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The Supreme Commander-in-Chief visited a command post of the West Group, where he held a meeting with the Chief of the General Staff, the Chief of the Main Operational Directorate, the Commander of the South Group of Forces, and the Commander of the West Group.
The President was provided with detailed updates on the developments in various areas, including around Kupyansk.
The Supreme Commander-in-Chief acknowledged that the objectives set at the previous similar meeting had been accomplished. The President highly praised the work of the command and personnel and expressed his gratitude.
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President of the Russian Federation, Supreme Commander-in-Chief of the Russian Armed Forces Vladimir Putin: Comrades, good afternoon,
We held a similar meeting on October 25, attended by the Chief of the General Staff, the Chief of the Main Operations Directorate, and the commanders of two groups of forces – the West and Centre groups. At that time, the Commander and the Chief of the General Staff reported on the developments in Krasnoarmeysk and Kupyansk, where you had successfully blocked large enemy units.
Joining us today are the Chief of the General Staff, the Chief of the Main Operations Directorate, the commander and command and operations staff of the West group of forces, as well as the new commander of the South group of forces. The former commander of the South group has been appointed Deputy Minister of Defence. I am confident he will apply all the knowledge and experience he gained as a combat commander to his new role, something that is highly relevant given the current situation.
First, I would like to hear from the Chief of the General Staff on the situation in the Centre group’s area of responsibility. I have chosen not to summon their commander today; his focus needs to be on the challenges at hand. While you and I are aware of the general developments, I would like to hear the latest update on the situation.
Next, I will turn to the new commander of the South group. This is not a new role for you, given your previous position as chief of staff for the same group. This ensures complete continuity. Frankly, no one knows the situation in that area better than you. This is your show now, and you have everything you need to run it.
For your report, please focus on the situation in Konstantinovka – where, to my knowledge, fighting has now moved into the town itself – as well as the overall picture in the Kramatorsk-Druzhkovka operational sector, that entire urban area, and of course, around Seversk.
Following that, I would like the commander of the West group to report on the situation in Kupyansk and on the left bank of the Oskol River. I am referring to Kupyansk-Uzlovaya and the surrounding area, where, as I understand, you have successfully trapped a significant enemy force. Recently it was 18 battalions, and now, as the Chief of the General Staff has reported, that number is around 15. What are your plans for further operations in this area and in the zone of your responsibility in general? Are the 6th Army and the 1st Tank Army engaged on the left bank? Please report on this in detail.
Finally, Mr Gerasimov, I would also like you to report on whether you are in a position to create the conditions I requested for the Ukrainian Armed Forces to be able to lay down their arms and surrender, given their current predicament.
Chief of the General Staff of the Russian Armed Forces Valery Gerasimov: Comrade Supreme Commander-in-Chief,
The conditions for surrender have been established, and given their desperate situation, many Ukrainian soldiers are naturally choosing to lay down their arms. However, most are prevented from doing so by their own side, under threat of being shot or targeted by their own drones. Furthermore, Ukraine’s political leadership has issued no official instructions on the matter.
Vladimir Putin: I see. Let’s be clear about the nature of the Ukrainian political leadership. Since March 2024, it has ceased to be a legitimate government. It is a group of individuals, a criminal organisation that has usurped power under the pretext of continuing the war with Russia and is now clinging to it for personal enrichment. This is now a matter of public record, confirmed by an anti-corruption investigation within Ukraine itself.
It should be obvious to everyone that these people, sitting on their golden thrones, are hardly thinking about the future of their country, the ordinary citizens of Ukraine, their officer corps, or especially their common soldiers. No. They have other priorities.
But we have our own objectives and our own agenda. Our principal goal remains the unconditional achievement of the special military operation’s aims and the fulfilment of the duties our Fatherland and the people of Russia have entrusted to us. The people of Russia are counting on us. They are counting on you, and they expect the results our country needs.
Let’s get to work. Mr Gerasimov, you have the floor.
Valery Gerasimov: Comrade Supreme Commander-in-Chief,
Our forces continue to carry out their missions in line with the overall operational plan. The Joint Force troops are advancing on nearly every front to build on the successes of the spring-summer campaign.
The enemy is attempting to halt our progress, concentrating its main effort on stabilising the Krasnoarmeysk sector. In its area of responsibility, the North group of forces continues to establish a security zone along the border of Ukraine’s Sumy and Kharkov regions and has now liberated over 80 percent of Volchansk, with its assault units successfully advancing in the city’s southeastern districts.
The West group of forces have liberated Kupyansk and are now eliminating encircled Ukrainian formations on the left bank of the Oskol River, while also making successful gains in the Rubtsy and Krasny Liman directions.
The South group of forces is fighting its way into Seversk and Konstantinovka, pushing through stiff enemy resistance.
Meanwhile, the Centre group’s area of responsibility in the Krasnoarmeysk sector remains the most active. The enemy is putting up stubborn resistance there, making repeated attempts to break the encirclement of their forces in the Krasnoarmeysk-Dimitrov urban area. Despite this, the troops of the Centre group continue to destroy these encircled units. In the past week alone, they have liberated the adjacent small towns of Gnatovka, Sukhoi Yar, and Rog. They now control over 75 percent of Krasnoarmeysk itself and are continuing their rapid advancement into the city.
The Vostok group of forces continues to expand its control in the Dnepropetrovsk and Zaporozhye regions, advancing westward to bypass the enemy’s main defences. Since November 1, this push has liberated over 230 square kilometres and 13 local communities: six in the Dnepropetrovsk Region and seven in the Zaporozhye Region. Forward subunits of this group of forces have already reached the Gaichur River and continue to advance.
Finally, the Dnepr group of forces has liberated Malaya Tokmachka and is engaged in combat to secure Primorskoye and Stepnogorsk. In addition to the ground offensive, we are continuing a campaign of targeted retaliatory strikes, as planned by the General Staff, against key facilities of Ukraine’s defence industry and its supporting energy infrastructure.
Comrade Supreme Commander-in-Chief,
The formations and units of the Joint Force troops will continue to carry out their assigned tasks to liberate the Donetsk and Lugansk people’s republics, and the Zaporozhye and Kherson regions, in accordance with the approved plan.
This concludes my report.
Vladimir Putin: Thank you very much.
Commander of the South group of forces Sergei Medvedev, the floor is yours.
Commander of the South Group of Forces Sergei Medvedev: Comrade Supreme Commander-in-Chief,
The South group of forces is carrying out its missions in the Severodonetsk sector in accordance with the concept of the special military operation. In the Seversk sector, assault units of the 3rd Army are advancing along the right bank of the Seversky Donetsk River towards Zakotnoye. In Seversk itself, operations are under way to clear residential areas of Ukrainian armed formations.
In addition, this week the settlement of Platonovka was liberated, and the clearance of Vasyukovka and Zvanovka of enemy units is nearing completion.
In the Kramatorsk-Druzhkovka sector, the main efforts of the group’s formations and units are focused on the liberation of Konstantinovka. Despite enemy resistance, the group’s assault units have taken full control of the eastern and south-eastern parts of the town and have begun clearing the centre.
In the Aleksandro-Kalinovo area, the liberation of Ivanopolye is entering its final stage. At the same time, an offensive is developing north of the Kleban-Byk Reservoir with the aim of securing the dominant heights and enabling access to the southern outskirts of Konstantinovka.
Comrade Supreme Commander-in-Chief,
The South group of forces continues its offensive in all sectors. All tasks assigned to the group’s formations and units will be completed.
This concludes my report.
Vladimir Putin: Mr Medvedev, you are cutting through Seversk.
Sergei Medvedev: Yes, sir. We are now encircling and blocking it and will then divide it into sectors and clear it.
Vladimir Putin: You have already approached from the north, south and east. Now you are moving in from the west.
Sergei Medvedev: Yes, sir. Our main actions are taking place on the north-eastern and southern outskirts, while we continue the encirclement and blockade of the town.
Vladimir Putin: And how do you assess the prospects in Konstantinovka?
Sergei Medvedev: Comrade Supreme Commander-in-Chief, as of today our forces have taken control of more than 4,000 buildings in Konstantinovka. We are ramping up our effort and expect to take most of the town by mid-December.
Vladimir Putin: Let’s not set specific dates – that is not the point. What matters is steady progress and achieving all the priority objectives you have set.
Thank you, Mr Medvedev. I wish you success in your new role as the group’s commander. What you have done so far is extremely important. Staff work is absolutely key, but personal responsibility for everything that happens in the group now rests on your shoulders, and that is a special responsibility.
Sergei Medvedev: Thank you, Comrade Supreme Commander-in-Chief.
Vladimir Putin: All the best.
Please, Commander of the West group of forces Sergei Kuzovlev, you have the floor.
Commander of the West Group of Forces Sergei Kuzovlev: Comrade Supreme Commander-in-Chief,
The West group of forces continues to carry out combat missions in the Izyum sector in accordance with the plan approved by the General Staff of the Russian Armed Forces.
In the Kupyansk sector, the assault groups of the 68th Motor Rifle Division of the 6th Army have completed the liberation of the city of Kupyansk.
Vladimir Putin: Do you mean to say that they are finished with it?
Sergei Kuzovlev: Yes, sir. The city is under our control. Small dispersed enemy groups are being destroyed.
The town was a key enemy stronghold and important logistics centre for the Ukrainian Armed Forces in this sector. Currently, the division’s formations, in coordination with the 47th Division and the 27th Motor Rifle Brigade of the 1st Tank Army, continue to destroy units of Ukraine’s Armed Forces encircled on the left bank of the Oskol River. The village of Petropavlovka has been liberated, and fighting continues to liberate the populated localities of Kucherovka, Kurilovka and Kupyansk-Uzlovaya.
The enemy made repeated attempts to free the encircled group and restore crossings over the Oskol River. They also attempted to break out of the encirclement. All counterattacks were rebuffed; no Ukrainian breakthrough from the encirclement was permitted.
In the Rubtsy sector, units of the 20th Army have completed the liberation of Stavki and Novoselovka villages; street fighting continues in the villages of Drobyshevo and Yarovaya.
In the Krasny Liman sector, the populated point of Yampol has been liberated. Assault groups of the 25th Army are actively advancing towards the city of Krasny Liman, the biggest rail hub in the region. Complete control has been taken of its suburb, Maslyakovka.
Comrade Supreme Commander-in-Chief,
Units of the West group of forces continue to carry out the missions assigned to them in the designated zone of responsibility.
This concludes my report.
Vladimir Putin: Mr Kuzovlev, all that you reported at the October 25 meeting that I have mentioned, all that concerned this sector of combat operations, all of that has been completed. All the missions assigned to you have been accomplished.
Thank you for this work. I am grateful to you, the entire personnel of the group, and the command staff. Thank you, comrades, for your performance.
Sergei Kuzovlev: We serve our country!
Vladimir Putin: I have no doubt that everything we discussed earlier and what we will discuss in a restricted format later today will also be carried out as agreed, in accordance with the mission set by the General Staff, and, as I said, as is necessary for achieving the aims of the special military operation in your sector and zone of responsibility.
Thank you very much.
Sergey Kuzovlev: Comrade Supreme Commander-in-Chief, all combat tasks will be accomplished.
November 20, 2025