ISTANBUL 

Russian Chief of General Staff Valery Gerasimov on Thursday claimed that the country’s forces took control of the city of Kupiansk in Ukraine’s northeastern Kharkiv region.

Gerasimov made the statement while briefing Russian President Vladimir Putin, who visited a military command post of the country’s “West” group of troops.

He further claimed that Russian troops captured 80% of the town of Vovchansk, situated near Ukraine’s border with Russia in the northeastern region and about 55 kilometers (34 miles) northeast of Ukraine’s second-largest city, Kharkiv.

The chief of general staff claimed 70% of the frontline city of Pokrovsk in the eastern Donetsk region, where intense clashes continue between Russian and Ukrainian forces, has been captured as well.

Pokrovsk serves as a critical logistics hub for Ukraine’s military operations in the region.

Ukrainian authorities have not immediately commented on Russia’s claims, and independent verification of the claims is difficult due to the ongoing three-and-a-half-year war.