Ukrainian troops on the northeastern front near the Oskil River are preparing for a possible Russian summer offensive, The Guardian has reported. Positioned under camouflage and trees, artillery units from Ukraine’s National Guard, including Soviet era howitzers, are actively working to stop Russian advances towards Kupiansk and the key R79 highway.
Captain Sahi from Ukraine’s First Brigade explained their mission is to prevent enemy crossings by targeting Russian logistics. Russian forces have reduced attempts to move equipment recently due to repeated failures. Ukrainian forces swiftly destroy pontoon bridges and use drones to eliminate enemy hardware before it reaches the front. Some Russian vehicles have sunk while trying to cross the river, leaving the corpses of soldiers lying next to the wreckage.
Artilleryman Yuri noted that Russians often leave their dead behind. “Sometimes they take them, sometimes they don’t. Dogs eat the bodies,” he said. “A lot of Russians died. We like it.” The frontline remains fluid, with battles raging in fields and devastated forests. Russian tactics have changed, using all-terrain vehicles, motorcycles, and even civilian cars. However, despite some temporary gains, Ukrainian troops often reclaim lost ground in back and forth engagements.
Moscow’s claim of a ceasefire for Victory Day lacks credibility, as Russian dictator Vladimir Putin has a record of breaking similar promises, including over Easter. While Russia experienced some success in autumn 2024, its military campaign has largely stalled. Fighting continues in Donetsk and near the ruined town of Dvorichna, where local civilians describe the horrors of living under constant shelling. One resident, Yevhen, shared how his neighbour died from untreated wounds. “We carried the body to a barn. We did not have time to bury him. We had to run to safety.”
In Kupiansk, Mayor Andrii Besedin confirmed the town faces around 1,500 strikes each month. Despite the dangerous conditions, roughly 750 civilians remain in the war zone. Soldiers believe the Kremlin could exploit any sign of Ukrainian weakness in the coming months. “Whenever they see a gap, they take what they can,” said drone operator Oleksii.
Disillusionment is growing among Ukrainian troops over US peace proposals that suggest concessions to Moscow, including ceding Crimea and four other occupied regions. Ukrainian officials view this plan as legitimising land grabs by force. One soldier stated clearly, “This is our land. Trump cannot decide our borders.”
