Ukrainian Forces continue a successful operation to de-occupy Kupyansk from Russian troops. Russia’s military does not control the city, and those who remain there are taking significant losses.
That information sharply contrasts with reports from Russia’s General Staff. Back on November 20, Chief of the General Staff Valery Gerasimov told President Vladimir Putin that Kupyansk had been captured.
At the same time, Russian servicemen complain that this is not true, and the real situation in the city has become “worse than critical” for Russian forces. The Telegram channel “To Be Or” compiled a series of statements by Russian war correspondents.
One of the largest Russian Telegram channels, allegedly linked to the Defense Ministry, “Rybar,” complains about “systematic” exaggeration of successes and the relay of bad information up the chain. It says false reports led to reserves that should have been used to occupy and sweep Kupyansk being redeployed to other sectors.
It describes a situation “worse than critical” for Russians still in the city.
“A significant part of the bridgehead on the western bank of the Oskil River — in particular the villages of Kondrashovka, Radkovka and Moskovka, as well as the area near the dairy-canning plant - has been lost.”
It also says that in December one Russian unit lost nearly 150 soldiers on the approaches to a village Russia had claimed to seize back in November.
Rybar argues that Ukraine’s counteroffensive struck “virtually into a vacuum,” making it impossible to hold.
“There were no heavy losses in Kupyansk because there was hardly anyone there to lose,” Rybar emphasized.
On its own map, Ryba” shows Kupyansk as under the control of Ukraine’s Forces.
Another channel linked to the Russian Defense Ministry, “Military Informant,” recalls Russian propagandists’ claims about Volodymyr Zelensky’s visit to Kupyansk. Russia tried to pass the Ukrainian president’s trip off as a fake. The channel notes that “anti-crisis” media measures did not help hold the city in reality.
“But everyone got their medals. It seems we should expect a third liberation of Kupyansk,” the author writes.
The Telegram channel “Two Majors” says the situation in Kupyansk may be even worse than previously thought. According to the author, Ukrainian forces achieved gains in Moskivka, Sobolivka and Radkivka thanks to bringing in reserves and increasing drone activity in the sky.
Ukraine’s Defense Forces are now fighting to cut part of the Russians off from their main forces.
The channel also reports that payments to some Russian units for offensive and defensive operations have been suspended.
War correspondent Anatoly Radov summed up Russian fortunes on this axis more bluntly, saying “Kupyansk is f***ed,” while adding that attempts to restore positions are allegedly continuing.
Earlier, Viktor Tregubov, head of communications for the Ukrainian Joint Forces grouping, said the Russians had found themselves in a tight encirclement and were losing their foothold in the city.
“There was an attempt to push toward Kupyansk-Uzlovy, which Putin tried to tout. But to say there is success there - no. Though pressure has been very active this week,” Tregubov said.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said about 100 Russian soldiers remain in Kupyansk, “but that’s temporary.”
He also said the Russian general who claimed that Kupyansk had been capured disappeared after Ukraine’s successful counterattack in the area. “We saw video where a general reported their capture. Then I went to Kupyansk, and indeed, the situation was difficult and the front line was very close. But our Armed Forces control Kupyansk. Then that general disappeared, no one knows where,” Zelensky said.
On December 17, Ukrainian Commander Oleksandr Syrskyi said Ukraine’s Defense Forces had brought nearly 90% of Kupyansk under control.
And on December 19, Vladimir Putin responded to reports of the de-occupation of Kupyansk by calling Zelensky a “talented actor” and again claiming the city had been captured.
