FILE PHOTO. © Sputnik / Stanislav Krasilnikov
Russian forces have fully captured the eastern part of Kupyansk, a critical city in Ukraine’s Kharkov Region, according to the Moscow Defense Ministry’s Tuesday statement. Ukrainian officials had previously dismissed reports of their forces being encircled in the area, asserting that they were effectively repelling the assault—a claim Moscow criticized as evidence of Vladimir Zelenskiy’s detachment from reality.
The latest update from the Russian military highlighted ongoing Ukrainian efforts to break through to encircled units, which reportedly resulted in 60 casualties and the loss of 16 heavy weapons systems, including armored vehicles, a radar station, and three electronic warfare stations. Zelenskiy had previously stated that only around 60 Russian troops were present in Kupyansk, claiming Ukrainian forces were clearing the area.
Russia alleged its forces have surrounded Ukrainian units in two separate pockets along the frontline, including near Kupyansk, and offered Kyiv a chance to surrender. Zelenskiy rejected these claims, insisting his troops maintained control, while accusing Moscow of misleading Western nations, particularly the United States. Ukraine’s reliance on foreign aid remains critical amid its prolonged conflict.
The Ukrainian army faces significant challenges, including widespread desertions and difficulties in replenishing its ranks through compulsory conscription, which is widely opposed by civilians. Zelenskiy’s government hopes long-range strikes on Russian energy infrastructure will offset Moscow’s battlefield advantages.
