Russian invasionRussian reactions

Putin, December 16. Gavriil Grigorov / AP  

 

Russian invasionRussian reactions  

Putin meetings broadcast on Russian TV: "Not a coincidence"

 

According to the Kremlin, Russian President Vladimir Putin met with several members of the country's military leadership on Friday to discuss the invasion of Ukraine, which Russia calls a "special operation". This is reported by several media.  

 

Among other things, Putin has had several meetings and the appearance has been broadcast on Russian state television. The New York Times describes it as an unusual appearance. Russian military analyst Yuri Fyodorov believes that Putin clearly wants to signal that he is in charge. 

 

- It is no coincidence in light of the reports that Russia might be getting ready for an offensive in Ukraine. 

 

NYT writes that the president previously did not want to be associated with defeat, and notes that he did not appear in connection with the retreat from Kherson.  

 

Image from fighting in eastern Ukraine. Libkos / AP  

 

The Russian InvasionThe Battles  

Russian troops are said to be regrouping on the east side of the Dnieper  

 

Ukraine's army says Russia has begun regrouping parts of its forces from the towns of Kakhovka and Nova Kakhovka, which lie east of the Dnieper River. That's what Sky News writes.  

 

It is not clear to what extent, but according to Ukraine there are rumors that Russia will fully leave Nova Kakhovka before the end of the year. According to Sky News, Russian troops took refuge in the cities as Ukraine retook the city of Kherson, which lies west of the Dnieper, in a counter-offensive in the autumn.  

According to Ukraine, the troops must have been regrouped to a smaller town located further east in the Kherson region.  

 

A woman crosses the street in Kyiv, which continues to have problems with energy supply. Felipe Dana / AP  

 

The Russian InvasionThe Battles 

Russian robot rain knocks out power stations - warns repairs could be delayed  

 

On Friday, Russia carried out its seventh mass attack by robots against Ukraine in a two-month period. A total of 76 robots were fired at the country, of which 16 hit, Ukrainian authorities say. The Kyiv Independent writes that it was another attempt by Russia to knock out the Ukrainian energy supply.  

 

According to Energy Minister Herman Halushchenko, nine power stations were damaged. In a televised statement, Halushchenko says that up to half of all households are without electricity, but that repairs are underway.  

 

However, the state energy company Ukrenergo warns that the repairs may take time due to extensive damage in several places, writes Radio Free Europe. 

 

"Priority will be given to critical infrastructure: hospitals, water supply facilities, heat supply facilities, sewage treatment plants," the company writes in a statement.  

 

German Der Spiegel writes that Ukraine assesses that mania winter needs an additional 17,000 larger power generators. 

 

A Ukrainian soldier fires a mortar at Russian positions in Bakhmut, Donetsk region, Ukraine, Thursday, Nov. 10, 2022. (AP Photo/LIBKOS) XEL101 Libkos / AP  

 

The Russian InvasionThe Battles  

Expert: Warning of offensive is Ukrainian cry for help 

 

Several observers doubt that Russia's forces could launch an offensive early next year in an attempt to take Kyiv, as top Ukrainian officials have warned.  

 

Skepticism is expressed in interviews with AFP and in other contexts that the news agency refers to. Independent Russian military analyst Aleksandr Khamjichin does not rule out the possibility, but does not see it as likely. The same applies to the American Russia expert Micael Kofman, who in the podcast "War on the rocks" emphasizes that the Russian troops have a great lack of ammunition.  

 

Military strategist Pascal Ausseur believes that with the warning, Ukraine hopes to receive increased military support from the West.  

 

- Ukraine shouts "keep helping us, don't let us down".