Ukrainian authorities have ordered the evacuation of families from dozens of villages near the devastated northeastern city of Kupiansk, citing a “worsening security situation” amid continued Russian attacks.

Oleh Syniehubov, the governor of Kharkiv region, said on Telegram that 409 families, including 601 children, were instructed to leave 27 settlements. A local official later told public broadcaster Suspilne that the evacuation list had been expanded to 40 localities.

For several months, Russian forces have been pressing their offensive towards Kupiansk, a key target in their drive westwards through central and eastern Ukraine during the more than three-and-a-half-year conflict.

The city was initially captured by Russian troops in the early stages of the February 2022 invasion but was retaken by Ukrainian forces later that same year.

President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said last week that Ukrainian troops were holding firm in critical frontline areas, including Kupiansk, and noted a counter-offensive under way near Dobropillia to the south.

Russian President Vladimir Putin recently told senior military officials that Moscow’s troops held the upper hand across the front lines, while Ukraine’s top commander, Oleksandr Syrskyi, estimated the front now stretches some 1,200 kilometres (around 775 miles).

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