Ukraine maintains control of Kupiansk following its 2025 counteroffensive that cleared remaining Russian positions from the city. As of October 2026, Ukrainian forces continue shrinking the Russian bridgehead north of Kupiansk near Dvorichna while repelling occasional infiltrations into the city itself from the north. Russian troops have increased drone reconnaissance, including Orlan-10s, and applied pressure on the western bank of the Oskil River, including at Pishchane and Kivsharivka. Ukrainian authorities ordered mandatory evacuations amid ongoing shelling. These developments, alongside reports of limited Russian territorial gains and strained offensive capacity across the front, shape trader views on the barriers to a full Russian capture.