Counter-sabotage operation underway in Kupiansk, Russian prisoners captured – military administration

Andrii Besedin, head of the Kupiansk City Military Administration, said this during a press briefing, Ukrinform reports.

"The situation [for residents and the city's vital services] is critical. A counter-sabotage operation is underway in the city. Enemy sabotage and reconnaissance groups have infiltrated, and our Defense Forces are now eliminating them. There is information about a significant number of captured Russian saboteurs," Besedin said.

He added that Ukrainian defenders are doing everything possible to stabilize the situation.

"The frontline is less than a kilometer from Kupiansk, which allows the enemy to send in sabotage groups. As for regular army units, there are none in the community at this time," Besedin said.

He confirmed that Ukrainian forces destroyed a gas pipeline used by Russian troops to infiltrate the city's outskirts and amass forces. At the same time, he said, Russian forces continue to pound Kupiansk with intense shelling from various types of weapons, effectively leveling the city.

According to Besedin, about 740 residents remain in Kupiansk, and roughly 1,750 across the community as a whole — all under deadly threat.

"We have information that the enemy's task is to clear out the city, to destroy civilians. Evacuations are ongoing every day despite the life-threatening risks faced by evacuation groups — our volunteers, the State Emergency Service, and police. Yesterday we evacuated people, today evacuation efforts will continue, but each day it becomes harder and harder," he said.

He recalled that all city infrastructure has been destroyed, leaving no utilities, healthcare, or social services available.

"It is impossible to stay there any longer. Unfortunately, five people have been killed and 27 wounded just this month, in September. The shelling is massive. Aerial bombs weighing 1.5, 2, even 2.5 tonnes are destroying the city," Besedin said.

As reported earlier, over 95% of buildings and all utilities in Kupiansk have been destroyed or damaged. According to the General Staff of the Ukrainian Armed Forces, Russian forces continue attempts to build up their presence on the northern outskirts of Kupiansk. In particular, they used a pipeline to move personnel into the city, but Ukrainian forces are keeping the situation under control and destroying the invaders.