Putin’s surprise visit to Kherson and Lugansk to assess the situation with senior military officials

Russian President Vladimir Putin visited the Kherson and Lugansk regions by surprise on Tuesdayin eastern Ukraine and currently occupied by Russia, talk to their military leaders and find out the status of the offensive. As confirmed by the state agency Tass, Putin visited the region to “listen to a report on the situation of the commander of the air forces, Colonel General Mikhail Teplinsky, the commander of the group of troops “Dnipro”, Colonel General Oleg Makarevich and other military leaders.”

According to the Russian press service, the president addressed the commanders to assure that he did not want “to distract them from their direct obligations”, but that “It is important that I hear your opinion on the development of the situation, that I listen to you and that I exchange information.” Putin reportedly requested information on the situation in Kherson and Zaporizhia, in addition to congratulating the soldiers on the recent Orthodox Easter, according to the aforementioned agency.

Later, the President moved to Lugansk to maintain contact with soldiers of the National Guard ‘Vostok’, visiting their headquarters, where he received information from Colonel General Alexander Lapin and other senior officials. This is Putin’s first visit to Kherson or Lugansk, after having visited in March (also by surprise) the city of Mariúpol and the Crimean peninsula. Donetsk and Lugansk have been the epicenter of a conflict since 2014, which spread across the country after Putin ordered a military offensive against Ukraine.

Putin announced in September the annexation of Donetsk, Luhansk, Kherson and Zaporizhia, all partially occupied as part of the invasion, a decision endorsed in early October by the Russian Parliament. This announcement comes after a series of referendums criticized by the international community for their lack of guarantees.