Ukraine General Staff Refutes Gerasimov's Claims About 92 Settlements Captured

Ukraine's General Staff has officially rejected claims made by Russian Chief of General Staff Valery Gerasimov, who stated that Russian forces had captured 92 settlements since the beginning of September, including the cities of Kostyantynivka and Dobropillia, and had advanced to within five kilometers of Zaporizhzhia.

Official Denial

General Staff spokesperson Major Andriy Kovalev stated that Gerasimov's report was built on "outright lies, manipulations and exaggerations." He said that the Russian military leadership, lacking significant battlefield successes, continues to create an illusion of large-scale victories for its own political leadership and domestic audience.

"Neither of the cities Gerasimov mentioned — neither Kostyantynivka nor Dobropillia — are under occupier control," Kovalev said.

Pattern of Disinformation

Ukraine's military regularly issues rebuttals to Russian claims about territorial gains. Gerasimov's statements were made in what appeared to be a presentation to Russian political leadership. Independent battlefield trackers and Western intelligence assessments have not confirmed the claimed captures of Kostyantynivka or Dobropillia, two strategically important towns in Donetsk region that remain under Ukrainian control.