The Russian Ministry of Defense announced the capture of a village that has not existed for almost 30 years

Statement of the Russian Ministry of Defense on the capture of the village of Shcherbakivka

According to Рубрика — Суспільство: The Russian Ministry of Defense announced the capture of the village of Shcherbakivka in the Kharkiv region. However, the Center for Countering Disinformation debunked this information, noting that the settlement of Shcherbakivka has not been on the map of Ukraine for nearly three decades. This settlement was liquidated in 1997 due to a lack of inhabitants, so as of 2026 it no longer exists.

Activity of Ukrainian forces at the front

According to information from the Center for Countering Disinformation, similar statements from Russian military officials are used to create the impression of supposedly continuous advances by the Russian army at the front. Earlier, the Chief of the General Staff of the Russian Federation, Valery Gerasimov, claimed full control over the cities of Kupiansk and Kupiansk-Vuzlovy. However, according to the article, Russian troops do not control these populated areas.

At the same time, the 2nd Corps of the National Guard 'Charter' reported successful counteroffensive actions in Kupiansk. Ukrainian forces managed to break through to the Oskil River, liberating Kindrashivka, Radykivka with its outskirts, and several blocks in the northern part of Kupiansk. As a result of these actions, ground access to Kupiansk was completely cut off, and all exits from the gas pipeline were placed under fire control.

The Ukrainian Defense Forces also destroyed the pipeline through which Russian troops were transferring personnel to Kupiansk. As of December 15, an enemy group of about 100–200 military personnel was surrounded in Kupiansk.

These events confirm the activity of Ukrainian forces at the front, while Russian claims regarding territorial captures do not correspond to reality.

Statements by the Russian Ministry of Defense about the capture of a non-existent village indicate attempts at disinformation, which may aim to boost the morale of Russian troops and create an impression of successes at the front.

At the same time, Ukrainian forces continue active counterattacks, gaining positions in strategically important areas, indicating their readiness for confrontation and the effectiveness of operations. This situation emphasizes the importance of verifying information and understanding the real changes on the battlefield.