MOSCOW: President Vladimir Putin paid a visit to the leader of Russia’s operation in Ukraine, along with other high-ranking military officials, as confirmed by the Kremlin on Saturday.
This meeting occurred in the wake of Ukraine’s assertion that their counteroffensive efforts in the southeastern front were yielding gains.
The Kremlin’s statement read, “Vladimir Putin convened a session at the central command base of the specialized military operation group in Rostov-on-Don.”
Russia, which initiated its incursion into Ukraine in February of 2022, terms its actions as part of a specialized military operation.
According to the Kremlin, Putin, serving as Russia’s supreme commander-in-chief, was briefed by Valery Gerasimov, the head of the General Staff of the Army overseeing Moscow’s military actions in Ukraine, along with other senior military leaders.
This meeting followed reports from Ukraine indicating that they had recaptured a modest village along the frontline in their counteroffensive, marking their first such territorial gain since July.
No supplementary details regarding the meeting were provided by the Kremlin, leaving the timing of the event uncertain. Video footage released by the RIA state news agency displayed Gerasimov welcoming Putin, seemingly during the night, and guiding him into a building after a brief handshake.
Gerasimov, who had been rarely seen in public in recent months, had faced harsh criticism from Yevgeny Prigozhin, the leader of the Wagner mercenary group, and certain Russian military bloggers due to perceived shortcomings on Russia’s part in the ongoing conflict.
Situated just approximately 100 kilometres (62 miles) away from Ukraine’s border, Rostov-on-Don houses the command centre for Russia’s southern military district, whose armed forces are engaged in the fighting within Ukraine.
As Ukraine’s counteroffensive endeavours encountered difficulties in breaking through the heavily fortified Russian positions and with Moscow’s military resources stretched thin and instances of internal discord, both sides have registered limited successes in capturing small villages.
On a recent Thursday, the Ukrainian military announced the liberation of the modest village of Urozhaine in the Donetsk region. This advancement further solidified their push towards the Sea of Azov, a move that could potentially sever the Russian land route to Crimea, a crucial pathway for Moscow’s supply lines.
