Russian President Vladimir Putin made a surprise visit. Kherson and Lugansk regions, In eastern Ukraine and currently occupied by Russia, to talk to their military leaders and find out the status of the attack.
As confirmed by state agency Tass, Putin traveled to the region. “I am listening to the situation report from Air Force Commander Colonel General Mikhail Teplinski, ‘Dnipro’ unit commander Colonel General Oleg Makarevich and other military leaders.”
According to the Russian press service, the president called out to the commanders to make sure that he did not want this. “removing them from their direct obligations”, but “it is important that I hear your opinion on how the situation is developing, that I listen to you and exchange information”.
Putin reportedly requested information on the situation in Kherson and Zaporozhyeas well as congratulating the soldiers on the last Orthodox Easter, according to the agency in question.
Later, The President went to Lugansk to maintain contacts with the National Guard ‘Vostok’ soldiers, He visited his 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 again surprisingly visiting the city of Mariupol and the Crimean peninsula in March. Donetsk and Lugansk have been the epicenter of a nationwide conflict since 2014, after Putin ordered a military attack on Ukraine.
In September, Putin announced the annexation of Donetsk, Lugansk, Kherson and Zaporizhia, all of which had been partially occupied as part of the occupation, in a resolution approved by the Russian Parliament in early October. The announcement came after a series of referendums criticized by the international community for its lack of guarantees.