The international delegation, headed by Ana Lucía Bueno, ICRC Public Health Coordinator, and Sujit Panda, Head of the Physical Rehabilitation…
The “Khartia” search-and-strike group conducted a successful counterattack near Kupiansk, eliminating a breakthrough by Russian forces and completely cutting off all ground routes for their entry into the city. As a result of the operation, the enemy grouping in Kupiansk, numbering more than 200 servicemembers, is now fully encircled.
This was reported by the command of the 2nd Corps of the National Guard of Ukraine, “Khartia”.
Formation and results of the “Khartia” search-and-strike group
The “Khartia” SSG was created by order of the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, Oleksandr Syrskyi, in September 2025 to eliminate a critical enemy breakthrough north of Kupiansk and to liberate the city. The group included units of the 13th NGU Brigade “Khartia”, the 475th Assault Regiment “Kod 9.2,” the 92nd Assault Brigade, the Defence Intelligence Foreign Legion, and the 144th Mechanized Brigade. Planning and command of the operation were entrusted to the 2nd NGU Corps “Khartia.”
Key results of the operation (October — December 2025):
- Elimination of enemy forces: 1,027 Russian servicemembers destroyed, 291 occupiers wounded, 13 taken prisoner.
- Liberation of territory: the villages of Kindrashivka and Radkivka, along with their outskirts and surrounding forests, have been fully liberated. In addition, the enemy was pushed out of several dozen houses in the northern part of Kupiansk itself.
- Operational success: Ukrainian forces broke through to the Oskil River north of Kupiansk, completely cutting off all ground routes for the occupiers’ entry into the city.
Encirclement and continued fighting
Units of the “Khartia” SSG crushed several battalions and assault groups of Russia’s 68th Motor Rifle Division and the 27th Motor Rifle Brigade.
Ground access for Russian occupiers to Kupiansk is now fully blocked. All exits from the gas pipeline, which the enemy had used to infiltrate the city, are also under fire control. Enemy resupply — while they attempt daily to break through the defense — is carried out exclusively by aerial drones.
Colonel Ihor “Kornet” Obolenskyi, Commander of the 2nd NGU Corps “Khartia,” noted: “Fighting in the city center is still ongoing, but soon Ukrainian Kupiansk will be fully liberated.” He also thanked adjacent units for their cooperation, including the 127th and 101st Brigades, Special Operations Forces units, the SBU “Alpha”, and the National Police “Kord”.
