The General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine has officially refuted claims made by Chief of the Russian General Staff Valery Gerasimov regarding significant successes of the Russian army in the Donetsk and Zaporizhzhia regions. As reported by AFU General Staff spokesman Major Andriy Kovalev, the data presented by the Russian side concerning the capture of new territories and settlements does not correspond to reality and is part of an information strategy aimed at creating an illusion of victory for domestic audiences.
Facts against the Russian General Staff's claims
According to the representative of the Ukrainian military command, Gerasimov's report, which asserts the capture of more than 1,800 square kilometers and 92 settlements since the beginning of September, lacks a factual basis. Kovalev emphasized that, in reality, the Ukrainian Defense Forces have managed to liberate more territory since the beginning of autumn than the enemy was able to seize during their offensive operations.
Situation in Donbas strongholds
The AFU General Staff paid particular attention to a number of settlements that the Russian side declared captured. According to official data from Kyiv as of October 17, 2026, the city of Dobropillia remains under full Ukrainian control. A similar situation persists in Kostiantynivka and Oleksievo-Druzhkivka, where the positions of the Defense Forces remain unchanged and fighting continues as normal. Claims regarding the approach of Russian troops to the outskirts of Kramatorsk were also termed false.
Frontline stability and repelling attacks
The General Staff briefing also clarified the situation in the Zaporizhzhia region and other frontline areas. Contrary to claims about Russian forces approaching Zaporizhzhia to within 5 kilometers, the frontline is effectively located 22 kilometers from the city. Additionally, Orikhiv, Novopavlivka, and Novoandriivka remain under AFU control. In Mykolaivka, where the infiltration of a small sabotage group was recorded, Ukrainian forces are conducting search operations, and attempts to declare the capture of Velykomykhailivka in the Dnipropetrovsk region were labeled as another attempt to manipulate facts.
Significance of the information confrontation
The systematic dissemination of inaccurate information by the Russian side regarding the course of hostilities, including claims about the capture of Sviatohirsk as early as September 1, indicates a deep gap between the real situation on the battlefield and the reports of the Russian military leadership. The current strategy of the Russian command, which claims control over hundreds of settlements since the beginning of the year, is aimed at maintaining a political narrative within the country, but in the context of ongoing hostilities, these data are refuted by both intelligence and the operational situation on the ground.
