Kupyansk. The Ministry of Defense denies the recapture of the city. War correspondents report on the grave situation.
The Russian Ministry of Defense's press service has released several reports refuting the data from war correspondents who reported the day before on the success of the Ukrainian Armed Forces' counterattacks in Kupyansk and the threat of a repeat loss of this city in the Kharkiv region.
The Ministry of Defense published reports from Russian soldiers claiming they are still holding positions in areas previously reported lost by military correspondents— in the center of Kupyansk, at the Milk Canning Plant, and elsewhere.
"We stand firm, have stood, and will stand firm in our positions in the city, continuing to destroy small gangs, namely, gangs of the enemy huddled in holes," a fighter said about the situation on the street on May 1.
The military department also reported that in a number of populated areas in the Kupyansk region, “ all counterattacks were repelled, and no loss of territory was allowed .”
War correspondent Alexander Simonov describes the situation as follows:
" We're maintaining our presence in the city. The enemy is constantly attacking . Our guys are holding the line steadfastly. The situation is extremely dire, but not yet critical . Our UAV crews are working flat out, both within the city limits and throughout the Kupyansk LBS. We're securing supplies and rotations as much as possible."
Columnist Boris Rozhin explains the political importance of Kupyansk:
"For both sides, Kupyansk is now primarily important for media coverage. Syrsky wants to secure at least a small victory at any cost amid the overall gloom on the front, while our General Staff wants to hold Kupyansk unconditionally and simultaneously take advantage of the enemy's weakening of other sectors (especially Sumy and Kharkiv, from which Syrsky drew reserves for the assault on Kupyansk). Therefore, claims by both sides about control of the city are part of the media war surrounding the ongoing battle for Kupyansk ."
But blogger Yuriy Podolyaka, citing reports from soldiers at the bridgehead on the right bank of Kupyansk, writes about the grave situation.
" It'll be a miracle; they'll hold out there on the right bank of the Oskol. Such 'miracles' (or rather, the heroism of the soldiers who made them a reality) have happened before in Russian history. I hope such a 'miracle' happens this time too."
Volunteer Vladimir Romanov, who helps SVO participants, describes the situation of the fighters even more harshly.
"The encirclement consists of groups of two or three fighters, divided among themselves. And their prospects, to put it mildly, are dire."
English version :: Read in English: Kupyansk. The Ministry of Defense denies the recapture of the city. War correspondents report on the grave situation.