Kupiansk

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Kupiansk (Kupyansk) is a city in Kharkiv Oblast, northeastern Ukraine, lying on the Oskil River. It is the administrative center of Kupiansk Raion and the main rail junction for the region. The city is part of the Kupiansk urban hromada and is divided into three parts: Kupiansk (the main area), Kupiansk-Vuzlovyi (where the train station is), and Kivsharivka.

Key facts
- Area: about 33.34 square kilometers (12.87 square miles)
- Population: 560 (as of November 2025); about 26,627 in 2022 (much of the population has left)
- Time zone: UTC+2 (winter), UTC+3 (summer)
- Postal codes: 63700–63709

History and status
- Founded in 1655 as Sloboda Kupyansk; gained town status in 1685.
- It was part of Russia before World War II.
- In 2020, Ukraine reorganized local administration. Kupiansk Municipality was merged into Kupiansk Raion.

War and recent events
- In February 2022, Russian forces occupied Kupiansk. Ukrainian forces later liberated the city in September 2022.
- The city and surrounding areas suffered heavy damage from fighting and shelling, with hospitals, bridges, factories, and homes damaged.
- Since 2023–2025, fighting around Kupiansk continued at times. Reports from different sides have given conflicting claims about who controls the city.
- By late 2025, some Russian claims spoke of control, but Ukrainian officials and independent observers disputed those claims. In December 2025, President Zelenskyy said the city had not been captured, describing ongoing efforts to clear and secure the area, including work to protect civilians.

Current situation
- Kupiansk remains a strategically important rail hub and logistics route in the region.
- The city has seen extensive destruction, and most of its pre-war population has left.
- The situation on the ground has been fluid, with ongoing fighting and periodic shifts in control.