The Russian government on Thursday believed the counter-offensive launched this month by Ukrainian forces has slowed, but Russian President Vladimir Putin called for “continued vigilance”, arguing that the potential of Ukrainian attacks “has not been exhausted “.
Quoted by the official Interfax news agency, Putin warned that Kiev had not yet used all of its “strategic reserves” and urged Russian forces to take this into account when defending occupied territories since the invasion that began on February 24, 2022. at the behest of the Russian president himself.
At a meeting of the Russian Security Council, Putin demanded that combat activities be organized on the basis of “reality”, which will also have to take into account that Kiev and its Western allies are ready to fight “to the last Ukrainian”, according to Interfax .
Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu claimed that after 16 days of active fighting “the enemy has reduced its activity”, implying an alleged slowdown that the Ukrainian authorities have by no means acknowledged.
Kiev celebrated the seizure of several locations in recent days.
“After actively waging hostilities for the past 16 days and suffering significant casualties, the enemy has reduced its activity and is regrouping” the troops, Shoigu told the Russian Security Council meeting, also quoted by Interfax.
Shoigu agreed with Putin, arguing that “the enemy still has the strength to carry out more offensive operations”.
Moscow claims Ukrainian troops have suffered “considerable casualties”.
According to Security Council Secretary Nikolai Patrushev, the Ukrainian armed forces recorded more than 13,000 casualties, a figure that is impossible to verify independently.
The military offensive that Russia launched in Ukraine in 2022 has so far led to the flight of more than 14.7 million people – 6.5 million internally displaced persons and more than 8.2 million to European countries – according to the latest data from the UN, which classifies this refugee crisis as the worst in Europe since World War II (1939-1945).
The Russian invasion, justified by Putin with the need to “denazify” and demilitarize Ukraine for Russia’s security, was condemned by the international community at large, which responded by sending weapons to Kiev and by political and economic impose sanctions on Moscow.
Source: DN
