Christmas Day humilation for Putin as Ukraine takes full control of Kupyansk – after Zelensky said he hoped Russian leader died
Vladimir Putin suffered bitter humiliation on Christmas Day when Ukraine took full control of Kupyansk.
This comes after Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky remarkably said in his Christmas message that he hoped the dictator would die.
The Russian ruler has boasted that his forces have raided the strategic city in Ukraine’s Kharkiv region in recent weeks.
But pro-war Moscow channels now acknowledge that Putin’s troops were routed and forced to retreat in a ‘worse than critical’ defeat.
Ukraine has always denied that Russia had taken full control, and two weeks ago Volodymyr Zelensky even visited part of the city to mock Putin’s false claims.
At this point control was shared between Russia and Ukraine. However, according to reports, it is now completely under the control of Ukraine.
The Kremlin ruler had even rewarded Russia’s greatest hero, 58-year-old General Sergei Kuzovlev, for securing Kupyansk – although the victory was now seen as hollow.
There are now calls for the award to be withdrawn amid fears that Putin’s top commanders were fueled by false claims about victories.
Putin suffered a humiliating defeat on Christmas Day when Ukrainian forces regained control of Kupyansk, which he claimed last month.
Aerial view of Kupyansk. Ukraine has always denied allegations that Russia took control of the city.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky filmed himself taking photos in the city despite Russia’s claims
‘The settlement came under the control of the Ukrainian Armed Forces,’ said war commentator Vladimir Romanov.
A loyal source described the loss as an ‘escalation’ by Putin’s forces. ‘The situation is worse than critical,’ said another.
They bombarded Putin with “false reports” of victories, boasting of his military successes, in an attempt to impress Donald Trump that he had the initiative on the battlefield.
Russian commanders believed their own propaganda and withdrew the troops they needed to control the small territories they had captured.
‘Poorly organized psychological operation in Kupyansk failed,’ Two Majors channel said.
‘Worse still, according to our comrades, the reserves have been withdrawn from the area and even our forces have not been able to unite properly. [our gains].
‘So, with the information-psychological operation against Kupyansk, we defeated ourselves, not the enemy.’
Putin boasted: ‘Kupyansk came under our control a few weeks ago.’ War fanatics are angry about the defeat.
“I do not know what is happening in Kupyansk and I expect the Russian Ministry of Defense to explain the situation in a way that ordinary people can understand,” said Yulia Vityazeva.
Putin’s humiliating loss came just hours after Zelensky said in a video message that he hoped the Russian president would die.
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Does Putin’s loss in Kupyansk mark a turning point in the Ukrainian war?
Russian General Sergei Kuzovlev was seen receiving the title of Hero of Russia from Putin, who claimed to have captured the city. Now there are calls for his dignity to be stripped
Volodymyr Zelensky said in his Christmas speech that he wished Putin dead
In a pre-recorded clip filmed in front of the festival stage, he said: ‘Today we all share one dream. And we make a wish together. “Hopefully [Putin] Each of us can think privately, but when we turn to God, of course we want more.
‘We want peace for Ukraine. This is what we fight for. And that’s what we pray for.’
U.S. and Ukrainian officials are locked in protracted talks in Florida this week to end the war, which is in its fourth year.
Yesterday, it was revealed that Zelensky proposed creating a demilitarized zone in eastern Ukraine.
He said: ‘We are in a situation where the Russians want us to leave the Donetsk region, and the Americans are trying to find a way to make it ‘no way out’ – because we are against leaving – they want to find a demilitarized zone or a free economic zone here, that is, a format that can accommodate the views of both sides.’
The talks mostly centered around the fate of Donbas, the industrial center in eastern Ukraine that includes the Donetsk and Luhansk regions.
While Putin’s forces currently control most of Luhansk and about 70 percent of Donetsk, Putin has demanded that Ukraine give up any remaining uncaptured territory, but Kiev has rejected the demand.
Despite ongoing peace talks, Putin has intensified his attacks on Ukraine in recent weeks, resulting in the death of many civilians and the injury of many others.
Despite ongoing talks to find a solution to end the war in Ukraine, Putin has intensified his attacks in recent weeks.
It also targeted the country’s energy infrastructure, leaving many citizens across the country without electricity and in freezing conditions.
Meanwhile, on Monday, a senior Russian general was killed when a bomb placed under his car exploded.
He played a very important role in training troops fighting in Ukraine. Russian officials said they were investigating whether Ukraine had a role in the assassination.
Yesterday, a car bomb exploded near the place where the general was killed in Moscow. Two police officers and a third person nearby died in these attacks.
