Russian Armed Forces General Staff Chief Valery Gerasimov is spreading false information about the Russian army’s successes at the front, trying to create the illusion of large-scale victories. He claimed the alleged capture of a number of Ukrainian settlements. At the same time, the territory remains under the control of the Defence Forces.
Major Andrii Kovaliov, spokesperson for the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, told LB.ua in a comment.
"Because of the lack of significant success on the battlefield, the leadership of the Russian army continues to create, for its own political leadership and domestic audience, the illusion of large-scale victories. Another example was a report by the Chief of the General Staff of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation, Valery Gerasimov, built on outright lies, manipulation and exaggeration," the serviceman said.
According to him, Gerasimov’s claims that Russia has seized more than 1,800 square kilometres of Ukrainian territory and 92 settlements since 1 September do not correspond to reality.
"In his report, Gerasimov claims that since 1 September Russian troops have seized more than 1,800 square kilometres of Ukrainian territory and 92 settlements. This is not true. In fact, thanks to active operations, since the start of autumn the Defence Forces of Ukraine have liberated more territory than the enemy has managed to seize," Kovaliov stressed.
He also refuted claims about the capture of Dobropillia. The town remains under Ukraine’s control. According to the spokesperson, assertions about the capture of Kostiantynivka and Oleksiievo-Druzhkivka, as well as Russian troops reaching the outskirts of Kramatorsk, are also false.
"As of the morning of 17 October, positions of the Defence Forces of Ukraine remain in Kostiantynivka and fighting continues. Oleksiievo-Druzhkivka has also not been captured by the enemy, and claims of reaching Kramatorsk do not reflect the real situation at the front," Kovaliov said.
According to him, claims about a Russian offensive in the suburbs of Sloviansk and control over more than 50% of Mykolaivka’s territory are also untrue.
"In reality, a small enemy group infiltrated the southern outskirts of Mykolaivka. The Defence Forces are conducting strike-and-search operations to destroy it," the General Staff spokesperson noted.
Kovaliov also refuted Gerasimov’s claims about fighting for Orikhiv and the capture of Novopavlivka and Novoandriivka. According to him, as of 17 October all three settlements remain under the control of the Armed Forces of Ukraine.
"The claim that Russian troops have approached the southern outskirts of Zaporizhzhia to within five kilometres is also untrue. For a long time now, the line of contact has remained 22 kilometres from the regional centre," he said.
Separately, the General Staff spokesperson refuted the claim that Velykomykhailivka in Dnipropetrovsk Region had been captured.
"Russian occupiers have not for the first time reported the alleged capture of this settlement, trying to pass wishful thinking off as reality. As of 17 October, Velykomykhailivka remains under Ukraine’s control, and the line of contact runs eight kilometres east of the settlement," Kovaliov concluded.