Russian troops have established a bridgehead on the west bank of the Oskil River, increasing the pressure on Ukrainian forces on the periphery of Kharkiv.

The Russian army had repeatedly tried to cross this river near the city of Kupiansk. “The enemy is trying to consolidate its position in the Dvorichna community (…) and expand the bridgehead,” said Adriy Besedin, head of the Kupiansk military command. He warned that the situation is “extremely difficult” for Ukrainian forces as the invaders try to flank them.

Russian troops had crossed the Oskil River in the early weeks of the invasion, in 2022, but were pushed back by Ukrainian forces a few months later.

Besedin said Russian troops have now advanced just two kilometres from the city of Kupiansk, which had a population of about 25,000 before the war began.

Moscow’s troops have been reinforcing their positions in several areas of eastern Ukraine and on Monday announced they had captured the town of Kurakhove in the Donetsk region. However, Kiev denies that this town has fallen into the hands of the invaders and maintains that fighting in the region is still raging.