Russian President Vladimir Putin said Ukrainian forces in the city of Kupiansk had been surrounded, a claim that Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky publicly challenged by traveling to the city himself and posting a selfie, according to Mediaite.
For weeks, the Kremlin has insisted that Russian troops had retaken the northeastern city near the Russian border, even inviting foreign journalists to view what it described as Moscow’s control. Ukrainian officials have repeatedly denied those claims, maintaining that their forces continue to hold Kupiansk. The city is a key front-line hub that Russia captured early in the invasion before Ukraine regained it during a counteroffensive in 2022. Fighting in the area has continued, with Russian strikes hitting civilian targets, including hospitals and schools.
On Friday, Zelensky released a short video filmed in front of Kupiansk’s recognizable city sign. Wearing a flak jacket, he stood as the sound of a distant explosion could be heard. “The Russians kept talking about Kupiansk—the reality speaks for itself,” Zelensky said, adding that he was visiting Ukrainian troops who are “getting the job done for Ukraine here.” He also emphasized that holding territory on the battlefield is critical to strengthening Ukraine’s position in any future negotiations, contrasting that stance with Moscow-backed proposals that would require Ukraine to give up land.
Ukrainian government accounts quickly shared the footage. The official UNITED24 platform noted Putin’s claim that Ukrainian forces were encircled and said Zelensky had effectively debunked it, declaring, “Kupiansk is Ukraine.” Commentators also pointed to the damaged but still-standing city sign behind Zelensky, which remains painted in Ukraine’s blue and yellow—unlike signs in occupied cities such as Mariupol that have been altered by Russian forces. Zelensky also posted photos and selfies with Ukrainian soldiers defending the area.