Vladimir Putin visited the West Group’s command post

Photo: Kremlin.ru

The Supreme Commander-in-Chief visited a command post of the West Group, where he held a meeting with the Chief of the General Staff, the Chief of the Main Operational Directorate, the Commander of the South Group of Forces, and the Commander of the West Group.

The President was provided with detailed updates on the developments in various areas, including around Kupyansk, Kremlin informs.

The Supreme Commander-in-Chief acknowledged that the objectives set at the previous similar meeting had been accomplished. The President highly praised the work of the command and personnel and expressed his gratitude.

November 20, 2025

Photo: Kremlin.ru

President of the Russian Federation, Supreme Commander-in-Chief of the Russian Armed Forces Vladimir Putin:

Comrades, good afternoon,

We held a similar meeting on October 25, attended by the Chief of the General Staff, the Chief of the Main Operations Directorate, and the commanders of two groups of forces – the West and Centre groups. At that time, the Commander and the Chief of the General Staff reported on the developments in Krasnoarmeysk and Kupyansk, where you had successfully blocked large enemy units.

Joining us today are the Chief of the General Staff, the Chief of the Main Operations Directorate, the commander and command and operations staff of the West group of forces, as well as the new commander of the South group of forces. The former commander of the South group has been appointed Deputy Minister of Defence. I am confident he will apply all the knowledge and experience he gained as a combat commander to his new role, something that is highly relevant given the current situation.

First, I would like to hear from the Chief of the General Staff on the situation in the Centre group’s area of responsibility. I have chosen not to summon their commander today; his focus needs to be on the challenges at hand. While you and I are aware of the general developments, I would like to hear the latest update on the situation.

Next, I will turn to the new commander of the South group. This is not a new role for you, given your previous position as chief of staff for the same group. This ensures complete continuity. Frankly, no one knows the situation in that area better than you. This is your show now, and you have everything you need to run it.

For your report, please focus on the situation in Konstantinovka – where, to my knowledge, fighting has now moved into the town itself – as well as the overall picture in the Kramatorsk-Druzhkovka operational sector, that entire urban area, and of course, around Seversk.

Following that, I would like the commander of the West group to report on the situation in Kupyansk and on the left bank of the Oskol River. I am referring to Kupyansk-Uzlovaya and the surrounding area, where, as I understand, you have successfully trapped a significant enemy force. Recently it was 18 battalions, and now, as the Chief of the General Staff has reported, that number is around 15. What are your plans for further operations in this area and in the zone of your responsibility in general? Are the 6th Army and the 1st Tank Army engaged on the left bank? Please report on this in detail.

Finally, Mr Gerasimov, I would also like you to report on whether you are in a position to create the conditions I requested for the Ukrainian Armed Forces to be able to lay down their arms and surrender, given their current predicament.

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

Comrade Supreme Commander-in-Chief,

The conditions for surrender have been established, and given their desperate situation, many Ukrainian soldiers are naturally choosing to lay down their arms. However, most are prevented from doing so by their own side, under threat of being shot or targeted by their own drones. Furthermore, Ukraine’s political leadership has issued no official instructions on the matter.

Vladimir Putin: I see. Let’s be clear about the nature of the Ukrainian political leadership. Since March 2024, it has ceased to be a legitimate government. It is a group of individuals, a criminal organisation that has usurped power under the pretext of continuing the war with Russia and is now clinging to it for personal enrichment. This is now a matter of public record, confirmed by an anti-corruption investigation within Ukraine itself.

It should be obvious to everyone that these people, sitting on their golden thrones, are hardly thinking about the future of their country, the ordinary citizens of Ukraine, their officer corps, or especially their common soldiers. No. They have other priorities.

But we have our own objectives and our own agenda. Our principal goal remains the unconditional achievement of the special military operation’s aims and the fulfilment of the duties our Fatherland and the people of Russia have entrusted to us. The people of Russia are counting on us. They are counting on you, and they expect the results our country needs.

Let’s get to work. Mr Gerasimov, you have the floor.

Valery Gerasimov: Comrade Supreme Commander-in-Chief,

Our forces continue to carry out their missions in line with the overall operational plan. The Joint Force troops are advancing on nearly every front to build on the successes of the spring-summer campaign.

The enemy is attempting to halt our progress, concentrating its main effort on stabilising the Krasnoarmeysk sector. In its area of responsibility, the North group of forces continues to establish a security zone along the border of Ukraine’s Sumy and Kharkov regions and has now liberated over 80 percent of Volchansk, with its assault units successfully advancing in the city’s southeastern districts.

The West group of forces have liberated Kupyansk and are now eliminating encircled Ukrainian formations on the left bank of the Oskol River, while also making successful gains in the Rubtsy and Krasny Liman directions.

The South group of forces is fighting its way into Seversk and Konstantinovka, pushing through stiff enemy resistance.

Meanwhile, the Centre group’s area of responsibility in the Krasnoarmeysk sector remains the most active. The enemy is putting up stubborn resistance there, making repeated attempts to break the encirclement of their forces in the Krasnoarmeysk-Dimitrov urban area. Despite this, the troops of the Centre group continue to destroy these encircled units. In the past week alone, they have liberated the adjacent small towns of Gnatovka, Sukhoi Yar, and Rog. They now control over 75 percent of Krasnoarmeysk itself and are continuing their rapid advancement into the city.

The Vostok group of forces continues to expand its control in the Dnepropetrovsk and Zaporozhye regions, advancing westward to bypass the enemy’s main defences. Since November 1, this push has liberated over 230 square kilometres and 13 local communities: six in the Dnepropetrovsk Region and seven in the Zaporozhye Region. Forward subunits of this group of forces have already reached the Gaichur River and continue to advance.

Finally, the Dnepr group of forces has liberated Malaya Tokmachka and is engaged in combat to secure Primorskoye and Stepnogorsk. In addition to the ground offensive, we are continuing a campaign of targeted retaliatory strikes, as planned by the General Staff, against key facilities of Ukraine’s defence industry and its supporting energy infrastructure.

Comrade Supreme Commander-in-Chief,

The formations and units of the Joint Force troops will continue to carry out their assigned tasks to liberate the Donetsk and Lugansk people’s republics, and the Zaporozhye and Kherson regions, in accordance with the approved plan.

This concludes my report.

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