Vladimir Putin has visited military headquarters in Russian-controlled Ukraine, the Kremlin has said, where he discussed the war with a general from Russia’s airborne troops who has reportedly taken up a powerful role in the invasion.
Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, launched on 24 February 2022, has triggered the deadliest European conflict since the second world war.
Moscow claims to have annexed four Ukrainian regions but its forces are locked in a grinding artillery battle in the eastern Donbas with heavy losses on both sides, while they have been forced to pull back in southern Kherson, which Putin visited.
Putin was shown on Russian state television disembarking a military helicopter in Russian-held Ukraine and greeting senior military commanders. It was not stated when the visit took place.
The Kremlin said Putin attended a military command meeting in the Kherson region. He heard reports from commanders of the airborne forces and the “Dnieper” army group and other senior officers on the situation in Kherson and Zaporizhzhia regions, both of which Moscow has proclaimed part of Russia.
Russian troops retreated from the city of Kherson in November and have been reinforcing their positions on the opposite bank of the Dnipro River in anticipation of a Ukrainian counteroffensive.
“It is important for me to hear your opinion on how the situation is developing, to listen to you, to exchange information,” Putin told the commanders.
Putin was flanked by Col Gen Mikhail Teplinsky, the commander of Russia’s airborne troops, and Col Gen Oleg Makarevich.
British military intelligence said on SundayTeplinsky had been given an important role in the war.
“Teplinsky, the commander of Russia’s corps of airborne troops, the VDV, has highly likely returned to a major role in Ukraine,” British military intelligence said. “Teplinsky is likely one of the few senior Russian generals widely respected by the rank-and-file.”
The Russian president also visited national guard headquarters in Ukraine’s Luhansk region in the eastern Donbas, which Moscow also claims to have annexed along with adjacent Donetsk region.
“The head of state also congratulated the servicemen on the Easter holiday and gave them copies of icons as a gift,” the Kremlin said.
Russia’s Orthodox church celebrated Easter on 16 April.
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