Russian Strikes Intensify in Kupiansk, Targeting Civilians and Law Enforcement

The security situation in Kupiansk, located in Ukraine’s Kharkiv region, continues to deteriorate as Russian forces intensify attacks on the city, according to Oleh Syniehubov, the head of the Kharkiv Regional Military Administration on January 21.

Utilizing drones and multiple launch rocket systems, the strikes have targeted both civilian infrastructure and law enforcement, causing injuries and significant damage.

On the morning of January 21, a Russian Molniya-2 drone struck a police vehicle, injuring three officers who sustained shrapnel wounds. The attack also damaged a civilian car, leaving a 64-year-old woman and her 68-year-old husband injured. Emergency services provided immediate medical assistance to the victims.

Later in the day, at 2:35 p.m. and 2:50 p.m., two private residences in Kupiansk were hit by artillery fire. Regional officials report ongoing shelling throughout the day; no casualties have been reported from these strikes.

Kupiansk has been under frequent attacks, with law enforcement personnel becoming a recurring target.

On January 20, Russian forces carried out a similar strike against police officers near the city. Local authorities warn of worsening conditions and continue to assess the full extent of the damage caused by the latest assaults.

Earlier, Andrii Besedin, head of the Kupiansk City Military Administration, reported that the front line was just two kilometers from Kupiansk, with Russian forces intensifying assault operations to advance toward the critical Svatove-Kupiansk highway and other strategic locations near the city.