Russian advance halted in Kupiansk — Ukraine's 125th Brigade

Oleksandr Hudimov, head of the operational department of the 125th Separate Territorial Defense Brigade of the 3rd Army Corps, stated this on Espreso TV.

"Russian forces continue to violate the norms of international humanitarian law and use remote unguided mining. Also, Russian troops disguise themselves in civilian clothes and are stationed in the central hospital of Kupiansk. We received this information from prisoners. Russian forces continue to use infiltration tactics, moving in small groups. However, since the invading forces are detected and destroyed on the approaches to Kupiansk, they have ceased attempts to advance within the city itself and are positioned where they are unblocked. We detect Russian forces, we strike at them, and therefore, small groups of Russian forces have started to move less," Hudimov said.

According to the serviceman, today the Defense Forces manage to control the movement of Russian forces on the approaches to the city and quickly destroy their infantry groups.

"One of the reasons why the Defense Forces managed to conduct a successful counterattack in Kupiansk was that Russian troops reported to their command about full control over the city. This is also confirmed by prisoners. They reported that they only needed to move and entrench themselves. However, as soon as they began to enter the city, they immediately came under fire. The forces and means of the Ukrainian Armed Forces, which have been transferred to this direction, allow controlling the movement of Russian troops and destroying them," he added.

• The General Staff reported that over the past day, December 29, 151 combat engagements were recorded on the Russian-Ukrainian front. The Defense Forces stopped 43 assault actions by the aggressor in the Pokrovsk direction.