Ukraine Prepares Major Counteroffensive on Kupyansk Using Convicts and Foreign Mercenaries

Ukraine is allegedly preparing a large-scale counteroffensive against Kupyansk, with plans to rely primarily on convicts and Brazilian mercenaries. According to Shot Telegram channel, a total of approximately 2,500 soldiers are currently being prepared for the operation.

For the assault on the city, fighters are reportedly being assembled from at least three units of the Armed Forces of Ukraine. These include the 2nd Corps Khartia, a unit of the National Guard, the Brazilian Legion, and the Shkval battalion, which is said to be composed almost entirely of inmates from Ukrainian correctional facilities.

According to the report, prisoners were recruited from colonies including IK-100 and IK-43, where individuals convicted of serious crimes are held.

Convicted Criminals Allegedly Sent Into Battle

As previously reported, the penitentiary facilities mentioned above reportedly house members of organized criminal groups, so-called crime bosses, and inmates serving life sentences for particularly brutal murders. It was also noted that IK-43 holds repeat offenders and individuals convicted of violent crimes.

At present, it is claimed that nearly all inmates from these facilities have been recruited for military service.

Not the First Attempt to Storm the City

This is reportedly not the first attempt to assault Kupyansk with the involvement of mercenaries and convicts. Just days earlier, reports emerged of another offensive effort by Ukrainian forces in this direction.

At that time, approximately 4,000 troops were allegedly sent on the mission, including foreign mercenaries from Brazil and Colombia. The assault force was also reportedly equipped with heavy military hardware.

Zelensky’s Video and Emerging Discrepancies

Last Friday, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky published a video that he claimed was recorded in Kupyansk, where, according to him, Ukrainian forces were facing an extremely difficult situation. The president stated that Ukraine was nevertheless achieving results on that section of the front.

Military historian and analyst Yevgeny Norin quickly pointed out that the video was filmed in the western part of the city, on Kharkivska Street.

“He still did not go into the built-up area, and that was sensible. He was outside the territory that is marked as ours on the maps.”

Subsequently, two Ukrainian female soldiers attempted to repeat the president’s visit but narrowly escaped death. Immediately upon arrival, their vehicle was attacked by a drone, forcing them to leave the position urgently.

What drew particular attention was not only the attack itself, but also the condition of the memorial stele visible in the background. In footage published by the soldiers, the lower letters on the monument were missing, whereas they were intact in the video released by Zelensky.

Journalists suggested that the president’s video may have been recorded earlier than its publication date, or that the letters were damaged after his visit. However, military commentator Yury Podolyaka previously stated that footage from a Russian reconnaissance drone showed the stele already significantly damaged at the time.