STORY: The Kremlin said on Thursday (November 20) that Russian President Vladimir Putin had visited the command post of the Russian forces "West" grouping where he had met with the chief of Russia's general staff, Valery Gerasimov, and top military brass.

“I would ask you, Valery Vasilyevich (Gerasimov) to report whether you manage, as I requested before, to create the necessary conditions for servicemen of the Armed Forces of Ukraine to lay down trier arms and surrender given the situation they are in”, Putin said.

Putin had been briefed on the situation in Kostiantynivka and Kramatorsk in Ukraine's Donetsk region as well as around Kupiansk in Kharkiv region, the Kremlin said.

Gerasimov told Putin that Russian forces had taken control of the Ukrainian city of Kupiansk.

"Units of the 'West' grouping have liberated the city of Kupiansk and are continuing to destroy Ukrainian armed forces units surrounded on the left bank of the Oskol River," Gerasimov told Putin.

Gerasimov also told Putin that Russian forces had taken control of 70% of Pokrovsk, as well as over 80% of Vovchansk.

DESCRIPCIÓN DE IMÁGENES

VIDEO SHOWS: PRESIDENT VLADIMIR PUTIN VISITING INSPECTING "WEST" GROUPING OF RUSSIAN FORCES ON BORDER WITH UKRAINE / MEETING WITH GENERAL STAFF / PUTIN SAYING UKRAINIAN SOLDIERS SHOULD HAVE OPPORTUNITY TO LAY DOWN THEIR ARMS AND SURRENDER / PUTIN BRIEFED ABOUT OPERATIONS IN KUPIANSK AND POKROVSK

EDITORS PLEASE NOTE: REFILE TO ADD CHIEF OF GENERAL STAFF VALERY GERASIMOV SOUNDBITE (SHOT 14)

RESENDING WITH COMPLETE SCRIPT

SHOWS: UNIDENTIFIED LOCATION (RELEASED NOVEMBER 20, 2025) (RUSSIAN POOL - Access all)

1. RUSSIAN PRESIDENT VLADIMIR PUTIN BEING GREETED BY CHIEF OF GENERAL STAFF VALERY GERASIMOV, WALKING DOWN CORRIDOR IN MILITARY COMMAND POST

2. VARIOUS OF PUTIN AND GERASIMOV WALKING IN MILITARY COMMAND POST

3. PUTIN AND GERASIMOV ENTERING ROOM

4. RUSSIAN GENERAL STAFF OFFICERS STANDING

5. PUTIN SITTING, SPEAKING

6. GENERAL STAFF OFFICERS LISTENING

7. VARIOUS OF PUTIN SPEAKING, MEETING IN PROGRESS

9. (SOUNDBITE) (Russian) RUSSIAN PRESIDENT, VLADIMIR PUTIN, SAYING:

“(OVER CHIEF OF RUSSIA’S GENERAL STAFF VALERY GERASIMOV LISTENING) I would ask you (Gerasimov) to focus in your report on the situation in Kostiantynivka. As far as I know the fighting is already ongoing inside this town. Also, cover the general situation in the Kramatorsk direction”.

10. GENERAL STAFF LISTENING

11. VARIOUS OF PUTIN SPEAKING, MEETING IN PROGRESS

12. (SOUNDBITE) (Russian) RUSSIAN PRESIDENT, VLADIMIR PUTIN, SAYING:

“I would ask you, Valery Vasilyevich (Gerasimov) to report whether you manage, as I requested before, to create the necessary conditions for servicemen of the Armed Forces of Ukraine to lay down trier arms and surrender given the situation they are in”.

13. MEETING IN PROGRESS

14. (SOUNDBITE) (Russian) CHIEF OF RUSSIA'S GENERAL STAFF VALERY GERASIMOV, SAYING:

"Units of the 'West' grouping have liberated the city of Kupiansk and are continuing to destroy Ukrainian armed forces units surrounded on the left bank of the Oskol River."

15. MEETING IN PROGRESS