Khartiia controls center of Kupiansk, clearing operations ongoing

The search-and-strike unit Khartiia controls the central part of the city of Kupiansk in Kharkiv region and the city council building; stabilization measures are ongoing.

According to Ukrinform, National Guard Commander Oleksandr Pivnenko stated this on Telegram and published a corresponding video.

"The search-and-strike unit 'Khartiia' maintains control over the central part of Kupiansk and the city council building," he said.

Pivnenko also reported that servicemen of the reconnaissance and strike group of the 4th battalion of the Khartia Brigade continue clearing the city of remaining Russian occupation forces.

As previously reported, according to the Institute for the Study of War (ISW), Russian authorities are trying to create an alternative picture of the fighting by systematically spreading false claims about the alleged capture of Kupiansk. At the same time, Ukrainian forces have liberated most of the city and adjacent territories. ISW analysts note that the spread of disinformation is part of the Kremlin's information strategy aimed at influencing the position of the United States and its partners regarding possible peace negotiations.

In particular, as of January 12, fighters of the 2nd Corps of the National Guard of Ukraine Khartiia established control over the Kupiansk City Council building in Kharkiv Oblast and are completing the clearing of the city.

Earlier, Viktor Trehubov, head of the communications department of the Joint Forces Grouping, stated that the Russian command had tasked its troops with capturing Kupiansk at any cost, but they have failed to do so.

According to Trehubov, Russian forces that claimed to have captured Kupiansk in December 2025 were in fact represented there by small units numbering up to two hundred personnel and were in a difficult situation, while their attempts to apply pressure in this direction were unsuccessful.

Photo: Khartiia Brigade