Putin tells troops to let journalists through to Pokrovsk and Kupiansk
Photo: Russian president Vladimir Putin (Getty Images)
Russian president Vladimir Putin ordered to ensure unhindered passage of foreign journalists to the Donetsk region. It concerns areas where allegedly the Ukrainian Armed Forces are blocked, in Pokrovsk, Myrnohrad, and Kupiansk, claims the Russian Ministry of Defense.
Putin ordered to ensure "unhindered passage of foreign journalists, including Ukrainian ones," when they apply to the command of the Ukrainian Armed Forces.
The Russians claim they want to show the areas where Ukrainian troops are allegedly blocked in Pokrovsk, Myrnohrad, and Kupiansk.
"The Russian command is ready, if necessary, to cease hostilities for 5-6 hours in the mentioned areas," the Russian Ministry of Defense said.
It also announced its readiness to provide corridors for the unhindered entry and exit of media representative groups, subject to safety guarantees for both journalists and Russian servicemen.
Russia’s statements about the encirclement of Ukrainian troops
On Wednesday, October 29, Putin made a statement about the alleged encirclement of Kupiansk. He wanted to invite foreign journalists to the city so that they could see everything with their own eyes.
That same evening, Ukrainian forces reported that heavy fighting was ongoing in Kupiansk and its outskirts. They called Russia’s claims about the alleged encirclement of Ukrainian troops fiction and fantasy.
Earlier, on October 26, Russian troops reported to Putin that Ukrainian forces had allegedly been encircled in several directions. They were referring to the Pokrovsk and Kupiansk directions.
On the same day, Ukrainian leader Volodymyr Zelenskyy denied this information. On Tuesday, October 28, Ukrainian forces also refuted the statements of Russian command about the encirclement of Kupiansk.
