Russia shells villages in Kupyansk district with MLRS: one killed, two wounded

Details are provided by the Kharkiv Regional Prosecutor's Office.

According to the investigation, at about 12:50 pm, Russian troops fired on the village of Senkove, Kupyansk district.

"A 17-year-old boy sustained shrapnel wounds," Kharkiv prosecutors said.

At 2:20 pm, they fired on the village of Nechvolodivka, Kupyansk district.

"Residential buildings, outbuildings, and cars were destroyed and damaged in the village. A 50-year-old civilian was killed. Another woman was injured, and medics treated her on the spot," the Kharkiv regional prosecutor's office said.

The villages of Senkove and Nechvolodivka are located on the western bank of the Oskil River. 

Senkove is located right on the shore of the Oskil reservoir.

Nechvolodivka is separated from Kupyansk by the village of Sobolivka.

Russian army's preparations for an offensive in the Kupyansk area

The Kupyansk direction is one of the most difficult on the front. Russian forces keep trying to regain control of the city of Kupyansk, liberated by the Ukrainian army, where the strategic Kupyansk-Vuzlovyi railway junction is located. Gaining control of the town would enable the Russians to advance further in their offensive towards Kharkiv.

According to the American Institute for the Study of War (ISW), Russian troops are planning an offensive on Kupyansk in December-February 2024. According to the ISW, Russian regular troops in the Kupyansk direction are mainly deployed from the Western Military District and thus have a certain organizational coherence, unlike troops in other parts of Ukraine, which are often deployed from different military districts and airborne units. The relative coherence of the Russian Armed Forces grouping in the Kupyansk direction ensures more effective command and control of these forces. 

"It remains unclear if these WMD elements are able to conduct large-scale assaults that would be significantly more effective than the disorganized and costly Russian offensive operations around Avdiivka," the ISW report says.

In his turn, Oleksandr Musiyenko, director of the Ukrainian Center for Military Legal Studies, noted that Russia regrouped and replenished reserves in the Kupyansk direction and near Lyman.

"In the Kupyansk direction and near Lyman, the enemy regrouped and replenished its forces. The enemy has created additional assault companies. The number of people in these assault companies is about 160. The enemy plans to use these companies with the support of equipment. Near Lyman, the Russians planned to launch an offensive on January 5. The offensive near Kupyansk may take place on January 10 or 15," explained Musiyenko on Espreso TV.

According to the director of the Center for Military Legal Studies, weather conditions have changed, and Russian troops could not attack in the Kupyansk direction at all.

"Before that, the Russians were forced to redeploy their troops to the Avdiivka direction, where they suffered heavy losses. This slowed down their offensive near Kupyansk. From time to time, enemy troops intensified their offensive activity, but our Defense Forces repelled them. It is likely that the Russians will resume offensive actions near Synkivka," noted Musiyenko.