The evacuation from Kupiansk is becoming more complicated: RMA warns of a new level of threat
The danger to the lives and safety of Kupiansk residents continues to grow. According to reports from the leadership of the regional military administration (RMA), the process of evacuating the city has become much more vulnerable and risky due to intensified Russian strikes, including the use of FPV kamikaze drones, as well as shelling by Russian forces. This endangers not only the community that has been under enemy fire for over a year but also those trying to evacuate people from the dangerous area. As Andrii Kanashkevych, head of the Kupiansk RMA, stated live on the state broadcaster "Suspilne," the situation on the ground has significantly worsened. Previously, volunteers and rescue services could easily assist residents in evacuating with armored vehicles and mobile groups. Now, this practice has become impossible due to the increasing number of dangerous attacks, primarily kamikaze drones. "Earlier, we could involve volunteer groups that quickly evacuated people from Kupiansk under difficult conditions. Now, the situation has changed: evacuations require the involvement of specialized units with armored vehicles and appropriate weapons. They need to do this carefully to avoid putting people at additional risk. This indicates that the situation in the city and its surroundings has significantly deteriorated," said Kanashkevych. According to the head, Russians are ruthlessly hitting Kupiansk and nearby settlements every day. Shelling, especially using FPV drones capable of precise targeting and destroying moving targets, has become a common occurrence. "These drones attack all targets that catch their interest, whether it’s a civilian vehicle or military equipment. They are especially active near the city district, destroying everything in their path, and they do so indiscriminately," emphasizes the RMA head. Due to these dangerous attacks, the restoration of vital communications has become much more difficult. Water, gas, and electricity—some of which had been partially restored after previous damages—are again interrupted due to shelling and destruction. Such situations are especially characteristic of the right bank of the Oskil River, where ongoing attacks prevent proper infrastructure maintenance, forcing residents to live in constant tension. "We see how hard it is for people to live under these conditions. Moreover, the example of the Petropavlivka community in the northeastern part of the region illustrates that restoring any services is almost impossible," says Kanashkevych. "Although this community was deoccupied back in September 2022, residents still lack electricity, water, and gas. These are consequences of constant shelling and destruction, and returning life to normal is still very difficult." According to the regional administrator, since the beginning of Russia's aggression in September 2022, about 349 people have died in the Kupiansk district, with hundreds injured. These numbers reflect the tragic reality of this war, which currently has no end in sight and results in enormous human losses. As a reminder, as early as May this year, the situation in Kupiansk and surrounding settlements was described as critical. Nearly 90% of the city was destroyed or damaged, indicating the scale of destruction and ongoing humanitarian crisis. The lives of residents remain under threat, and evacuation continues to be a complicated and dangerous task. Overall, the situation in Kupiansk and its vicinity remains extremely tense and requires efforts not only from local services but also international support to ensure the safety and humanitarian needs of the population. The war not only destroys infrastructure but also endangers the lives of thousands of civilians who are forced to survive under even more difficult conditions.