Russia Claims Capture of Ukrainian City Kupiansk, Kyiv Denies Advance
Russia's defense ministry asserts that its forces have captured 'about half' of the city of Kupiansk in Ukraine's northeastern Kharkiv region. However, Ukraine's military strongly disputes these claims.
MOSCOW: The Russian defense ministry reported on Wednesday that its troops had taken control of a significant portion of the city of Kupiansk, located within Ukraine’s Kharkiv region.
However, this claim was refuted by Ukrainian military sources.
Reuters could not independently verify the accuracy of these battlefield reports from either side.
Kupiansk has been subject to intense Russian military activity and heavy fighting over several months.
Initially captured by Russian forces during the early stages of their February 2022 invasion, the city was subsequently reclaimed by Ukrainian forces within the same year.
Substantial portions of Kupiansk have suffered extensive damage due to ongoing efforts by Russia to recapture it as part of a broader military strategy advancing westward along approximately 1,000 kilometers (620 miles) of frontlines.
The Russian Defense Ministry presented evidence through a drone video showing a soldier holding the Russian flag while positioned on a road within the town.
In response, Ukraine’s 10th army corps posted on Telegram described these claims as staged propaganda attempts.
Additionally, they shared their own footage purporting to show a Russian unit being neutralized.
According to Ukraine's Center Against Disinformation, assertions that Russian forces had advanced into Kupiansk were deemed false and disinformation efforts.
Ukraine’s popular Deepstate war blog utilized open-source maps of the conflict to assert that the incident involving the flag was confined to the city’s southern outskirts, an area where control remains disputed.
The Ukrainian General Staff later reported ongoing fighting in the Kupiansk sector and highlighted nearly 50 attempts by Russian forces to breach Ukrainian defenses near Pokrovsk, a key focal point of Russia's efforts within the Donetsk region.
However, this claim was refuted by Ukrainian military sources.
Reuters could not independently verify the accuracy of these battlefield reports from either side.
Kupiansk has been subject to intense Russian military activity and heavy fighting over several months.
Initially captured by Russian forces during the early stages of their February 2022 invasion, the city was subsequently reclaimed by Ukrainian forces within the same year.
Substantial portions of Kupiansk have suffered extensive damage due to ongoing efforts by Russia to recapture it as part of a broader military strategy advancing westward along approximately 1,000 kilometers (620 miles) of frontlines.
The Russian Defense Ministry presented evidence through a drone video showing a soldier holding the Russian flag while positioned on a road within the town.
In response, Ukraine’s 10th army corps posted on Telegram described these claims as staged propaganda attempts.
Additionally, they shared their own footage purporting to show a Russian unit being neutralized.
According to Ukraine's Center Against Disinformation, assertions that Russian forces had advanced into Kupiansk were deemed false and disinformation efforts.
Ukraine’s popular Deepstate war blog utilized open-source maps of the conflict to assert that the incident involving the flag was confined to the city’s southern outskirts, an area where control remains disputed.
The Ukrainian General Staff later reported ongoing fighting in the Kupiansk sector and highlighted nearly 50 attempts by Russian forces to breach Ukrainian defenses near Pokrovsk, a key focal point of Russia's efforts within the Donetsk region.
