Gerasimov Making False Kupyansk Claims; 294 Drones at Ukraine Overnight
Russian Chief of the General Staff Valery Gerasimov made a series of false claims to senior commanders on 16 May, asserting Russian forces are advancing west of Kupyansk toward Shevchenkove despite ISW evidence that Russian forces have only infiltrated about 14% of Kupyansk itself. ISW called the claims “highly inaccurate” for the fifth consecutive month, judging the Russian command may be “allowing its own falsehoods to influence Russian operational and strategic planning”. Russia launched 294 drones at Ukraine overnight; 269 were intercepted.
Gerasimov also claimed Russian forces had seized all of Borova, Kutkivka and 85% of Lyman — figures ISW cross-checks against geolocated footage put at near-zero on Lyman (0.06%) and 6.5% on Kutkivka. Even Russian milbloggers have publicly criticised the “beautiful reports” pattern, with one sarcastically suggesting the Russian command will soon claim to have seized Kharkiv City. Ukrainian forces struck the Azot chemical plant in Nevinnomyssk, Stavropol Krai — southern Russia’s largest chemical plant and its largest producer of nitrogen fertilisers and ammonia for explosives, roughly 540 kilometres from the frontline. Putin signed a decree on 15 May simplifying Russian citizenship for residents of Transnistria, the pro-Russian breakaway region of Moldova.