Ukraine denies Russian claims of capturing Kupiansk-Vuzlovyi

Ukrainian military officials have refuted statements by Russian Chief of the General Staff Valery Gerasimov, who claimed that Russian troops had captured the settlement of Kupiansk-Vuzlovyi.

"Kupiansk-Vuzlovyi is not under the control of the invaders. Moreover, it is not even adjacent to the front line," the Joint Forces Group said.

They added that they continue to be astonished by the ability of Russian generals not only to exaggerate their achievements, but to invent them.

"We would like to remind that, in accordance with international humanitarian law, qualified medical assistance, including from addiction specialists, is available in Ukrainian captivity," the Ukrainian Armed Forces advised Gerasimov.

Kupiansk-Vuzlovyi is located approximately five kilometers south of the city of Kupiansk. Claims about the alleged capture of Kupiansk were reported by the head of Russia’s General Staff to Russian President Vladimir Putin as early as November 2025.

However, Russian forces have never managed to establish full control over the city, as confirmed by OSINT analysts.

By late December, Russian troops had even lost control of certain areas that had previously been considered captured.

According to the DeepState map, Kupiansk-Vuzlovyi is located far from even the so-called gray zone.

Photo: DeepState map

On January 27, Gerasimov once again claimed that Russian forces had captured Kupiansk-Vuzlovyi. This claim was first debunked by Andriy Kovalenko, head of Ukraine’s Center for Countering Disinformation.

Kovalenko emphasized that Gerasimov continues to create a parallel reality for the Russian leader that bears no relation to the real situation on the front lines.

According to Kovalenko, the Russian troops control neither Kupiansk nor Kupiansk-Vuzlovyi, and he described the Russian General Staff chief’s statement as a "ridiculous lie."

For several years now, Russian forces have been trying to recapture Kupiansk, which was liberated by the Ukrainian Armed Forces during the counteroffensive in September 2022.

Recently, the head of Russia’s General Staff has taken this city more than once, although it remains under Ukrainian control.

The situation in Kupiansk

Earlier, Ukrainian military officials repeatedly reported that attempts to break into Kupiansk have resulted in heavy losses for Russian forces, while the city remains under the control of Ukraine’s Defense Forces.

Ukrainian defenders have also taken control of the Kupiansk City Council building. The operation was carried out as part of efforts to lift the blockade of the city, under the leadership of the command of the 2nd Corps of the National Guard of Ukraine.

Yesterday, information emerged about a successful special operation conducted by a special forces unit of the 8th Regiment of the Ukrainian Armed Forces Special Operations Forces in Kupiansk. More details can be found in the material by RBC-Ukraine.