OREANDA-NEWS The head of the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Russia, Valery Gerasimov, in a report to the head of state, Vladimir Putin, stated that Kupyansk in the Kharkiv region was taken under full control of the Russian Armed Forces during a special military operation, RIA Novosti reports.

"Formations of the Zapad group have liberated the city of Kupyansk," said the Chief of the General Staff. He also said that 15 battalions of the Armed Forces of Ukraine were blocked in the area of the city.

On Thursday, November 20, Putin visited one of the command posts of the Zapad group of forces. He held a meeting with the participation of the Chief of the General Staff, the main operational directorate of the commanders of the Zapad and South groups, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said.