“The Kremlin tries to play down the significance of the Ukrainian counteroffensive in Kupyansk, while Russian pro-war bloggers continue to acknowledge the seriousness of the situation for Russian forces. This is stated in the report of the American Institute for the Study of War (ISW). On December 16, Ukrainian military sources reported that about 200 Russian troops remain in Kupyansk and that Russian forces have limited logistics due to successful Ukrainian formation and intercept operations. Russian state media have recently widely covered statements by Russian military officials and propagandists downplaying the situation in Kupyansk. ISW writes that this is probably being done in order to support the false Russian version that Russian forces are about to destroy Ukraine’s defenses – a version aimed at influencing Ukraine and the West to make significant concessions to Russia. Russian state sources, including the Western Group of Forces and an unnamed source, claimed that Russian forces retained control of Kupyansk and accused Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky of falsifying a video he shot on December 11 in Kupyansk. Some Russian military bloggers have also shared a purported geolocation video showing two servicemen from the 121st Motorized Rifle Regiment (68th Motorized Rifle Division, Leningrad Military District) reportedly walking through the southern part of Kupyansk, using the video to claim that Russian forces are still in control of the town, analysts at the Institute for the Study of War note. However, the report noted, other Russian pro-war bloggers continued to criticize Russian state media for not adequately covering the Ukrainian counteroffensive in Kupyansk, and one military blogger even noted that Russian state media relied on Western and joint task forces to cover up the situation on the Kupyansk battlefield. On December 15, the spokesman of the United Forces of Ukraine, Colonel Viktor Tregubov, reported that Ukrainian troops continue operations to clear the territory of Kupyansk, and there are approximately 100-200 Russian servicemen in the city. Tregubov also hinted that the logistical situation of the Russian troops in Kupyansk is difficult. The command of the National Guard Corps “Charter” reported on December 12 that the Defense Forces broke through to the Oskil River and completely blocked the supply routes to the Russian group in Kupyansk. During the operation, as noted, the villages of Kindrashivka, Radkivka and their surroundings were liberated, as well as a number of quarters in the north of Kupyansk. On December 12, President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyi visited Kupyansk, Kharkiv region, where he recorded a video against the background of a broken stele at the entrance to the city. Read also: General Staff about the SZCH and the response of the military. Why did Zelensky go to Kupyansk? Russia has been claiming since November 20 that Kupyansk was taken by the Russian army, and “15 battalions of the Armed Forces” are allegedly blocked south of it. On December 2, Putin even announced that “in a few days” the Russian army would allegedly take control of Kupyansk-Vuzlovy. Kupyansk is of strategic importance for the defense of Donbass, and its loss could lead to the encirclement of Ukrainian troops on the left bank of the Oskol River, writes the Radio Liberty Donbass.Realii project. The threat to Kupyansk has been growing since the summer.”, — write: www.radiosvoboda.org
On December 16, Ukrainian military sources reported that about 200 Russian troops remain in Kupyansk and that Russian forces have limited logistics due to successful Ukrainian formation and intercept operations.
Russian state media have recently widely covered statements by Russian military officials and propagandists downplaying the situation in Kupyansk.
ISW writes that this is probably being done in order to support the false Russian version that Russian forces are about to destroy Ukraine’s defenses – a version aimed at influencing Ukraine and the West to make significant concessions to Russia.
Russian state sources, including the Western Group of Forces and an unnamed source, claimed that Russian forces retained control of Kupyansk and accused Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky of falsifying a video he shot on December 11 in Kupyansk.
Some Russian military bloggers have also shared a purported geolocation video showing two servicemen from the 121st Motorized Rifle Regiment (68th Motorized Rifle Division, Leningrad Military District) reportedly walking through the southern part of Kupyansk, using the video to claim that Russian forces are still in control of the town, analysts at the Institute for the Study of War note.
However, the report noted, other Russian pro-war bloggers continued to criticize Russian state media for not adequately covering the Ukrainian counteroffensive in Kupyansk, and one military blogger even noted that Russian state media relied on Western and joint task forces to cover up the situation on the Kupyansk battlefield.
On December 15, the spokesman of the United Forces of Ukraine, Colonel Viktor Tregubov, reported that Ukrainian troops continue operations to clear the territory of Kupyansk, and there are approximately 100-200 Russian servicemen in the city. Tregubov also hinted that the logistical situation of the Russian troops in Kupyansk is difficult.
The command of the National Guard Corps “Charter” reported on December 12 that the Defense Forces broke through to the Oskil River and completely blocked the supply routes to the Russian group in Kupyansk. During the operation, as noted, the villages of Kindrashivka, Radkivka and their surroundings were liberated, as well as a number of quarters in the north of Kupyansk.
On December 12, President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyi visited Kupyansk, Kharkiv region, where he recorded a video against the background of a broken stele at the entrance to the city.
Read also: The General Staff about the SZCH and the response of the military. Why did Zelensky go to Kupyansk?
Russia has been claiming since November 20 that Kupyansk was taken by the Russian army, and “15 battalions of the Armed Forces” are allegedly blocked south of it. On December 2, Putin even announced that “in a few days” the Russian army would allegedly take control of Kupyansk-Vuzlovy.
Kupyansk is of strategic importance for the defense of Donbass, and its loss could lead to the encirclement of Ukrainian troops on the left bank of the Oskol River, writes the Radio Liberty Donbass.Realii project. The threat to Kupyansk has been growing since the summer.