Ukraine's interior minister clarifies situation in Kupiansk after Putin's comments
Photo: Ihor Klymenko (mvs.gov.ua)
Ukrainian Defense Forces have stabilized the situation near Kupiansk in the Kharkiv region. At present, a defensive operation involving units of the National Guard, the Armed Forces of Ukraine, and other security services is underway there, stated Ukraine's Interior Minister Ihor Klymenko.
Responding to questions about the situation in Kupiansk and Russian President Vladimir Putin's claims about the alleged encirclement of Ukrainian troops, Klymenko emphasized that the situation has been brought under control.
"I can say that in this case, we can trust the statements of the General Staff of the Ukrainian Armed Forces. Indeed, many of our units are operating around Kupiansk. As of today, I believe the situation is stabilized. And I hope our security and defense forces will be able to do everything to ensure that Kupiansk is not captured by the enemy," Klymenko said.
Earlier today, Putin made a statement about his intention to invite foreign journalists to Kupiansk and Pokrovsk to show the encirclement of Ukrainian troops.
Situation in Kupiansk
According to Ukraine's General Staff, eight combat engagements took place in the Kupiansk direction yesterday. Ukrainian defenders repelled enemy assaults near the settlement of Pishchane and toward Shyikivka.
Yesterday, Viktor Trehubov, head of communications for the Joint Forces Group, said that Russian troops are present in the northern part of Kupiansk. They are trying to simultaneously bypass the city and break through directly to its center.
Trehubov also stressed that the statements of the Russian propagandists about the encirclement of Kupiansk do not correspond to reality.
