Tregubov said Russian troops are holed up in buildings, massing forces and then advancing, getting resupplied largely by drones. He denied, however, Russian propaganda claims of Kupyansk being encircled.
“Their own citizens are asking: If Kupyansk is encircled, why is Ukrainian defense still ongoing,” the officer said.
“The Russians then clarified that by ‘encirclement’ they mean the ability to strike Ukrainian logistics [in the area] with drones.”
He noted that Russian fiber-optic, first-person-view drones can reach up to 40 kilometers from the front lines, but Ukrainian drones cover similar distances.
“Our logistics are complicated by constant attacks, but they remain stable,” Tregubov added.
Earlier, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy dismissed Russian statements about the encirclement of thousands of Ukrainian fighters near Kupyansk and Pokrovsk. He said the latest reports from the General Staff suggest Russian activity in the area this week was one-and-a-half to two times lower than in previous periods.