Putin claims capture of Kupiansk, calls Zelensky a “talented actor”
During a “Direct Line” broadcast from Moscow, Russian President Vladimir Putin claimed that Ukrainian forces are withdrawing on all fronts and that strategic initiative has allegedly passed to Russian forces.
This was reported by Russian state-controlled media.
Putin repeated that Kupiansk, as well as Severesk and Pokrovsk, are under Russian military control. According to him, about 3,500 Ukrainian soldiers remain encircled near Kupiansk. He also claimed that Russia has allegedly taken control of half of Lyman, Myrnohrad, and Huliaipole.
Commenting on a video by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky from Kupiansk, Putin called him a “talented actor” and stated that Russian forces would soon enter the city where the video was filmed. “The Stella is a kilometer from Kupiansk itself. Why stand at the doorstep? Enter the house if Kupiansk is under your control,” he said.
Putin also asserted that Kyiv is not ready for peace, although there are “signals” for dialogue, and that Ukrainian forces have allegedly exhausted their strategic reserves.
At the same time, according to Ukrainian sources, fighting in Kupiansk continues, and Ukrainian forces are successfully defending parts of the city.
