Ukraine's Armed Forces refute Russian claims of advance towards Zaporizhzhia and capture of Kostiantynivka and Dobropillia
Ukraine's General Staff has refuted claims by Valery Gerasimov, Chief of the General Staff of the Russian Armed Forces, that Russian forces have captured 92 settlements since early September, including Kostiantynivka and Dobropillia, and advanced to within 5 kilometres of the outskirts of Zaporizhzhia.
Source: Andrii Kovaliov, spokesperson for the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, in a comment to Ukrainska Pravda
Quote: "Due to the lack of significant battlefield successes, the Russian military leadership continues to create an illusion of major victories for its own political leadership and domestic audience. The latest example is a briefing by Valery Gerasimov, Chief of the General Staff of the Russian Armed Forces, based on blatant lies, manipulation and exaggeration.
The General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine has evidence that refutes the Russian command's false claims about the situation along the contact line."
Details: Kovaliov recalled that in his briefing, Gerasimov claimed that since 1 September, Russian forces had captured more than 1,800 square kilometres of Ukrainian territory and 92 settlements.
The spokesperson for the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine said this was untrue. "In fact, thanks to active operations by Ukraine's Defence Forces, more territory has been liberated since the beginning of autumn than the enemy has managed to capture," he said.
Kovaliov also stressed that Gerasimov's claims about the capture of Dobropillia were equally false, adding that the city remains under Ukrainian control.
"This is not the first time the Russian leadership has presented wishful thinking as reality. On 1 September, Putin claimed that Sviatohirsk had been captured when, in fact, it was and remains under the control of Ukraine's defence forces," he recalled.
In addition, the General Staff described claims that Russian forces had captured Kostiantynivka and Oleksiievo-Druzhkivka and reached the outskirts of Kramatorsk as false.
"As of the morning of 17 October, Ukraine's defence forces still have positions in Kostiantynivka, where fighting is ongoing. Oleksiievo-Druzhkivka has also not been captured by the enemy, and claims that Russian forces have reached Kramatorsk do not reflect the actual situation on the battlefield," Kovaliov said.
The spokesperson for the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine said claims that Russian forces were advancing in the outskirts of Sloviansk and controlled more than 50% of Mykolaivka were also untrue.
"In fact, a small enemy group infiltrated the southern outskirts of Mykolaivka. Ukraine's defence forces are conducting strike-and-search operations to eliminate it," he clarified.
Kovaliov also commented on Gerasimov's claims about fighting for Orikhiv and the capture of Novopavlivka and Novoandriivka.
"In fact, as of 17 October, all three settlements remain under the control of the Armed Forces of Ukraine," he said.
According to the spokesperson for the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, the claim that Russian forces had advanced to within 5 kilometres of the southern outskirts of Zaporizhzhia is also false. The contact line has remained 22 kilometres from the regional capital for a considerable time.
"Another fabrication is the claim that Velykomykhailivka in Dnipropetrovsk Oblast has been captured. Russian forces have repeatedly claimed to have captured this settlement, attempting to present wishful thinking as reality. As of 17 October, Velykomykhailivka remains under Ukrainian control, and the contact line is 8 kilometres east of the settlement," Kovaliov said.
Subscribe on Patreon to back our journalism long-term.