--- title: "Battle for the Kharkiv Region: How Ukrainian Defenders Are Holding Back the Russian Advance Near Sumy and Kupiansk" description: "πŸ”₯ Russian troops are trying to expand control in the Kharkiv region, but Ukrainian defenders are successfully holding back their advance! πŸ›‘οΈ The Sumy and Kupiansk directions remain key points of tension. πŸ‡ΊπŸ‡¦ #Ukraine #KharkivRegion #Defense" date: 2026-06-26T11:46:00.000Z lang: en url: https://xab.info/en/posts/battle-for-the-kharkiv-region-how-ukrainian-defenders-are-holding-back-the-russian-advance-near-sumy-and-kupiansk tags: [] publisher: "XAB.info" --- # Battle for the Kharkiv Region: How Ukrainian Defenders Are Holding Back the Russian Advance Near Sumy and Kupiansk ![Russian soldiers with the letter Z on their sleeves stand on a road in the Kharkiv region, with armored vehicles visible in the background](https://xab.info/media/2026/06/26/bitva-za-kharkovshchinu-kak-ukrainskie-zashchitniki-sderzhivayut-natisk-rossiyskih-voysk-u-sum-i-kupyanska/bitva-za-kharkovshchinu-kak-ukrainskie-zashchitniki-sderzhivayut-natisk-rossiyskih-voysk-u-sum-i-kupyanska-1.webp) The situation on the eastern front remains tense, particularly in the Kharkiv region. Russian occupiers are making active attempts to expand their zone of control, yet Ukrainian defenders continue to firmly hold their positions. This was stated by Viktor Trezubov, spokesperson for the Group of Joint Forces, during a televised marathon. ### Sumy Direction: Attempt to Break Through On the Sumy axis, Russian troops are trying to advance east of the city of Sumy. Despite intense efforts, settlements remain under the control of Ukrainian forces. Trezubov noted that the number of combat engagements in this sector is comparable to all other directions combined. ### Vovchansk and Yuzhno-Slobidsky Directions: Stability The situation on the Vovchansk and Yuzhno-Slobidsky axes remains stable. Russian troops still fail to establish control over the city. Despite active attempts to break through, Ukrainian defenders are effectively holding back the offensive. ### Kupiansk Direction: New Point of Tension The Kupiansk direction remains the second most intense. Here, Russian troops are trying to break through to the city itself, reduce the Ukrainian bridgehead east of the Oskil River, and increase pressure towards Kozachya Lopan from the border settlement of Granov. Trezubov called this a "relatively new point of effort on the Russian side". ### Overall Picture: Initiative on the Side of Ukraine According to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, Russian troops attempted to advance on 12 fronts, but almost everywhere they lost the initiative. Slow enemy progress is recorded only on two or three sections where Russia has concentrated a huge amount of manpower and equipment. ### Enemy Tactics: Assault Groups After a trip to the Konstantynivka direction, Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine Oleksandr Syrsky stated that the enemy is pressing with small assault groups, looking for weak points in the defense. However, the Defense Forces are tracking these actions and inflicting significant casualties. ### International Reaction: Support for Ukraine Even the US President stated that Ukrainian military personnel are "doing well" on the front, despite Russia's significant advantage in army size and resources. A similar statement was made by the US State Department. These statements have caused dissatisfaction in the Kremlin, which believes that Washington is changing its approach to the war. Thus, despite active attempts by Russian occupiers to expand their zone of control, Ukrainian defenders continue to successfully hold back the advance, demonstrating high efficiency and resilience under difficult military conditions.