On December 12, 2025, Ukrainian forces reportedly counterattacked russian forces in the north west quadrant of Kupiansk, a former rail logistics hub in Kharkiv region. In recent weeks, Ukrainian forces have conducted clearance operations in the town and contested russian logistics supply operations in the vicinity, UK Defense Intelligence reports.
Also on December 12, 2025, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy visited Kupiansk in person reportedly 2 km from russian lines and 500 m from urban combat areas. This follows russian Chief of the General Staff Valery Gerasimov's inaccurate November 20 claim that russian forces had taken control of Kupiansk, and russian President Vladimir Putin's December 12 inaccurate claim that russian forces had surrounded Kupiansk, and purported invitation to the media to visit.
Read more: UK Defense Intelligence: russia Seeks to Freeze Ukraine Into Crisis
Russian forces are continuing to conduct daily attacks and attempting to infiltrate Kupiansk from the north, as well as utilising the Oskil river which runs north to south along the town's eastern flank. Ukrainian forces are continuing to defend the centre of Kupiansk, with russian forces highly likely contesting the majority of the town. Russian forces are continuing to make incremental tactical gains into Kupiansk's southern suburbs.
Russian forces took control of Kupiansk in February 2022 shortly after initiating the illegal, full-scale invasion, before Ukrainian forces recaptured it in September 2022.
As Defense Express previously reported, claims from the russian military commanders on the December 11, 2025, that the russian Ground Forces have taken complete control of the Ukrainian town of Siversk, northern Donetsk, are likely inaccurate.
The russian Ground Forces are continuing efforts to infiltrate Siversk, taking advantage of foggy conditions, and have likely taken positions in the centre of the town.
Read more: UK Defense Intelligence Casts Doubt on russian Claims of Capturing Siversk
