, about 3 km from the central area.

President Zelensky at the entrance to Kupyansk on 12/12. Video: X/ZelenskyyUa

"Achieving results on the frontline is important for Ukraine to do the same on the diplomatic front", President Zelensky stated.

The 2nd Corps of the National Guard of Ukraine announced it had recaptured several northern districts in Kupyansk, cutting off enemy supply lines and encircling hundreds of Russian soldiers.

"It can be said that Russian forces in the city are completely isolated. They did not understand what was happening for a long time, but now they know they are surrounded", said Ihor Oboliensky, commander of the 2nd Corps.

DeepState, an analytical group linked to Ukraine's Ministry of Defense, stated that Ukrainian forces had recaptured at least three villages north and west of Kupyansk. Ukrainian soldiers have retaken a northern part of the city and are gradually closing the encirclement on Russian forces in the urban center.

"Among the recently recaptured Ukrainian territories, there is a portion of Kupyansk city through a tactical counterattack on this front", the US-based Institute for the Study of War (ISW) reported on 12/12.

Battlefield situation on the Kupyansk front. Graphic: ISW

AMK Mapping, an X account specializing in open-source intelligence on the conflict, stated that Ukraine had cut off the last logistics route for Russian forces west of Kupyansk, meaning all supplies must now be delivered by drones.

"Ukraine has not yet been able to consolidate new positions; Russian units have repelled most of the attacks in this area. The Ukrainian command is deploying more reserve forces to Kupyansk, including mercenaries, but they are suffering heavy losses and facing increasing difficulties in holding key positions. The number of Russian glide bomb attacks remains quite low, mainly targeting logistics routes leading to the city", the account reported.

The Russian Ministry of Defense has not commented on Ukraine's statements.

President Zelensky photographed at the entrance to Kupyansk on 12/12. Photo: Office of the President of Ukraine

Kupyansk, spanning over 33 sq km, is situated on the Oskol River, approximately 85 km from the provincial capital of Kharkov. General Sergey Kuzovlev, commander of Russia's Western Military District, described it as a "critical link" in Ukraine's defense system in Kharkov province. Controlling Kupyansk could allow Russia to advance further west and support forces in the Donbass region.

Russian Chief of the General Staff Valery Gerasimov stated on 20/11 that the Western Military District had gained full control of Kupyansk, but Ukraine immediately denied this. Russian President Vladimir Putin on 2/12 invited foreign journalists to visit Kupyansk and Pokrovsk to "see for themselves what is happening and who is in control".

Pham Giang (According to Reuters, Izvestia, Kyiv Independent)