Moscow: Russia has firmly stated that the Ukrainian city of Kupiansk remains under its control, dismissing Ukrainian assertions to the contrary. Speaking at a news conference in Moscow, Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova addressed the situation amid growing tensions.

According to Anadolu Agency, Zakharova accused Ukraine of deploying reserves to "stage" President Volodymyr Zelenskyy's recent visit to Kupiansk. She asserted that the city, described as "liberated," has consistently been under the control of Russian armed forces. Zakharova suggested that the Ukrainian leadership aimed to demonstrate resilience to European leaders ahead of Zelenskyy's upcoming meeting in Brussels.

Zakharova criticized Kyiv's military efforts, stating that attempts to breach Russian defenses were repelled, resulting in significant losses for Ukraine. She attributed these actions to what she described as the "criminal vanity" of Ukraine's leadership, emphasizing that everything was orchestrated for Zelenskyy's benefit.

Ukraine, however, presented a different narrative on Wednesday, claiming that its forces had regained control of nearly 90% of Kupiansk, a critical railway hub in the Kharkiv region. Commander-in-Chief Oleksandr Syrskyi announced on Telegram that Ukrainian troops had successfully "pushed back the (Russians) from Kupiansk" through active military operations. This claim followed reports suggesting that Russian forces in the area were effectively encircled.

The conflicting statements from Ukraine and Russia are reminiscent of past disputes. On Nov. 20, Russian Chief of the General Staff Valery Gerasimov informed President Vladimir Putin that Russian forces had achieved full control of Kupiansk, a claim Ukraine disputed at the time. Ukrainian President Zelenskyy emphasized the need for tangible battlefield successes to bolster Kyiv's diplomatic stance.

In response to Ukraine's latest claims, Russian Defense Minister Andrey Belousov reiterated Moscow's control over Kupiansk, labeling Ukrainian efforts to capture the city as "unsuccessful." He highlighted the strategic importance of Kupiansk as a key supply route for Ukraine and its potential impact on expanding the security zone in the Kharkiv region.

Independent verification of the situation in Kupiansk remains challenging due to the ongoing conflict, making it difficult to ascertain the true state of control over the city.