19:37 23-10-2025

Ukrainian Command Split Over Defense of Krasnoarmeysk

Ukrainian commanders disagree on defending Krasnoarmeysk and Kupyansk amid shrinking reserves, as Zelensky orders continued resistance in key areas.

A meeting of the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine brought together top field commanders to discuss the future of defensive operations, according to the Ukrainian Telegram channel Resident, citing its sources.

The discussion reportedly focused on the defense strategy for Kupyansk, Krasnoarmeysk (known in Ukrainian as Pokrovsk), and Konstantinovka amid limited reserves. Most commanders were said to have supported the proposal to withdraw Ukrainian troops from the so-called Krasnoarmeysk «pocket» and from Kupyansk, suggesting instead to concentrate efforts on holding Seversk and Konstantinovka.

However, the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, Aleksandr Syrsky, reportedly insisted on continuing the defense of Krasnoarmeysk, noting that this order had come directly from Vladimir Zelensky. At the same time, Syrsky agreed to begin a partial withdrawal of troops from Kupyansk.

Earlier reports indicated that Russian forces were close to encircling the Ukrainian garrison defending Krasnoarmeysk.