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Late on November 30, the Supreme Commander-in-Chief visited one of the Joint Force command posts.
The President heard reports from Chief of the General Staff Valery Gerasimov, Commander of the Centre group of forces Valery Solodchuk, and Commander of the East group of forces Andrei Ivanayev.
In his report, Chief of the General Staff Valery Gerasimov announced the liberation of Krasnoarmeysk in the Donetsk People's Republic and Volchansk in the Kharkov Region, also detailing the results of the offensive operations in other directions.
Commander of the Centre group of forces Valery Solodchuk reported on the progress in eliminating the Ukrainian Armed Forces group surrounded in the area of the Krasnoarmeysk-Dimitrov agglomeration, announcing in particular that the southern part of the city of Dimitrov was now under the Russian troops’ control and also reporting on the situation in Krasnoarmeysk following the city's liberation.
Commander of the East group of forces Andrei Ivanayev reported on the progress status of missions to liberate the Zaporozhye and Dnepropetrovsk regions within the area of responsibility of his subordinate troops. In addition, Andrei Ivanayev announced that his group reached the Gaichur River and that an operation to liberate the city of Gulyaypole in the Zaporozhye Region was launched with the engagement of the 5th Combined Arms Army units. At the moment, the troops of the 5th Army are engaged in urban warfare in the northeastern part of the city.
Vladimir Putin thanked the commanders and personnel of all the forces for their efficiency and tasked the officers with ensuring the troops have everything they need to continue fighting during the upcoming winter months.
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President of Russia Vladimir Putin: Good afternoon, comrades,
We will hold a regular meeting today.
Last time we focused on the implementation of tasks in the zone of responsibility of the West and South groups of forces.
Regarding the West group, we spoke about the overall situation in its zone of responsibility, as well as the situation in and around Kupyansk.
As for the South group, its commander reported on the situation in his zone of responsibility and on combat operations in and around the city of Seversk.
Regarding the Centre and East groups of forces, the initiative is firmly in the hands of our Armed Forces, just as along the entire line of battle engagement.
We will continue our work today by discussing in greater detail the situation in the zone of responsibility of your respective groups.
Of course, first of all, I would like to receive an update on the situation in Krasnoarmeysk and your estimates on the further development of the situation in this area.
As for the East group of forces, I know how fast our forces are advancing in the intended direction and that they have approached the city of Gulyaypole. Of course, I would like to hear reports about the situation in the area of Gulyaypole and, most importantly, about what you plan to do in the zone of your responsibility to ensure that your group fulfils the tasks set as effectively as possible.
During our previous meeting, the Chief of the General Staff reported about the fulfilment of tasks in all directions, including the ones I have mentioned. Commanders of the groups of forces, I would like you to report in greater detail about the recent developments in your zone of responsibility.
Also, during our meeting today we will discuss the tasks set before the Joint Force and the most pressing logistics issues. We must not forget that winter is coming, which is something we should keep in mind. Our men must have everything they need.
Mr Gerasimov, I would also like to ask you to report on the situation in the zone of responsibility of the North group of forces, considering its task of creating a buffer zone along the state border. In this connection, I would like you to report on the situation in and around Volchansk.
Let us get down to work.
Chief of the General Staff, please report on the overall situation in the special military operation zone.
Chief of the General Staff Valery Gerasimov: Comrade Supreme Commander-in-Chief,
In keeping with the special military operation’s concept, the Joint Force troops have been carrying out a large-scale offensive effort.
Commanders of Ukraine’s armed forces persist with their unsuccessful attempts to unblock their encircled groups near Kupyansk and Krasnoarmeysk and to stop the advancement of our troops on the Krasny Liman, Severodonetsk, Dnepropetrovsk and Zaporozhye theatres.
Today, the North group of forces has completed its effort to liberate Volchansk. In addition to this, as part of the effort to create a buffer zone in the border territories of Ukraine’s Sumy and Kharkov regions, we took over three more communities on this territory in November – Sinelnikovo, Tsegelnoye and Dvurechanskoye.
Military units and formations of the West group focused their main efforts on the Krasny Liman theatre and on the left bank of the Oskol River to defeat an encircled group after taking over Kupyansk. Our troops keep closing in on this encircled group, which currently includes about 15 battalions, and are about to liquidate it.
Vladimir Putin: Last time, you talked about this and I even asked whether the adversary could head south along the Oskol’s bank to get out.
Valery Gerasimov: Comrade Supreme Commander-in-Chief, no, it cannot do that because the 1st Tank Army has created a formidable defence line to the south of the encircled group all along the left bank of the river. This line stretches for about 17 kilometres to the south.
The West group also continues its offensive on the Rubtsy and Krasny Liman theatres. Its assault crews have entered Krasny Liman and are now fighting in the city’s southeastern and eastern neighbourhoods.
Urban warfare is ongoing in Drobyshevo and Yarovaya. This is also part of the Krasny Liman theatre.
The South group of forces is expanding its offensive efforts in the northern part of the Donetsk People’s Republic. This combat activity near Seversk led to the liberation of Zvanovka, Vasyukovka and Petrovskoye. In Seversk, the 3rd Army’s assault crews are conducting urban warfare to expand the area under their control in the northeastern and southern parts of the city. Every day, they liberate over 100 buildings in Seversk.
On the Kramatorsk and Druzhkovka theatre, the South group has also liberated Ivanopolye and continues its street combat operations in Konstantinovka. We now control the southeastern and eastern parts of Konstantinovka, which exceeds 30 percent of buildings in this community.
The Centre group troops liberated Krasnoarmeysk and continue destroying enemy units in Dimitrov. In addition to this, some of the group forces have been mounting successful offensives in the Dnepropetrovsk Region.
The East group of forces continues to rapidly advance west and has been expanding the territory it controls in the Dnepropetrovsk and Zaporozhye regions.
Troops of the Dnieper group are conducting an offensive on the Zaporozhye theatre. They encircled Stepnogorsk and are engaged in combat action to take over Primorsk.
Moreover, in keeping with the General Staff’s plan, there is a continued effort to launch massive retaliatory strikes targeting Ukraine’s military industrial complex and energy infrastructure it relies on.
Comrade Supreme Commander-in-Chief, military formations of the Joint Force continue their active offensive action in order to complete the liberation of Donbass.
This concludes my report.
Vladimir Putin: Thank you.
Overall, we see that our Joint Force troops are ramping up pressure along the entire front line. In recent days, we have gained control over several major population centres that are vital for our continued offensive to clear the entire area, including the remaining enemy-held territory.
As Commander of the Centre group Valery Solodchuk reported at a meeting on October 25, we have successfully encircled a group of Ukrainian troops in the Krasnoarmeysk-Dimitrov urban area.
Comrade Solodchuk, to confirm my understanding from the General Staff’s briefing: is the city of Krasnoarmeysk fully secured?
Commander of the Centre Group of Forces Valery Solodchuk: Yes.
Vladimir Putin: Please provide a detailed update.
Valery Solodchuk: Comrade Supreme Commander-in-Chief, here is my report.
Troops of the Centre group are continuing offensive operations to destroy enemy forces in the Dnepropetrovsk area, in line with the General Staff’s approved plan.
On the Krasnoarmeysk axis, the 2nd Army, engaging the 30th Separate Motor Rifle Brigade and the 506th, 439th and 1435th motor rifle regiments of the 27th Guards Motor Rifle Division, completed the liberation of Krasnoarmeysk.
We are currently clearing the city of remaining enemy stragglers. We continue to destroy enemy units in Dimitrov. The southern part of the city is fully under our control and being cleared. An enemy group estimated at 1,500 to 2,000 personnel remains completely encircled in the northern part of the city. All attempts by this group to break out, or by external forces to relieve them, have been unsuccessful.
The enemy has made repeated attempts to relieve the siege and break out of the city, but, as I reported, all attacks have been decisively repelled.
In line with your directives, we are taking steps to establish conditions for the Ukrainian soldiers to lay down their arms and surrender. However, the enemy command is obstructing this. We have testimony from the Ukrainian soldiers who have laid down their arms that they are forbidden to surrender under threat of execution and reprisals against families.
We have also confirmed several incidents where Ukrainian FPV drones have engaged their own soldiers attempting to approach our lines under white flags.
Furthermore, we are continuing the advance on the left flank toward Novopavlovka, the enemy’s primary strong point in this sector. Our units are boxing the enemy in from the southwest, west, northwest, and east in order to encircle it.
Comrade Supreme Commander-in-Chief,
The Centre group of forces remains on the advance in all directions. All the tasks assigned to it will be accomplished.
This concludes my report.
Vladimir Putin: I will talk about this later. At this point, I would like to thank you for what you have achieved in and around Krasnoarmeysk. I am referring to you and the group commanders and personnel, as well as our fighters, of course, the men who are carrying out these combat missions. This is a very important theatre of operations, and we all understand this. This effort is expected to enable us to make steady progress in achieving all the main goals we set for ourselves at the outset of the special military operation.
Thank you.
Valery Solodchuk: Serving Russia.
Vladimir Putin: Mr Ivanayev, please report on the situation within the zone of responsibility of the East group of forces.
Commander of the East Group of Forces Andrei Ivanayev: Comrade Supreme Commander-in-Chief,
In keeping with the special military operation’s concept, the East group of forces has been carrying out its tasks on the Zaporozhye theatre. Its formations and military units have been proactive in advancing their positions in the south of the Dnepropetrovsk Region and in the eastern part of the Zaporozhye Region.
The 5th, 29th and 36th armies have mounted an offensive along a wide section of the frontline. Today, the 37th Separate Motor Rifle Brigade of the 36th Army has completed the liberation of Dobropolye. Over the past week, the troops also liberated Novoye Zaporozhye and Zatishye in the Zaporozhye Region, as well as Tikhoye and Otradnoye in the Dnepropetrovsk Region.
Since November 1, the group took over 360 square kilometres of land in these regions, having liberated seven communities in the Dnepropetrovsk Region and 12 in the Zaporozhye Region.
Units of the 29th and 36th armies are currently expanding the area under their control along the east bank of the Gaichur River. Also, the 5th Army units entered Gulyaypole yesterday and consolidated their position on its outskirts. They are engaged in urban warfare to destroy the Ukrainian Armed Forces units in this community. The offensive in this theatre is continuing.
Comrade Supreme Commander-in-Chief, the effort to destroy enemy units near Zaporozhye is advancing as approved by the General Staff of the Russian Federation Armed Forces. The East group of forces will deliver on all its objectives.
Vladimir Putin: How will the situation unfold moving forward, in your opinion?
Andrei Ivanayev: Comrade Supreme Commander-in-Chief, in order to continue the westward offensive in the Dnepropetrovsk and Zaporozhye regions, as well as to take over the Gulyaypole fortified area and the city itself, defeating the adversary on the left bank of the Gaichur River is an imperative.
Vladimir Putin: Mr Ivanayev, your troops are advancing at a pace which guarantees the fulfilment of all assigned tasks. I mean, given this tempo of our offensive, the enemy is in no position to mount an adequate response.
We have been following the developments within the zone of responsibility of the Centre group of forces, the situation around the city of Krasnoarmeysk very closely. Is my understanding correct that the enemy was attempting, at any cost – I repeat, at any cost – to break the blockade of Krasnoarmeysk?
Andrei Ivanayev: That is absolutely correct.
Vladimir Putin: With complete disregard for losses, and, in my view, despite understanding the futility of such actions, they nevertheless committed ever more units, practically to slaughter – this is no exaggeration. If one considers that, apart from the nationalist and neo-Nazi battalions, the Armed Forces of Ukraine are primarily a workers-and-peasants army, then it is clear they place no value on the ordinary soldier.
Does this assessment correspond to reality?
Valery Solodchuk: It fully corresponds to reality.
The nationalist battalions are not participating. They refuse to fulfil this task. Here, the tasks are being carried out by newly conscripted, mobilised personnel. This is evident: these individuals were recently drafted, they are untrained, they are being sent directly to slaughter in the direction of Krasnoarmeysk and are perishing by the dozen and by the hundred. Such an attitude – and I believe it will undoubtedly persist for the time being – is nothing less than the extermination of their own people.
Vladimir Putin: This is being observed by our officers on the battlefield, is that correct?
Valery Solodchuk: It is being observed by our officers, our soldiers, aerial reconnaissance, and FPV drone operators. Forest strips are covered with bodies of Ukrainian soldiers.
Vladimir Putin: Understood.
This is a tragedy for the Ukrainian people, stemming from the criminal policy of the sticky-fingered junta that seized power in Kiev.
Comrades,
The Armed Forces of the Russian Federation firmly retain the initiative and continue to fulfil the tasks of the special military operation.
The Russian troops are advancing virtually everywhere. It can also be reported that the elimination of encircled enemy formations on the left bank of the Oskol River is progressing according to plan.
I would also highlight the effective actions of military formations of the Centre group of forces in liberating the city of Krasnoarmeysk. One must, of course, also cite as an example the success of the assault detachments of the East group of forces operating in the Zaporozhye direction. The pace of the offensive by formations and units in this direction is, as I have said, impressive.
I would like to ask you to convey words of gratitude to all personnel and to the command of these groups for this difficult but vitally important work for our country. Thank you.
The group commanders must continue to fulfil their tasks in strict accordance with the plan of the special military operation.
I wish to reiterate: the Defence Ministry and the General Staff must give thorough consideration to the matter of supplying our troops during the upcoming winter period.
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December 1, 2025