Russian tanks enter Kupyansk, fierce fighting at Zaoskolye station
Russian tanks enter the city of Kupyansk, fighting is taking place at Zaoskolye station; Ukrainian troops counterattack unsuccessfully.
Báo Khoa học và Đời sống•21/08/2025
The Russian Military Review website reported that the Russian Armed Forces (RFAF) had captured the Zaoskolye outpost in the city of Kupyansk, Kharkov province; increased pressure on key defense posts and cut off the supply line of the Ukrainian Armed Forces (AFU) there. According to information from the scene, the AFU unsuccessfully counterattacked Russian positions on Lermontov Street with tanks. Fighting is currently raging in the Zaoskolye area, with Russian forces using armored vehicles and artillery, attempting to reinforce their strategically important positions. In addition, RFAF units have entered Sobolivka west of Kupyansk and are encircling the city from behind.
The advance at Sobolivka confirmed the RFAF General Staff's intention to extend control of the approaches west of Kupyansk; this could lead to the encirclement of the city. Rybar channel reported that Russian units surrounded Kupyansk a few days ago. Since then, the AFU has been actively trying to counterattack, as they are fully aware that the loss of the supply line would be the end of the Ukrainian garrison in the city. In turn, the RFAF Northern Group is trying to strengthen the presence of assault groups inside Kupyansk. Judging by the latest information, this task is gradually being completed. At the same time, RFAF units are doing everything possible to eliminate AFU pockets of resistance on the approaches to the city, in order to finally close the encirclement. While the 1st Azov Corps and the 92nd Assault Brigade of the AFU were filling the gap north of Pokrovsk, the RFAF, using its “thousand cuts” tactic, significantly intensified its offensive in other directions. The Military Summary channel reported that on August 20, the center of the city of Kupyansk was captured by Russian suicide commandos. The Rybar channel reported that the Zaoskolye railway station, located on the left bank of the Osgyir River, in the city of Kupyansk, is now under Russian control. This means that the AFU has lost Kupyansk. The area east of the Severski Donets River, north of Kharkov, is no longer safe for the AFU, allowing the RFAF to once again advance into Izyum.
How are Russian reconnaissance, commando and special forces fighting? These Russian suicide squads rely on reconnaissance attacks by small infantry groups to identify weak points in the AFU defense line. Then mobilize large Russian forces to penetrate those weak points; or use UAVs, Su-34 bombers and long-range artillery to attack with firepower. This happened in Pokrovsk, Kostiantynivka and Kupyansk, where small Russian units roamed the cities, leaving the Ukrainian army defenseless, while the main Russian forces had not yet “shown up”. Meanwhile, in the Seversk region, after capturing the Serebryanka area, the RFAF began to destroy the remnants of the AFU, especially the Ukrainian special forces, who refused to surrender and hid in basements, waiting for the Russians to leave before escaping; or waiting for the Russians to enter the city and relax their attention, then organizing a surprise attack. The RFAF has also launched attacks in the Kamianskoye and Novoshelovka areas, and is now slowly approaching the city of Seversk, preparing for a full-scale assault. The Russians are now, instead of attacking, surrounding the city, attacking with firepower and whatever else they can.
Due to the lack of troops, the city of Kostiantynivka is about to be “abandoned” by the AFU. Not only the AFU’s 1st Azov Corps, which was initially the main force defending the area, has retreated, but also the National Guard of Ukraine and the “NATO artillery brigade (self-propelled artillery provided by NATO)”, which was deployed northwest of Pokrovsk. As a result, the city of Kostiantynivka is completely devoid of artillery and elite troops, consisting only of Ukrainian conscripts. In the event of a Russian attack, the AFU would be completely unable to support Kostiantynivka. If the RFAF launched an attack, the AFU would not be able to hold Kupyansk or Kostiantynivka. Furthermore, due to the lack of firepower, any AFU unit that retreated too late would be destroyed by the RFAF. To counter Russia's decisive summer offensive, the AFU consolidated all its assault brigades into a strategic reserve, directly commanded by General Syrsky, Commander-in-Chief of the AFU, from the headquarters of the Ukrainian Army. Colonel Valentin Manko, commander of the 33rd Assault Brigade of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, has been appointed commander of the newly created Assault Corps. These assault brigades and units will no longer resemble the previous AFU units, but will instead resemble “firefighter” units. Currently, the AFU Strategic Reserve consists of five assault brigades.
This must be the 2.0 version of the Ukrainian Wagner Mercenary Group! Unlike the Russian version, as they may receive support in terms of advanced military equipment, their specific combat capabilities are still unclear. There is definitely a gap between them and the Russian Wagner mercenaries. (photo source Military Review, Ukrinform, Kyiv Post).
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