On Saturday, the Ukrainian military reported that it had entered the northeastern city of Kobyansk. Kupiansk is an important supply center. The city was previously completely under the control of Russian forces.

The SBU of Ukraine has published photos on social media showing soldiers in Kobyansk. The accompanying statement said the city “has always been and always will be Ukrainian” and that the country will be liberated “until the last centimeter”.

The Ukrainian army is making rapid advances in the northeastern Kharkiv region. According to President Volodymyr Zelensky, in recent days at least 30 places in the region have been liberated.

Kobyansk, which was occupied by the Russians at the beginning of the war, is also located in this region. Many of the railways that Russia uses to supply troops converge elsewhere in Ukraine.

The Ukrainian Armed Forces are now on their way to Izyum, further south. According to unconfirmed reports, the city has already been liberated. Russian state media Report that Russian forces have fled Izyum.

To the south, Ukrainian troops are also advancing. On Saturday, Natalia Gominiuk, a spokeswoman for the southern Ukrainian forces, said the armed forces had made progress “within tens of kilometres”.