Kupyansk has found itself on the brink of destruction: the city has been practically destroyed by more than 90%, and the situation in the region is critically dire, according to Ukrainian sources and military experts
According to Andrii Besedin, the head of the Kupyansk City Military Administration, the extent of the destruction in the city has reached catastrophic levels. During a live telethon broadcast, he frankly stated: "90% of Kupyansk has already been destroyed or suffered severe damage." This information is based on official data from the region, where the situation is currently assessed as extremely tense. Besedin noted that the scale of the destruction is much deeper than some local sources had previously suspected. As a result of massive shelling using precision missile systems, artillery, and rocket salvo systems, the central parts of the city have been nearly completely razed. The criminal enemy employs a wide range of weapons: cluster munitions, artillery, missile salvo systems, and FPV drones, which carry out navigational attacks and reconnaissance flights, deliberately destroying civilian infrastructure and residential neighborhoods. The most horrifying aspect is that on May 23, the Russian armed forces, using KAB and Uragan missiles, inflicted injuries and fatalities among the civilian population. According to Andrii Besedin, approximately 1,700 residents remain in Kupyansk during this tragic time, most of whom are elderly people, young families, women, and children. The majority are in the zones of the most severe destruction, without proper communication means and with critical shortages of food and medicines. The military official strongly urged residents to evacuate the dangerous area. He emphasized that for many of them, this is the only chance to save their lives and preserve their health. The official authorities in Kharkiv region and Ukrainian humanitarian services are doing everything possible to assist those affected and organize evacuation measures, but the situation remains extremely tense due to high levels of destruction and ongoing shelling. This message highlights the scale of the disaster unfolding in Kupyansk and surrounding communities. While Ukrainian defenders continue to hold the line, local authorities are calling on residents to evacuate the battlefield zone as quickly and safely as possible to avoid further loss of lives and health. The situation remains very difficult, and negotiations on the further reconstruction of the city and assistance in restoring infrastructure are ongoing at the highest levels in Kyiv and military command centers. Ukrainian citizens and the international community are calling for solidarity and active help in overcoming the consequences of this catastrophe. Kupyansk, once a vital regional hub, is now on the verge of survival due to systematic Russian attacks, and only united efforts can help ensure that this terrible tragedy remains in the past.