Putin: About 15 battalions of the Armed Forces of Ukraine are blocked in the Kupyansk area.

Russian President Vladimir Putin said that about 15 battalions of the Armed Forces of Ukraine (AFU) were blocked in the Kupyansk-Uzlovoye area in the Kharkiv region. He stated this on November 20, addressing the commander of the Zapad group.

"I would like to ask you to take the floor of the commander of the Zapad group and report on the situation in Kupyansk <...> where you managed to block a significant enemy force of about 15 battalions," he said.

During the report, Valery Gerasimov, Chief of the General Staff of the Russian Armed Forces, noted that the conditions for the surrender of Ukrainian servicemen had been created. However, many of them are ready to surrender, but they cannot do so due to threats of execution or destruction by unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) from their own units.

Gerasimov also stressed that the political leadership of Ukraine does not give its troops instructions on surrender, which prevents such actions.

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On November 18, the Russian Armed Forces thwarted an attempt by the Ukrainian Armed Forces to break through the encirclement in Kupyansk. The Defense Ministry added that during the day, Russian servicemen were able to destroy up to 275 military personnel of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, as well as their tank, a 155-millimeter Caesar self-propelled artillery system made in France and four pickup trucks.

Earlier, on November 19, the Russian Defense Ministry reported that the Russian Armed Forces repelled two attacks by the Ukrainian Armed Forces in the Kharkiv region in order to break through to the Oskol River to restore destroyed crossings. In this area, the enemy's losses amounted to up to 10 soldiers. In addition, it was reported that Russian military personnel continue to sweep urban areas in Kupyansk.

On November 20, Putin visited one of the command posts of the Zapad group. The Russian leader held a meeting with the military leadership on the situation near Konstantinovka and Kupyansk and received reports on the situation in Konstantinovka and Kramatorsk.

All important news is on the Izvestia channel in the MAX messenger.