Russia's goal is to block and encircle Kupyansk — Ukrainian General Syrskyi on situation in east

Colonel-General Oleksandr Syrskyi, the commander of the Ukrainian Armed Forces, told UNIAN.

"The situation on the eastern front remains rather complicated. The enemy continues to conduct offensive actions almost along the entire strip, focusing its main efforts on the Kupyansk and Bakhmut directions. The enemy is suffering serious losses, primarily in personnel, but is constantly replenishing them by moving reserves, including from the territory of the Russian Federation," he said.

"The aggressor is trying to break through our defenses in the area of Kupyansk forest and on the Orlianske-Petropavlivka road in order to reach Kupyansk directly with its further blocking and encirclement," the general added.

• On October 18, UK intelligence named the main target of the Russian offensive in the Kupyansk-Lyman sector. It reported that Russia had increased its offensive activity in the Kupyansk-Lyman sector, as the Russian troops wanted to create a buffer zone around the Luhansk region. According to the guerrillas, Russia is moving equipment from Luhansk to the Kupyansk direction.