Putin Invites Journalists to “Surrounded” Ukrainian Forces in Kupiansk—Zelenskyy Shows Up Instead — UNITED24 Media

Russian leader Vladimir Putin claimed Ukrainian forces were “surrounded” in Kupiansk and invited journalists to see it—but Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy showed up there himself, as Ukrainian forces carried out a successful counteroffensive in the city.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy visited the city of Kupiansk in the Kharkiv region, contradicting Russian leader Vladimir Putin’s claims that the city is surrounded by Russian forces.

In a video address released on December 12, Zelenskyy thanked Ukrainian soldiers fighting in the Kupiansk direction and stressed the importance of the results they have achieved for Ukraine.

“Today, it is extremely important to achieve results on the front lines so that Ukraine can achieve results in diplomacy. That’s how it works: all our strong positions within the country are strong positions in the talks on ending the war,” Zelenskyy stated.

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He reflected on the importance of the Kupiansk region, noting that many Russian forces had previously focused on this area. “Many Russians talked about Kupiansk – we see that” he added.

Today, I am in the Kupyansk sector, with our warriors who are getting the job done for Ukraine here.

The Russians kept going on about Kupyansk – the reality speaks for itself. I visited our troops and congratulated them. Thank you to each and every warrior! I am proud of you!… pic.twitter.com/kraYEBSSai — Volodymyr Zelenskyy / Володимир Зеленський (@ZelenskyyUa) December 12, 2025

Zelenskyy also marked Ukraine’s Ground Forces Day on December 12, thanking soldiers for their unwavering dedication to the country’s defense.

“Today is your day,” Zelenskyy said. “Thank you, guys.”

Open-source intelligence (OSINT) imagery places Zelenskyy near a stela at the entrance to the city. DeepStateMap estimates the site is about 1.15 kilometers from Russian positions and roughly 500 meters from the gray zone.

DeepStateMAP, showing the reported coordinates on the outskirts of Kupiansk, where Ukrainian President recorded today’s adress. (Source: DeepStateMAP)

Russian state media had earlier reported that the head of Russia’s General Staff, Valery Gerasimov, briefed Vladimir Putin on the alleged capture of Kupiansk in the Kharkiv region.

Putin also claimed that Russian forces had “managed to block about 15 Ukrainian Armed Forces battalions” in the Kupiansk-Vuzlovyi area, even inviting journalists to “come and see the surrounded Ukrainian army units.”

Earlier, it was reported that Ukrainian Defense Forces have carried out a successful counteroffensive near Kupiansk, encircling a Russian force inside the city, according to the command of the 2nd Corps of the National Guard of Ukraine’s Khartiia formation, and comments from Khartiia commander Ihor Obolienskyi to Ukrainska Pravda.

“The task was to enter the city and clear it of Russians. We operated simultaneously along two or three axes, cutting off their logistics,” Obolienskyi said.