The Supreme Commander-in-Chief Vladimir Putin visited a Joint Force command post

Visit to the Joint Force command post.
Photo: Kremlin.ru

The Supreme Commander-in-Chief Vladimir Putin visited a Joint Force command post, where he had a meeting with Chief of the General Staff of the Russian Armed Forces Valery Gerasimov and the commanders of the groups involved in the special military operation, Kremlin informs.

The President was briefed in detail on the developments along the line of contact, particularly in the Kupyansk and Krasnoarmeysk directions.

It was noted that up to 5,000 Ukrainian Armed Forces personnel are encircled in the Kupyansk direction, and 5,500 in the Krasnoarmeysk direction.

The Supreme Commander-in-Chief was provided with a full update on the situation at the front.

October 26, 2025

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President of Russia Vladimir Putin:

Comrades,

During today’s meeting, we will review the current situation in the area of the special military operation and developments across individual operational directions. The commanders of troop groups will report on the performance and coordination of their respective units.

In addition, this week the Russian Armed Forces conducted an exercise involving the strategic offensive forces, with combat training launches of all three components of the Russian strategic nuclear forces as well as tests of advanced weapons systems.

Let us get down to work. Valery Gerasimov, Chief of the General Staff, has the floor.

Chief of the General Staff of the Russian Armed Forces Valery Gerasimov:

Comrade Supreme Commander-in-Chief,

The Joint Force troops continue to carry out their assigned tasks to liberate the Donetsk and Lugansk people’s republics, as well as the Zaporozhye and Kherson regions, in accordance with the objectives set for the special military operation.

Today, I would like to elaborate on two directions, the first one being the area of responsibility of the Centre group of forces. Formations and military units of the 2nd and 51st armies, advancing along converging axes, have completed the encirclement of the enemy in the Krasnoarmeysk and Dimitrov areas. A large group of Ukrainian Armed Forces, comprising 31 battalions, was blocked, including units from the 25th Airborne, 79th Airborne Assault, and 68th Jaeger Brigades, as well as the 35th and 38th Marine Brigades, the 425th Separate Assault Regiment, and the 153rd and 155th Mechanised Brigades.

Special recognition for performing their military tasks has been given to Russia’s 30th Separate Motorised Rifle Brigade and the 439th Motorised Rifle Regiment of the 2nd Army, as well as the 9th and 110th Separate Motorised Rifle Brigades of the 51st Army, and personnel of the Rubicon Advanced Unmanned Technologies Centre units.

The success of the operation to encircle the enemy was supported by comprehensive fire damage on AFU formations across the entire depth of their operational deployment, as well as isolating the combat zone to disrupt the enemy’s supply lines.

At present, the Centre group’s priority is the equally important task of destroying the encircled AFU group in the Krasnoarmeysk and Dimitrov agglomeration.

Second, Kupyansk is encircled in the direction of operations of the West group of forces. Meanwhile, assault units of the 68th Motorised Rifle Division of the 6th Army have executed a flanking maneuver and captured enemy crossings over Oskol River south of the city. They have blocked the Ukrainian armed forces on the left bank east of Kupyansk in cooperation with the 47th Motorised Rifle Division and the 27th Motorised Rifle Brigade of the 1st Tank Army. Units of the enemy’s 14th, 43rd, and 116th Mechanised Brigades, as well as the 1st Brigade of the Ukrainian National Guard – 18 combat battalions in total – are encircled.

In addition, formations and military units of the West group of forces continue to successfully advance in the Krasny Liman direction, with Yampol almost completely liberated.

Offensive operations are also underway in other directions. Over the past two weeks, the North group of forces has successfully advanced in the southern part of Volchansk, with more than 70 percent of the city liberated to date.

Assault units of the South group of forces have liberated Dronovka and Pleshcheyevka and continue urban warfare in Seversk and Konstantinovka.

Units of the East group of forces are advancing in the Dnepropetrovsk and Zaporozhye regions, with six villages liberated.

Comrade Supreme Commander-in-Chief,

As part of the strategic nuclear force training exercise, combat training launches of Yars and Sineva intercontinental ballistic missiles and two Kh-102 air-launched cruise missiles were carried out, with all planned objectives achieved.

Report concluded.

Vladimir Putin:

Thank you, Mr Gerasimov.

In conclusion of this part of our meeting, I would like to note that the recent successes in encircling the Krasnoarmeysk and Dimitrov agglomeration and Kupyansk, as well as combat outcomes in other directions, achieved by our Armed Forces, are the result of the heroic actions of our soldiers, sergeants, and junior rank officers, as well as the well-coordinated work of our headquarters and leadership at all levels. I extend my congratulations to all personnel of the Joint Force on their effective performance and achievements.

At the same time, as already noted, extensive and challenging efforts have to be made in order to eliminate the encircled enemy formations. In this regard, I would like to draw your attention to several points.

First, in order to minimise avoidable human losses, I ask (just as we have done before) that you take all possible comprehensive measures to secure the surrender of Ukrainian service personnel – those who wish to lay down arms.

We are aware (and you are aware of it better than anyone) that it is not easy for them as they get shot in the back and drones are used to target and attack those attempting to surrender.

Nevertheless – and our actions are only natural in this regard – we must act and treat prisoners in accordance with international law and the laws of the Russian Federation. Historically, the Russian army has shown mercy to a defeated foe, and we will act from that tradition. We have discussed this on numerous occasions. You have reported on various incidents across different combat zones, and I would like to ask you to continue to act in the same manner.

Obviously, during the mop-up of these territories, every effort must be made to protect the civilian population, which Ukrainian units are using as human shields. Local residents must receive all necessary assistance, and measures must be taken to evacuate them to safe locations.

Commanders of the army groups must continue to carry out the special military operation according to the plan developed by the General Staff of the Russian Armed Forces.

That said, the lives of our military personnel remain the priority. We discuss this on a constant basis; you know my approach and I know yours: we will not tie operations to specific dates or events. As always, we will proceed from military expediency and place the safety of our fighters, our soldiers, first and foremost.

Regarding the exercise of the strategic offensive forces, we have once again confirmed the reliability of Russia’s nuclear shield. The strategic forces are fully capable of ensuring the national security of the Russian Federation and the Union State; we have already spoken on this matter. This is a fact well-known to all specialists in the military field across the globe. The so-called modernity of our Armed Forces, or rather of the nuclear deterrence forces, is at the very highest level. One can, without exaggeration, claim that it is at least on a higher level than that of all other nuclear states.

Now about the recent military exercise. I would ask the Chief of the General Staff to report on one more event that I briefly mentioned in my opening remarks – namely, the test of the Burevestnik nuclear-powered unlimited-range cruise missile. I have received a report from the industry and I am aware of the assessments made by the Ministry of Defence – this is indeed a unique weapon that no other country possesses.

I clearly remember that when we announced the development of this weapon, even very high-level, top-class specialists told me the goal was worthy and respectable but unattainable in the near historical perspective. Once again – that was the view of those high-class experts. And now the decisive tests have been completed.

Obviously, substantial work has to be done in order to place this weapon on combat duty, and all regulations must be completed. Nevertheless, as I understand it, the key objectives have been achieved, and I would like to hear the opinion of the Chief of the General Staff.

Valery Gerasimov: Comrade Supreme Commander-in-Chief, such a test was conducted on October 21. Unlike previous trials, this one featured a many-hour flight, with the missile covering 14,000 kilometres – and that is not the limit.

Vladimir Putin: It is nuclear-powered, right?

Valery Gerasimov: It is indeed. It uses nuclear propulsion.

Burevestnik’s technical characteristics generally allow for its use with assured accuracy against highly protected targets at any range.

During the flight, the missile completed all prescribed vertical and horizontal manoeuvres, showcasing a high capability to evade missile-defence and air-defence systems.

Vladimir Putin: And how long was it in the air?

Valery Gerasimov: About 15 hours.

Vladimir Putin: And that is not the limit?

Valery Gerasimov: No, it is not.

Vladimir Putin: Mr Gerasimov, we will need to determine which class of weapons this new system belongs to, identify possible modes of employment, and begin preparing the infrastructure to base it in our Armed Forces.

Valery Gerasimov: Affirmative.

Vladimir Putin: Now, regarding the enemy encircled in the regions you reported on: without doubt, the enemy will try to unblock its groupings both from outside and from within – both directly and by actions in nearby areas to create conditions for unblocking.

For that reason, I arrived here – namely, to hear the assessments of the group commanders on how you are planning, given the current developments, to organise the upcoming combat activities of the units entrusted to you.

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