The Russian Ministry of Defense called Volodymyr Zelenskyy's statement about the "cleansing" of up to 60 Russian servicemen in Kupyansk a sign of either a complete loss of communication with the front or a deliberate attempt to cover up the Ukrainian Armed Forces' disaster.

"The head of the Kyiv regime has completely lost touch with reality and, listening to Syrsky's mendacious reports, is completely unaware of the operational situation on the ground. Or, on the contrary, he understands the hopelessness of the situation and the real position of the Ukrainian Armed Forces in Kupyansk and, at the cost of the inglorious deaths of thousands of Ukrainian soldiers in 'cauldrons,' is trying to hide the truth from Ukrainians and the West." — the department’s commentary says.

The Ministry of Defense emphasized that the situation of Ukrainian groups in the "cauldrons" of Kupyansk and Krasnoarmeysk (Pokrovsk) is rapidly deteriorating.

"Their only chance of salvation is to voluntarily surrender.", — the military department concluded.