Fighters of the Khartiia search-and-strike group, operating in the center of Kupiansk, returned from a combat mission for recovery. Photos released after leaving the positions capture the true cost of the battles for the city — exhaustion, injured hands, bloodstained clothing, and fatigue behind which stands a preserved defensive line.

This was reported on the page of the 2nd Corps of the National Guard of Ukraine “Khartiia”.

After completing tasks in the central part of the city, the Khartiia fighters returned from their positions for short-term recovery. The images show not a parade front, but the real front: dirt, calluses, traces of blood, and tension that cannot be hidden by staging. This is what the daily reality looks like for units fighting in urban environments.

The corps emphasizes that the operation to liberate Kupiansk is ongoing. The Khartiia search-and-strike group, together with other units of the Defense Forces of Ukraine, continues to operate in the city and its outskirts, fighting for every street and every block.

The fighters work around the clock — in difficult urban combat conditions, under constant threat from artillery, aviation, and drones. Despite fatigue, Khartiia personnel return to their positions after recovery to continue exerting pressure on the enemy.