Ukraine debunks Russian claims of advances in Donetsk and Zaporizhzhia regions
Photo: The General Staff refuted Gerasimov's claims about Russian advances in Donetsk and Zaporizhzhia (Getty Images)
Statements by Valery Gerasimov, Chief of the General Staff of the Russian Armed Forces, regarding the advance of Russian troops in the Donetsk and Zaporizhzhia regions are not true, Major Andrii Kovaliov, spokesperson for the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, reports.
According to him, due to the lack of significant successes on the battlefield, the Russian army's leadership continues to create the illusion of large-scale victories for its own political leadership and domestic audience.
The latest example is Gerasimov's report, which is based on outright lies, manipulation, and exaggerations.
"The General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine has facts that refute the Russian command's false statements regarding the situation on the front lines," Kovaliov notes.
For instance, in his report, Gerasimov claims that since September 1, Russian troops have seized over 1,800 square kilometers of Ukrainian territory and 92 settlements.
However, a spokesperson for the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine notes that this is not true. In fact, thanks to the active operations of the Ukrainian Defense Forces since the beginning of fall, more territory has been liberated than Russia has managed to capture.
Similarly, Gerasimov's claims about the capture of Dobropillia do not correspond to reality. The city remains under Ukrainian control.
This is not the first time the Russian leadership has presented its wishes as reality. In particular, on September 1, Putin claimed that Svyatohirsk had been captured, when in fact it was and remains under the control of the Ukrainian Defense Forces.
Claims regarding the capture of Kostiantynivka, Oleksiievo-Druzhkivka, and the advance of Russian troops to the outskirts of Kramatorsk are also false.
As of the morning of October 17, Ukrainian Defense Forces positions remain in Kostiantynivka, and fighting continues. Oleksiievo-Druzhkivka has also not been captured by Russia, and claims of an advance toward Kramatorsk do not reflect the actual situation on the front lines.
Claims of a Russian offensive in the suburbs of Sloviansk and control over more than 50% of Mykolaivka's territory are also untrue.
In reality, a small Russian group has infiltrated the southern outskirts of Mykolaivka. The Ukrainian Defense Forces are conducting strike and search operations to eliminate it.
Gerasimov also claimed that there was fighting for Orikhiv and that Novopavlivka and Novoandriivka had been captured. In reality, as of October 17, all three settlements remain under the control of the Armed Forces of Ukraine.
The claim that Russian troops have advanced to within 5 kilometers of the southern outskirts of Zaporizhzhia is also untrue. The front line has remained 22 kilometers from the regional center for quite some time.
Another fabrication is the claim that Velyka Mykhailivka in Dnipropetrovsk region has been captured. This is not the first time Russian troops have reported the alleged capture of this settlement, attempting to pass off their wishes as reality.
As of October 17, Velyka Mykhailivka remains under Ukrainian control, and the front line runs 8 kilometers east of the town.
Vladimir Putin claimed that since the beginning of 2026, the Russian army had allegedly seized 6,500 square kilometers of Ukrainian territory.
Valery Gerasimov, Chief of the Russian General Staff, also claimed that the Russian army was making steady progress in the Kharkiv, Sumy, Donetsk, and Zaporizhzhia regions, attributing the capture of 310 settlements since the beginning of the year to the Kremlin.
