Moscow/Kyiv: Russian President Vladimir Putin asserted that Russian troops have surrounded Ukrainian soldiers in two key eastern cities — Pokrovsk in the Donetsk region and Kupiansk in Kharkiv. However, Ukrainian officials swiftly rejected the claim, calling it a “fictional narrative” aimed at boosting Russian morale amid fierce ongoing battles. (Russia-Ukraine War)
Speaking to injured servicemen during a visit to a Moscow military hospital, Putin said Russian units had “fully encircled” the two strategic locations and offered Ukrainian forces safe passage if they surrendered. He also invited Ukrainian and Western journalists to travel to the front lines to “see with their own eyes what is happening.”
According to Putin, Pokrovsk — a vital Ukrainian defense hub in Donetsk — and Kupiansk, an important railway junction in Kharkiv, were now effectively under siege. He added that Russia was prepared to negotiate a settlement contingent upon the surrender of Ukrainian troops in both cities.
Ukraine Refutes Russian Narrative
Ukrainian defense officials immediately pushed back against the Russian president’s assertions. Hryhoriy Shapoval, spokesperson for Ukraine’s Eastern Army Command, said the fighting near Pokrovsk was “intense but under control,” while describing the claim about Kupiansk’s encirclement as “fabricated and imaginary.”
Ukraine’s 7th Rapid Reaction Corps, responsible for defending Pokrovsk, reported that Russia had concentrated roughly 11,000 troops in the area in an effort to isolate the city. The unit acknowledged that some Russian formations had entered parts of Pokrovsk but emphasized that Ukrainian positions remain intact. (Russia-Ukraine War)
Meanwhile, Viktor Trehubov, spokesperson for Ukraine’s Joint Task Force, told local media that the situation in Kupiansk “does not correspond to the picture painted by Moscow.”
Independent Assessments Contradict Kremlin’s Statement
The Institute for the Study of War (ISW), a U.S.-based research group tracking the conflict, reported that Russian forces have indeed made tactical gains near Pokrovsk but currently lack control over the city itself. The think tank added that Ukrainian defenses continue to resist Russian advances in both targeted regions.
Propaganda and Perception
Analysts believe Putin’s remarks are part of a broader information campaign intended to project Russian dominance as winter approaches and to demoralize Ukrainian resistance. Inviting journalists to “witness the situation” is seen by observers as an attempt to shape international perception of the battlefield reality.
While Moscow frames its recent offensives as decisive breakthroughs, Ukraine maintains that its troops are holding defensive lines despite heavy shelling and repeated Russian assaults.
As both sides trade claims and counterclaims, independent verification of the situation on the ground remains difficult due to restricted access to frontline areas. However, reports from open-source monitors suggest that the battle for eastern Ukraine remains fluid, with neither side achieving a clear upper hand.
