Kupiansk has been contested in recent months as Russian forces try to capture the city, so much so that Vladimir Putin proclaimed it to be surrounded and invited media to come take a look. Volodymyr Zelenskyy flipped the script by visiting Kupiansk himself on Friday.

“The Russians kept going on about Kupiansk. The reality speaks for itself,” said the Ukrainian president on Friday, which was also Ukrainian Land Forces Day. The city was liberated by the AFU during their Kharkiv counteroffensive in 2022. “I visited our troops and congratulated them. I thank each of the units, everyone who is fighting here, everyone who is destroying the occupier.

“Today, achieving results on the frontline is crucial so that Ukraine can achieve results in diplomacy. This is exactly how it works: all our strong positions within the country translate into strong positions in the negotiations to end the war.”

Likewise, the soldiers defending Kupiansk have expressed their gratitude for the wheels on their rides in helping their efforts.

Donations from Toyota Gazoo Racing Baltics allowed units like the 17th Brigade in Kupiansk to affix BFGoodrich All-Terrain T/A KDR3s onto their vehicles. They were previously used by TGR Baltics at the Dakar Rally, but are still in good condition for non-racing purposes. Team owner-driver Benediktas Vanagas has mentioned multiple times that Ukrainian troops prefer rally raid tires because they have reinforced sidewalls that absorb hits from metal and concrete blocks and sharp ledges better than standard models. Their treads also have improved grip for muddy terrain.

The 17th’s BFGs came from TGR Baltics’ September round of donations, which had over 30 tires. Aidas Bubinas, a filmmaker and occasional rally rider who frequently heads to Ukraine on a motorcycle, personally delivered them to the brigade from Vilnius in a Renault Trafic. Bubinas and journalist Renaldas Gabartas made two rounds between the Lithuanian capital and frontlines.

“When the Dakar wheels arrive, Ukrainian soldiers start smiling,” Vanagas said. “They make their jobs easier and save lives.”

After the upcoming Dakar Rally in January, the team intends to send the updated KDR3 EVO 2.0 to the AFU. The sidewall is more flexible than its predecessor while the tread is thicker to prevent punctures (a hot button topic at Dakar in recent years), which causes the EVO 2.0 to lose some traction but is more durable in exchange. 2026 will be Vanagas’ 14th Dakar.

While tires are a focal part of TGR Baltics’ contributions to Ukraine (including heavy-duty tires for the Special Operations Forces), they have also sent over equipment like vehicles and gear.

Featured image credit: Aidas Bubinas