Russian President Vladimir Putin said that Russian forces are approximately 10.5 kilometers (6.5 miles) from the northeastern Ukrainian city of Sumy and between 2.5 and 5 kilometers (1.5–3 miles) from Kupyansk, in Ukraine’s Kharkiv region, describing their advance as part of efforts to establish what Moscow calls a “security zone” along the border.
But a battalion commander from Ukraine’s 13th National Guard Brigade “Khartiia” dismissed the Kremlin leader’s remarks, telling Kyiv Post that while Russian troops continue trying to infiltrate the approaches to Kupyansk, there has been no significant escalation in their offensive in recent weeks.
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“Everyone has long become accustomed to the false statements made by Russia’s political and military leadership,” battalion commander “Miami” said in an exclusive comment to Kyiv Post.
At the same time, he acknowledged that Russian forces continue attempting to build up troops near Kupiansk and infiltrate the city.
According to “Miami,” Khartiia’s units are tasked with blocking Russian approach routes, preventing enemy forces from massing and denying Moscow the ability to launch larger offensive operations against the city.
The commander said Ukrainian troops have not observed a significant increase in Russian activity in recent weeks and that mechanized assaults remain absent.
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Instead, Ukrainian forces are conducting daily operations to destroy Russian troops on the approaches to Kupyansk, holding defensive positions and carrying out search-and-strike missions, he said. The brigade has also established what he described as a “kill zone” and closely monitors Russian routes, tactics and maneuvers.
At the same time, “Miami” said the brigade is preparing for multiple scenarios, including the arrival of additional Russian reserves and renewed assaults involving armored vehicles and motorcycles.
“We are constantly preparing for a possible escalation on our sector,” he said.
However, he added that Russian tactics have remained unchanged, with troops continuing to attack in small infantry groups while sustaining heavy losses that Ukrainian forces are inflicting.
Speaking in an interview with Kremlin-aligned journalist Pavel Zarubin, Putin said the objective of Russian troops operating in the Sumy and Vovchansk directions was to create a buffer zone following Ukraine’s incursion into Russia’s Kursk region.
“There are about 10.5 kilometers left to Sumy,” Putin said.
At the same time, he claimed Russia had no political ambitions regarding the regional capital.
“We have no political plans concerning this city or the region as a whole,” Putin said, adding that future decisions would depend on recommendations from Russia’s Defense Ministry and General Staff.
“Let me remind you that the goal of Russian forces in the Sumy and Vovchansk directions is to establish a security zone along our borders. This objective was set following the Ukrainian Armed Forces’ incursion into the Kursk region and attacks on our border areas.”
Putin also said Russian troops were between 2.5 and 5 kilometers from the western outskirts of Kupyansk, claiming Ukrainian counterattacks had failed to halt Russia’s advance.
He mocked Ukrainian officials for taking photographs near the city’s entrance sign, saying Kyiv representatives “like to hold photo sessions” there.
Kupyansk was occupied by Russian forces during the early weeks of the full-scale invasion before being liberated by Ukrainian troops in September 2022. Russia renewed efforts to capture the city in late 2025, but Ukrainian forces later launched a successful counteroffensive in the area. President Volodymyr Zelensky subsequently visited the Kupyansk front and recorded a video beside the city’s damaged entrance sign.
Putin also claimed Russian forces were within 8 to 9 kilometers of Sloviansk and about 4 kilometers from Kramatorsk but provided no evidence for the figures.
He did not mention that Russia has yet to reach the administrative borders of Ukraine’s Donetsk and Luhansk regions more than four years after launching its full-scale invasion.
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