ISW: Gerasimov Has Been Lying For Months.
- 28.01.2026, 14:15
U.S. analysts cited figures.
The apparently false statement by Russian General Staff chief Valery Gerasimov about the alleged capture of the village of Kupyansk-Uzlovaya is a new example of Russia lying and exaggerating its achievements on the battlefield to push Ukraine and the West into accepting demands that the occupiers cannot realize militarily, the Institute for the Study of War states.
This is the subject of a new report by ISW.
Analysts reacted to Gerasimov's statements about the "achievements" of the Russian Army Group West, which he visited on January 27 for an "inspection" and heard reports from the commander, Russian Colonel General Sergei Kuzovlev.
Gerasimov claimed that Russian troops had allegedly captured Kupyansk-Uzlovoy and were advancing toward Kovsharovka and Glushkovka (Kharkiv region). This claim was quickly refuted by Ukraine, saying that the Defense Forces are in full control of Kupyansk-Uzlovoy.
ISW also found no evidence of a Russian presence in Kupyansk-Uzlovoy - only indications of recent Russian infiltration missions on the outskirts of the city. Moreover, these infiltration attempts were recorded at a distance of about 3.5 kilometers from the northern border of the settlement and about 8.5 kilometers from the eastern border of Kupyansk-Uzlovoy.
Analysts at the Institute for the Study of War emphasize that the Russian military command continues to blatantly lie and exaggerate Russian achievements on the battlefield in order to "push Ukraine and the West to accept demands that Russia still cannot implement militarily."
In particular, Gerasimov claimed that since January 1, the occupiers have captured 17 settlements and more than 500 square kilometers of Ukrainian territory. However, ISW recorded that the Russians advanced (or consolidated after infiltration missions) only 265.45 square kilometers between Jan. 1 and Jan. 27.
In addition, Gerasimov said that the Russian Dnepr troop group allegedly advanced up to 12-14 kilometers from the southern and southeastern outskirts of the city of Zaporizhzhya. ISW estimates that Russian troops have advanced only about 18 kilometers south of the city.
The ISW analysts add that the Russian Defense Ministry has been lying for months about the extent of Russian advances, which has repeatedly provoked criticism even from pro-war Russian "war correspondents." In recent weeks, Russian officials have also repeatedly claimed that the scale of the Russian occupation army's advances on the front has been overstated - in particular, Vladimir Putin has repeatedly claimed the capture of Kupyansk.