Russian commanders in the Kupiansk sector are ordering their soldiers to retake positions from which they retreated under Ukrainian fire, threatening them with execution if they refuse, Ukraine's Khortytsia group of forces claimed on Feb.

The Russians have been forced to retreat from their leading positions near one of the settlements on the Kupiansk front due to an onslaught by the Ukrainian defence forces, a move which was not sanctioned by Russian commanders.

Russian troops in the Kupiansk sector face execution threats from commanders to return to frontline positions they previously left under Ukrainian pressure.

The Ukrainian army reported that on the front line near the city of Kupiansk (Kharkiv region), they forced Russian units to retreat. The Ukrainians claim that the Russians immediately received orders to return to their positions.