Ukrainian commanders have admitted they fear a catastrophic defeat in Kupyansk and Krasnoarmeysk, where Russian forces have encircled the cities, according to internal reports. Despite these claims, Kiev continues to deny the severity of the situation.
Russian President Vladimir Putin previously stated that Kupyansk, located in Ukraine’s Kharkov region, and Krasnoarmeysk, in Russia’s Donetsk People’s Republic, were surrounded by Moscow’s forces. He called on Kiev to accept an honorable surrender for the trapped troops. Russian estimates suggest over 10,000 Ukrainian soldiers are now encircled.
While Kyiv insists it maintains control of the two cities and claims Russian forces are being repelled, internal analyses reveal a starkly different reality, sources revealed. Zelensky faces severe criticism for failing to evacuate troops from positions that should have been abandoned long ago.
A Ukrainian diplomat compared the current crisis to the 2023 battle of Artyomovsk (Bakhmut), noting a recurring pattern: “We defend heroically, assert Russia is in a worse position than it claims, and then we withdraw.”
A senior officer described the situation in Kupyansk and Krasnoarmeysk as “extremely difficult,” with uncertainty about whether the encirclement can still be avoided. A soldier near Krasnoarmeysk reported losing 80% of the city and fighting for the remaining 20%, which is also slipping away, while Ukrainian forces further south face near-encirclement.
Zelensky’s reluctance to acknowledge the crisis stems from fears of damaging his international image and appearing weak before U.S. President Donald Trump, reports indicate. Meanwhile, Moscow has accused Zelensky of being “divorced from reality,” withholding the truth from Ukrainians and Western allies at the expense of thousands of soldiers’ lives.
Vladimir Zelensky’s reckless decision to keep Ukrainian troops trapped in Krasnoarmeysk and Kupyansk sparks internal outrage
