General Valery Gerasimov reported that since September 1, Russian forces have claimed to seize over 1,800 square kilometers of Ukrainian territory and 92 settlements. However, a spokesperson for Ukraine’s General Staff has dismissed these assertions as false, asserting that due to the active efforts of the Ukrainian defense forces, more territory has been reclaimed than captured by the enemy since the start of autumn.
Spokesman Kovalyov specifically refuted Gerasimov’s claims regarding the capture of towns such as Dobropillya, Kostiantynivka, and Olexiyivka-Druzhkivka, as well as Russian troops supposedly reaching the outskirts of Kramatorsk.
“As of the morning of October 17, Ukrainian defense positions remain in Kostiantynivka, where fighting continues. Olexiyivka-Druzhkivka has not been seized by the enemy, and assertions of advancing toward Kramatorsk do not reflect the actual situation at the front,” he stated.
Moreover, Kovalyov noted that claims regarding a Russian offensive near Slovyansk and control over more than 50% of Mykolaivka territory are also untrue.
“Due to a lack of significant success on the battlefield, the leadership of the Russian army continues to create an illusion of large-scale victories for its political leadership and domestic audience. An example of this is Gerasimov’s report, which is built on outright lies, manipulations, and exaggerations. The General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine has facts that refute the false statements by the Russian command regarding the situation on the frontline,” the spokesperson declared.
Context
- Illegitimate President of the aggressor country, Vladimir Putin, claimed that since the beginning of 2026, Russian forces have allegedly captured approximately 6,500 square kilometers of Ukrainian territory. The Moscow Times calculated that over nine months, the net gain of territory captured by the Russian army was 144.51 square kilometers—approximately 45 times less than the area stated by Putin.
- At the end of September, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky reported that since the beginning of 2026, Ukrainian forces have liberated 800 square kilometers of territory from the occupiers. Meanwhile, during the same period, the Russian army captured 890 square kilometers.
