Defence forces repel large-scale Russian attack on Kupiansk's left bank – video

The Achilles Strike UAV Battalion together with the guardsmen of the First Presidential Brigade of the National Guard of Ukraine Burevii and the 205th Battalion of the 241st Separate Territorial Defense Forces Brigade have repelled a Russian attack on the Kupiansk front.

Source: the Achilles Battalion of the 92nd Separate Air Assault Brigade named after Ivan Sirko

Details: On 23 December, the Russians attempted to expand its foothold on the left (east) bank of the Oskil River (Kupiansk front). The mechanised attack took place in two waves and lasted almost all day: convoys of armoured vehicles moved from the east, from the settlements of Berestove and Pishchane towards the coastal villages of Hlushkivka and Zahryzove.

The crews of the Achilles battalion's UAVs stopped 12 armoured vehicles. One infantry fighting vehicle and two tanks were destroyed. Eight infantry fighting vehicles and one tank were damaged. A total of 18 Russian soldiers were killed, and 6 more were wounded. The Russians launched an attack under the cover of rain and fog, apparently hoping that the difficult weather conditions would interfere with the operation of FPV drones. However, their hopes were not justified, and another attempt to expand its bridgehead on the left bank of the Oskil River failed.

This is the Russians’ fourth mechanised attack on this area of the front line in December. It is a bridgehead of the Ukrainian defence forces that stretches along the left (east) bank of the Oskil River. Its key settlements are Kupiansk, Kupiansk-Vuzlovyi and Borova.

Earlier, Anton Shmahailo, alias Banderas, the commander of the first strike company of the Achilles Battalion, suggested that the Russians had been ordered to achieve specific goals on this front by a specific date – probably to capture Kupiansk-Vuzlovyi by New Year's Day.

"The overall picture is that the enemy does not reckon with losses in manpower or equipment and is trying to move forward no matter what. This is what is happening on the Kupiansk front," says Banderas.

From time to time, Russian sabotage and reconnaissance groups manage to cross to the right (west) bank of the river, in particular, near the village of Novomlynsk, Kupiansk district. However, they failed to gain a foothold.

Also in November, the Russians made a successful attempt to sneak into the left-bank part of Kupiansk with several armoured vehicles, flying past Ukrainian units. However, within an hour, all the vehicles that broke through were destroyed, and the infantry were captured or killed.

Yurii Fedorenko, the commander of the Achilles Battalion, described the situation on this front as follows: "Russia is acting in a sprint mode, as it is trying to achieve certain situational successes on the battlefield in the shortest possible time. And Russian troops have been switched to kamikaze mode. The enemy's losses are not comparable with the results achieved – they are now the largest out of the entire period of the full-scale war."

Background:

• On 20 December, the Russians attempted to storm the outskirts of Kupiansk. Ukrainian defence forces repelled the attack and set fire to the Russian equipment. The Achilles Battalion’s crew destroyed three infantry fighting vehicles and a tank, and another infantry fighting vehicle was damaged. The Achilles Battalion of the 92nd Separate Air Assault Brigade together with the 116th Mechanised Brigade, the 114th Territorial Defence Forces Brigade and the 1st Burevii Brigade participated in repelling the attack.
• On 11 December, the Achilles Battalion together with the guardsmen of the 1st Presidential Brigade of the National Guard of Ukraine and paratroopers of the 77th Brigade repelled an attempted mechanised offensive by Russian troops on the Kupiansk front, destroying one tank, three infantry fighting vehicles, and three armoured vehicles.
• On 18 December, the Achilles Battalion inflicted significant losses on the Russians on the Kupiansk front, destroying 21 pieces of Russian military equipment. 

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