Putin: Russian forces 2–4 km from Kupyansk, 10.5 km from Sumy
Russian dictator Putin claimed that occupation troops are 2.5–5 km from Kupyansk and 10.5 km from Sumy, while asserting there are no political plans regarding these cities.
In an interview with propagandist Pavel Zarubin, Russian President Vladimir Putin stated that Russian forces are only 2.5–5 km from the western edge of Kupyansk. He mentioned that Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy held a photoshoot near the city's stele in December. According to Putin, the goal on the Sumy and Vovchansk axes is to create a buffer zone along Russia's border.
Putin claimed that about 10.5 km remain to Sumy, 8–9 km to Sloviansk, and 4 km to Kramatorsk. He asserted that Russia has no political plans regarding these cities and will act based on proposals from the Defense Ministry and General Staff.
Kupyansk was occupied by Russian forces early in the war and liberated by Ukrainian troops in September 2022. Russia attempted to recapture the city in fall 2025. In December 2025, Ukrainian forces conducted a successful counterattack, encircling a Russian group. Subsequently, Zelenskyy visited the Kupyansk direction and recorded a video near the partially destroyed city stele.
