Main points
- Ukrainian forces have almost completely driven Russian troops out of Kupyansk, according to Russian military bloggers.
- Bloggers accuse the Russian command of false reports that hindered effective action at the front.
The Armed Forces of Ukraine have almost completely liberated Kupyansk from the Russians / Channel 24 collage, photo Getty Images, DeepState map
Russian military bloggers have claimed that Ukrainian forces have almost completely driven the Russian army out of Kupyansk. They accuse the command of false reports that led to failures on the front.
Previous statements by the Russian command about the alleged capture of the city contributed to the advancement of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, according to a new analytical report by ISW.
What is the situation near Kupyansk?
The ISW report states that Russian military bloggers claim that Ukrainian forces have almost completely driven Russian troops out of Kupyansk and are continuing to clear the northern part of the city. According to them, fighting continued, in particular, in the area of the Central City Hospital, where the remnants of Russian units were eliminated.
At the same time, one of the bloggers and a former instructor of the Storm-Z unit criticized the leadership of the Russian army, in particular the Chief of the General Staff Valery Gerasimov. He stated that on November 20, 2025, an unfounded announcement was made about the alleged capture of Kupyansk, which did not correspond to reality.
According to bloggers, the systematic exaggeration of the successes of Russian troops has led to serious problems at the front. In particular, such statements have hindered the effective maneuvering of reconnaissance and strike units, as well as made it impossible to switch to the defensive in a timely manner.
In addition, disinformation about the alleged containment of Ukraine's main forces in the Pokrovskoye direction and the capture of Kupyansk diverted attention from the real situation. This, according to Russian sources, made Russian troops vulnerable to Ukrainian counterattacks as early as November 2025.
What is the situation on other parts of the front?
-
Ukrainian units have achieved tactical advances in the Lyman and Sloviansk directions, particularly in the Yampol area. At the same time, Russian troops continue intensive attacks, involving poorly trained personnel in the fighting.
-
The occupiers are trying to conduct offensive operations in the Pokrovsky direction, but they have no confirmed results. Ukrainian units are successfully repelling the attacks, destroying enemy equipment and personnel, in particular through the use of drones and minefields.
-
In the Zaporizhia direction, Ukrainian forces have made local advances. Russian troops regularly conduct infantry assaults, sometimes with the support of light equipment, but without significant results.