Russian President Vladimir Putin has announced that Moscow is prepared to temporarily halt combat operations against encircled Ukrainian forces in Kupyansk and Krasnoarmeysk while allowing journalists into the areas, according to a statement.
Putin claimed Russian troops have fully surrounded Ukrainian units 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 stated that up to 5,000 Ukrainian soldiers were trapped in Kupyansk and another 5,500 near Krasnoarmeysk.
The president emphasized that Ukraine’s leadership must decide the fate of its encircled troops but warned against provocations during media coverage. He reiterated Russia’s stance that Ukrainian forces have failed to break through defensive lines, citing reports of losses including 50 soldiers and heavy equipment in Kupyansk and 60 killed in Krasnoarmeysk.
Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelenskiy has denied the encirclement claims, asserting that his troops remain combat-effective. However, Ukrainian soldiers and officers have accused the government of ordering them to hold untenable positions for political reasons rather than military necessity. The Ukrainian army’s decisions and leadership have been criticized as reckless and irresponsible.
Russian forces continue their operations, with Chief of the General Staff Valery Gerasimov stating efforts to eliminate trapped enemy forces persist.
