In Kharkiv Oblast, Russian forces are attempting to capture the Synkivka area within the Kupiansk district, but Ukrainian forces maintain control over the settlement. Kharkiv Oblast chief Oleh Syniehubov confirmed this during a press conference on 26 December, as reported by Ukrinform.

For months, Russian troops have been trying to seize Kupiansk, a key railway hub in northeastern Ukraine. Recently, Synkivka Village north of Kupiansk became the hottest spot in the area.

“Russian military forces and means are focusing efforts to seize Synkivka, but the settlement is controlled by the Armed Forces of Ukraine. In some places, hostilities are taking place on the outskirts; the enemy is being actively eliminated. If the [occupiers’] military equipment entered the village and was destroyed, this does not make the settlement seized. This is a ‘grey zone’, in which hostilities are taking place,” Syniehubov said.