• National Guard says it captured villages, areas near Kupyansk, cut Russian supply routes, and helped stabilize front in Kharkiv region

ISTANBUL

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said that achieving results on the battlefield is essential for Ukraine to make progress in diplomacy, according to the Ukrinform news agency.

In a message shared on Telegram, Zelenskyy, during a visit to Kupyansk city, said he met Ukrainian soldiers operating near Kupyansk and thanked them for their efforts against Russian forces.

“Today is the Kupyansk direction, our soldiers who are achieving results for Ukraine here. I was there, I congratulated the guys. I thank every unit, everyone who is fighting here,” he said.

He stressed that military strength directly affects diplomatic talks, saying strong positions on the front lead to strong positions in discussions on ending the war.

“All our strong positions inside the country are strong positions in the conversation about ending the war,” Zelenskyy added.

Meanwhile, Units of Ukraine’s National Guard claimed that it captured the villages of Kindrashivka and Radkivka, as well as several neighborhoods in northern Kupyansk, cutting Russian supply routes and helping stabilize the situation in the Kupyansk direction.

In a Facebook statement, the command said the advances blocked key logistics lines to the city and placed Kupyansk under the fire control of Ukrainian forces, while fighting continues south of the city.

The Russian side has not yet responded to the claims, and independent verification is difficult due to the ongoing conflict.

​​​​​​​Kupyansk, in Ukraine’s northeastern Kharkiv region, remains an important frontline area amid continued fighting between Ukrainian and Russian forces.