Ukraine's military said on Thursday its troops were in full control of the northeastern Ukrainian city of Kupiansk and that their forces had stopped a Russian advance towards the railway hub.
A Russian-installed official said earlier that Moscow's forces were gaining a foothold on the outskirts of the city, more than 2½ years since Russia launched its full-scale invasion.
Kupiansk was seized by Moscow's forces in the early days of their February 2022 invasion and recaptured by Ukrainian troops in a rapid counter-offensive months later. In recent months, the area has seen an upsurge of activity by Russian forces.