Zelenskyy refutes Putin’s claims about capture of Kupiansk in Kharkiv region
Photo: Volodymyr Zelenskyy, President of Ukraine (Getty Images)
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy stated that Ukrainian defenders have cleared almost all Russian troops from Kupiansk, Zelenskyy made this remark during a press conference with French President Emmanuel Macron.
He emphasized that Russia is conducting several offensive actions and operations. The Ukrainian leader added that none of the enemy’s operations have been successful.
"However, intense fighting is undoubtedly ongoing in Pokrovsk itself and in other directions. For example, our forces have had more success in the Kupiansk direction. Although Russia claims it has taken Kupiansk, in reality, we have cleared almost all of them from the city," Zelenskyy said.
Putin's fantasies
On November 20, Russian President Vladimir Putin claimed that "up to 15 Ukrainian battalions" had allegedly been blocked in Kupiansk. At the same time, Russian Chief of the General Staff Valery Gerasimov reported the "liberation" of the city.
This was at least the second attempt in less than a month to fabricate an "encirclement." On October 26, during a meeting, Russian generals presented the President with false reports that Ukrainian forces were allegedly "encircled" in certain directions. Among the "encircled" cities mentioned was Kupiansk. Putin even expressed a desire to invite "media representatives" to the city.
Despite Russian claims, the actual situation in Kupiansk is as follows: Russian presence in the city has significantly decreased. The Russian forces are cut off from logistics, with roughly 50–100 of them remaining in the city.
Later, on November 27, the Kremlin leader said that fighting was ongoing "in Komsomolsk." However, there is no such settlement in the Donetsk region controlled by Ukrainian defenders.
Recently, Ukrainian Armed Forces Commander-in-Chief Oleksandr Syrskyi stated that the Russian leadership is spreading fake news about the situation in Kupiansk. According to him, Ukrainian defenders continue to clear the city of the remaining Russian soldiers.
