LOSS OF KUPIANSK

Wairarapa Times-Age, 27 June 1942, Page 3

LOSS OF KUPIANSK

ADMITTED BY RUSSIANS TOWN FORTY MILES WEST OF DONETZ. SOVIET LANDNING AT YALTA IN THE CRIMEA. (By Telegraph—Press Association —Copyright) LONDON, June 26. Today’s Moscow communique reports that Kupiansk, a railway junction 61) miles east of Kharkov has been evacuated. The Moscow radio reports that 200 German tanks, supported by planes, were hurled into a narrow’ sector on the Kharkov front. Only a small group of tanks managed to penetrate the lines. These were cut off and destroyed. The Get man infantry were also cut off from the tanks and forced to dig in. The Moscow correspondent of the “Daily Express” confirms that the Russians landed two regiments at Yalta in the Crimea. Russian shock troops,' despite determined opposition, established a firm bridgehead. The expedition penetrated deeply the rock passes in the Yalta mountains and along the coastline and is now menacing the rear of the German lines. Moscow reports that the enemy has been repulsed at Sebastopol. In a dispatch to 'the 8.8. C., Paul Winterton refers to the importance of Kupiansk, which is 40 miles east of the Donetz River. He says the Germans used masses of tanks and planes. Another report says that two tank divisions followed by motorised forces were thrown into the battle, which is described by the Russians as the greatest panzer effort of the campaign. The Russian night communique stated: “Yesterday our troops on the Kharkov front continued fighting with the advancing enemy. After fierce fighting our troops withdrew from the town of Kupiansk. “On the Sebastopol front our troops repelled numerous fierce enemy attacks. There were no important changes elewhere.” “Pravda” says that the situation in Sebastopol is tense. German attempts to advance against the Soviet frontline defences in the north-eastern and southern sectors were frustrated.