Russian Army Claims Capture of Key Ukrainian City Kupiansk

The Russian army announced on Thursday, November 21, 2025, that it has captured the eastern Ukrainian city of Kupiansk. Kupiansk, located in the Kharkiv region, is a crucial railway hub and a key stronghold for Ukrainian forces.

Kupiansk had previously fallen to Russian troops on the first day of Russia’s 2022 invasion of Ukraine. Ukrainian forces retook the city in September 2025, but in recent months, Russian troops have made steady advances along the eastern front, putting Ukraine’s soldiers on the defensive.

Sergei Kuzovlev, commander of Russia’s western troop grouping, told President Vladimir Putin that Russian forces had “completed the liberation of the city of Kupiansk.” He described the city as a “key cog in Ukraine’s defenses” and highlighted its strategic importance for controlling transport and supply routes in the region.

The announcement came shortly after Ukraine received a proposal from the United States aimed at ending the conflict. According to sources, the proposal appeared to echo Russia’s demands for Kyiv to cede territory currently under Moscow’s control, suggesting that a diplomatic solution may involve territorial concessions.

Earlier on Thursday, President Putin visited a Russian army command post to review the situation at the front. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said Putin met with senior officers and received reports on the military operation, although it was not specified whether the post was located inside Russia or in occupied Ukrainian territory.

Kupiansk, which had a population of around 55,000 before the war, has been a focal point of fighting due to its strategic location and railway connections. Its capture marks a significant development in the ongoing conflict, as Russian forces continue to push deeper into eastern Ukraine.

The situation in eastern Ukraine remains tense, with both sides facing heavy military pressure and the civilian population enduring the consequences of prolonged fighting. Analysts say the city’s capture could have major implications for the course of the war and future peace negotiations.