Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky personally delivered a video message on Friday, December 12, standing in front of a stela at the entrance to the city of Kupyansk in the Kharkiv region. This event starkly contrasts with recent reports that Russian President Vladimir Putin had been briefed that the city was under Russian control. Ukrainian military sources have recently announced a successful counteroffensive in the Kupyansk area, reporting that Russian troops there were encircled.
Zelensky’s Response: “We are watching”
While the Russian command continues to claim progress on the Kupyansk front, Zelensky cast doubt on Moscow's statements through his address.
Zelensky stated: “Today – at the Kupyansk direction, where our fighters are achieving results for Ukraine. The Russians talked a lot about Kupyansk – and we are watching. I congratulated the men,” the president said. (During the message, the sound of at least one explosion could be heard.)
Strategic Success of the 'Khartia' Corps
According to Ukraine’s "Khartia" Corps, after the situation in Kupyansk worsened in September, Commander-in-Chief of Ukraine's Armed Forces Oleksandr Syrskyi formed a special strike-and-reconnaissance group under the name "Khartia." This group included the Khartia Brigade, the 475th Assault Regiment of the 92nd Assault Brigade, the Foreign Legion under the Main Intelligence Directorate, and the 144th Mechanized Brigade. Their primary task was to eliminate the Russian contingent that had penetrated the Kupyansk area.
As of December 12, the Khartia group reported reaching the banks of the Oskol River, cutting off Russian forces on the eastern bank from their supply lines.
Russians Encircled
Major General Ihor Obolensky, commander of the Khartia 2nd Corps, explained the current situation in an interview with "Ukrainska Pravda":
“The task was to take the city and clear it of the Russians. We simultaneously operated along two to three directions, depriving them of their logistics. Today, we can confidently say that the Russians in the city have been completely cut off from their main forces. For a long time, they didn’t understand what was happening, but now they are aware they are encircled.”
According to corps reports, Ukrainian forces have fully liberated the villages of Kondrashivka and Radkivka north of Kupyansk, as well as surrounding areas. Currently, there are no more than 200 Russian soldiers in the city. However, the presence of around 500 civilians, allegedly being used as "human shields," is complicating operations for Ukraine’s Defense Forces.
Contradictory Reports from Russia
Amid these developments, Russia’s Ministry of Defense has reported the capture of eight settlements, including the village of Kurylivka near Kupyansk. However, they have yet to comment on Ukraine's recapture of villages north of Kupyansk.
Earlier, Chief of the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Russia Valery Gerasimov and President Putin were reportedly briefed at least twice that Kupyansk had been captured. These claims were met with skepticism, not only by Ukrainian forces but also by Russian “Z-bloggers,” who described them as “fabrications.”
Read “Zamin” on Telegram!
Users of Меҳмон are not allowed to comment this publication.
