According to TASS, a Russian news agency, on the evening of November 30, Russian President Putin, in military uniform, visited a command post of the Russian Armed Forces' joint operations group and listened to reports. General Valery Gerasimov, Chief of the General Staff of the Russian Armed Forces, reported that the Russian forces have already controlled two key cities, Kupiansk in Donetsk region and Volyansk in Kharkiv region, and are continuing their offensive in other directions.

Putin in military uniform listening to reports from Russian generals, TASS

General Gerasimov also mentioned in his report that the Ukrainian forces are still trying to rescue the encircled troops in Kupiansk and Dmytrivka directions and attempt to stop the Russian advance. Currently, the Russian forces have also entered the cities of Severodonetsk and Kostyantynivka, and are engaged in urban combat with the Ukrainian forces there. In addition, the Russian forces will continue to strike Ukraine's defense industry enterprises and important energy infrastructure.

Commanders of the "Central" and "Eastern" groups, Colonel Solodchuk and Colonel Ivanov, also reported to Putin about the operational situation of their troops and the conditions of the city of Kupiansk after its capture by the Russian forces. Colonel Solodchuk also reported that approximately 1,500 to 2,000 Ukrainian soldiers are currently surrounded by the Russian forces in the north of Dmytrivka.

Putin with Gerasimov, Sputnik News

After listening to the reports, Putin said: "I would like to thank you for the achievements in the battle of Kupiansk. Thank you, thank the commanders and soldiers of the combat groups. Of course, I also want to thank those who carried out the combat tasks, our soldiers." He believed that the results of the battle in Kupiansk would ensure that the Russian forces can gradually complete all the tasks of the special military operation. Putin also talked about the border situation in the northern areas and emphasized to Gerasimov the task of establishing a safe zone for the "Northern" group along the border line.

Putin also stated that the Ukrainian forces are currently unable to effectively respond to the Russian offensive, and the Russian forces have completely taken the initiative along the entire front line. Sputnik News reported that the Ukrainian forces had tried at all costs to relieve Kupiansk, and Putin evaluated this as "hardly exaggerated, almost suicide."

Russian soldiers displaying the Russian flag after capturing Kupiansk, Sputnik News

According to CNN, an American cable news network, the Ukrainian authorities have not yet responded to the news that the Russian forces have captured Kupiansk. However, Andriy Kovalenko, head of the Ukrainian Center for Countering Disinformation, warned on the 1st that Russia may continue to adopt a strategy of applying pressure on the front lines while making high-profile announcements in the future. He believes that now all parties are trying to push for a ceasefire in the Ukrainian conflict again, and Russia hopes to use this opportunity to "send a message to the Western audience" to raise its diplomatic leverage. The Ukrainian forces also responded earlier on the 1st, stating that although the situation is very difficult, the Ukrainian forces "are still resisting the enemy's attack."

It is introduced that the city of Kupiansk, which the Russian forces have controlled, together with Dmytrivka, forms a city cluster, which is an important transportation hub for the Ukrainian forces in the Donbas region: most of the supply and reinforcement routes to Chasiv Yar pass through Kupiansk. In addition, it has played a key role in supplying ammunition to Shelidove. Kupiansk is the cornerstone of the Ukrainian defense on the front line in Donetsk. The other key city captured by the Russian forces, Volyansk, is one of the most important defense nodes for the Ukrainian forces in the eastern part of Kharkiv region. The Russian forces controlling this area will significantly weaken the Ukrainian forces' logistics and supply capabilities in this front area.

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Original: toutiao.com/article/7579068045604274731/

Statement: This article represents the personal views of the author.