Russian President Vladimir Putin visited one of the command posts of the "West" group of forces, where he was informed about the capture of Kupyansk in the Kharkiv region.
“The units of the "West" group have liberated the city of Kupyansk“, said the Chief of the General Staff of the Armed Forces Valery Gerasimov.
He added that the military "continues to destroy" formations on the left bank of the Oskol River. Putin noted that approximately 15 battalions of the Ukrainian Armed Forces are blocked in Kupyansk and its surroundings. The President praised the work of the command and personnel of “Zapad“.
The commander of the group, Sergei Kuzovlev, reported that the militants are actively advancing towards Krasny Liman, have captured Petropavlovka and are fighting for Kucherovka, Kurilovka and Kupyansk-Uzlovaya.
Kupyansk is a key city for the defense of the Ukrainian armed forces in the eastern part of the Kharkiv region. It is located on the Oskol River, dividing the city in two. Its capture will allow the Russian army to continue its offensive to the west.
Gerasimov also reported on the situation on other sections of the front. The “Iztok“ group has expanded its zone of control in the Dnipropetrovsk and Zaporizhia regions, taking control of 13 cities. Since November 1, it has captured over 230 square kilometers.
The fighters of the “Center“ continue to destroy surrounded Ukrainian formations in the direction of Krasnoarmiysk. The “North“ group has liberated over 80 percent of Vovchansk in the Kharkiv region.
“The Armed Forces continue to fulfill their tasks in accordance with the plan for a special military operation. The troops of the joint group are advancing in almost all directions, building on the successes achieved during the spring-summer campaign.“
The commander of the “South“ group Sergei Medvedev announced the complete capture of the eastern and southeastern parts of Konstantinovka and the beginning of the clearing of the center.
The Chief of the General Staff reported that many servicemen of the Ukrainian Armed Forces decided to surrender. He emphasized that the conditions for this have been created.
„But most of them, under the threat of being fired upon or destroyed by their own drones, are not able to fulfill this task. Moreover, the political leadership of Ukraine has not given any instructions to its troops on this issue.“
Speaking of massive retaliatory strikes against facilities of the Ukrainian military-industrial complex and the fuel and energy sector that supports them, Gerasimov noted that they are being carried out "in accordance with the plan of the General Staff".
The president, in turn, stated that "the goals must be achieved", emphasizing that all the goals set at the meeting with servicemen on October 25 have been met.
„I have no doubt that everything that we discussed earlier, and what we will discuss today in a smaller format, will also be fulfilled.“
Putin called the authorities in Kiev "an organized criminal group that has usurped power for its own enrichment".
"This has become a well-known fact after the anti-corruption investigation, he noted. I think it is clear to everyone that these people, sitting on pots of gold, hardly think about the fate of their country, about the fate of ordinary people in Ukraine, the officer corps and especially ordinary soldiers. They have no time for this," the Russian president said.