Russian President Vladimir Putin visited the command post of the Russian forces “West” grouping on Thursday (20 November), meeting with Chief of Russia’s General Staff Valery Gerasimov and senior military officials, the Kremlin said.
During the visit, Putin requested updates on ongoing operations, particularly in Kostiantynivka and the Kramatorsk direction. He also focused on efforts to encourage Ukrainian troops to surrender.
The Kremlin said Putin was briefed on the situation across several key areas of eastern Ukraine, including Kupiansk in Kharkiv region. Gerasimov informed him that Russian forces had captured the city.
“Units of the ‘West’ grouping have liberated the city of Kupiansk and are continuing to destroy Ukrainian armed forces units surrounded on the left bank of the Oskol River.”
However Ukraine's military denied the city had changed hands.
Ukraine also dismissed Russian statements that its forces had taken over large parts of two other towns -- Pokrovsk, a logistics hub it has been pressing to capture for months, and Vovchansk, near the Russian border.
Gerasimov also reported significant territorial gains elsewhere, including control of 70% of Pokrovsk and more than 80% of Vovchansk.
The heaviest fighting along the 1,200-km (775-mile) front line was near Pokrovsk, he said, with Ukrainian forces offering "stiff resistance" according to Gerasimov.
A late-evening statement by the Ukrainian military said, "The General Staff of Ukraine's armed forces hereby announces that Kupiansk is under the control of Ukraine's defence forces."
"Also untrue are statements suggesting that 80% of Vovchansk in Kharkiv region has been captured and 70% of the city of Pokrovsk," it added.
The general staff reported heavy fighting in the Pokrovsk sector, with Russian forces launching 56 attacks.
Russian forces have been engaged in a slow westward advance through Donetsk region as part of their campaign to capture all of the Donbas - made up of the Donetsk and Luhansk regions.
Russian forces have also made recent gains further south in Zaporizhzhia region. They currently hold about 19% of Ukraine's territory.
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