Putin claims Kupiansk under Russian control, mocks Zelenskyy’s visit

Russian President Vladimir Putin outlined what he described as the latest advances of Russian forces in Ukraine during a televised call-in show combined with his year-end press conference.

According to TASS, Putin stated that the city of Kupiansk is under the control of the Russian Armed Forces.

He claimed that approximately 3,500 Ukrainian troops are encircled near the city and have “virtually no chance” of escaping. Putin also said that more than half of Kostiantynivka in Ukraine’s Donetsk region is now under Russian control.

The Russian president further asserted that the settlement of Lyman would be captured in the near future. He said Russian forces would then continue advancing toward Sloviansk, adding that the direction from Siversk also opens a route toward that city.

Putin also said that Ukrainian forces are unsuccessfully trying to retake at least part of Pokrovsk and are sustaining heavy losses in the process. He expressed confidence that the Russian Armed Forces would achieve additional successes before the end of 2025.

During the broadcast, Putin commented on a video showing Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy near a stele at the entrance to Kupiansk. Responding to a question about whether the footage was staged and who actually controls the city, Putin said: “Why stand on the doorstep? Come into the house.”

Putin elaborated on the remark by saying that the stele is located about a kilometre from the city itself. “The stele is located about a kilometre away from the city. Why stand on the doorstep? Come into the house — if Kupiansk is under their control,” he said during the call-in show.

In the same context, Putin described Zelenskyy as a “talented actor.”

Zelenskyy visited Kupiansk on December 12. Prior to that visit, Putin had been briefed that the city was under the control of Russian forces.

By Tamilla Hasanova