Kupyansk defenses are being reinforced like in Kharkiv - governor

This was reported to Suspilne by the head of the Kharkiv Regional Military Administration, Oleh Syniehubov.

"We are building the defense of Kupyansk on the model of Kharkiv, when we built a ring defense. I won't give any specifics, but we are creating everything necessary for the military so that they can only destroy our enemy," the official said.

According to him, as of December 2023, fortifications are being built in all directions, but four are priority ones.

"We are working around the clock. We are constantly monitoring the enemy's actions, and we have to take action. As for fortifications, we are building them in all directions. There are four priority ones: Sumy, Kupyansk, Lyman, Borivsk," said the head of the Kharkiv Regional Military Administration.

He noted that the enemy is constantly shelling the center and private sector of Kupyansk. About 350 children are currently staying in the town.

On November 30, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy ordered to strengthen defense and build fortifications in all major areas. "Of course, these are primarily Avdiivka, Maryinka and other areas in Donetsk region - maximum attention. Kharkiv region is the Kupyansk direction, as well as the Kupyansk-Lyman defense line. And the whole of Kharkiv, Sumy, Chernihiv, Kyiv, Rivne and Volyn regions. Also the south - Kherson region," the president said.

Evacuation from the frontline regions

In March 2023, the Ukrainian government approved a mechanism for the forced evacuation of children accompanied by a parent or other legal guardian from active hostilities.

On October 27, the Kharkiv Regional Defense Council decided to forcibly evacuate families with children from Kupyansk district. "The Defense Council of Kharkiv region decided to announce the forced evacuation of families with children from Kupyansk, Kindrashiv and Kuryliv communities of Kupyansk district, which are under constant enemy shelling," said Syniehubov. Families with children are to be evacuated from the following settlements: Kindrashivka, Tyshchenkivka, Kupyansk, Kupyansk-Vuzlovyi, Kivsharivka, Glushkivka, Kolisnykivka, Kurylivka, Novoosynove, Podoly. 

On November 29, the head of the Regional Military Administration, Oleh Syniehubov, said that all children had been evacuated from three communities in Kharkiv region.

However, on December 12, it became known that evacuations could be announced from several more communities in Kharkiv region.