The war in Ukraine: – Pictures mock Putin

On Tuesday, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy suddenly appeared on the front lines of Bakhmut, the scene of some of the heaviest fighting in recent weeks. Dressed in dark green, he handed out medals to the soldiers, who in return gave him an autographed Ukrainian flag.

This undermines the Kremlin’s attempt to portray Russian President Vladimir Putin, who himself does not visit the front, as an influential warlord, the US think tank believes Institute for the Study of War (ISW).

– Violent contrast

Retired Lieutenant General Arne Bård Dalhaug believes this demonstrates the fierce contrasts between Zelensky and Putin.

– How Zelensky behaves is in stark contrast to Putin, as Bakhmut’s photos prove. Because while Zelensky hands out medals to soldiers on the front lines, Putin hands out medals indoors in a very sober setting. With this, Zelensky sends completely different signals to the outside world. No need to say much, the pictures speak for themselves.

Vote for Principal and Lieutenant Colonel Geir Hågen Karlsen of the Norwegian Defense Academy.

– It is in this area that Zelensky beat Putin to the boots to the core. Zelensky moved on. He remained on the front lines and in the streets of Kiev while Ukraine was attacked with planes and missiles. Furthermore, he has good contacts with his own population and with his own soldiers. He is loved by his own people, while Putin sits alone in the Kremlin and has very little contact with people.

Karlsen concludes:

– There is a class difference. Zelensky and Putin are at opposite ends of the scale.

symbolic delivery

Dalhaug particularly noted the flag Zelensky received in Bakhmut, which was signed by soldiers, and which Zelensky will present to US President Joe Biden when he visits Washington on Wednesday.

– It is very symbolic and in a way creates a greater proximity between what is happening on the front in Ukraine and in the United States. These are the kinds of actions that paint a completely different picture of Zelenskyi versus Putin. The whole picture surrounding Zelenskyi’s leadership is in stark contrast to Putin’s. Zelensky strikes a nerve in Ukraine and far beyond its borders, Dalhaug says.

– How would you rate Zelenskyi’s wartime leadership on a scale of 1 to 10?

– 9 or 10. That’s it, actually. He was absolutely decisive for Ukraine’s resistance struggle, Dalhaug replies, adding that Zelensky is perceived as a successful strategist and a hero.

“Putin’s Chef”

After Zelensky announced that he had visited the front line in Bakhmut, Yevgeny Prigozhin – popularly called “Putin’s chef” – responded post a series of videos where he claimed to have gone to the front lines himself to speak with Zelenskyj. Among other things, he offered to negotiate on the surrounding areas.

This further weakens Putin, ISW believes. That’s because Putin hasn’t been anywhere near the front since Russia invaded Ukraine on Feb. 24.

“Prigozhin and Zelenskyi’s visits to the front lines risk ridicule Putin’s efforts to present himself as a warlord, rather than making them more effective,” concludes ISW.

Prigozhin is the head of the Wagner Group, which is an army of mercenaries. Also, he has a habit of loudly criticizing Russia when it fails with its war in Ukraine. Dalhaug says he can be experienced as a double-edged sword.

– Prigozhin has been undermining Putin and the entire Russian leadership for quite some time. Seen from the Kremlin, it is certainly a double-edged sword. Prigozhin has had a very close relationship with Putin, but Prigozhin’s biggest supporters are not to be found in Putin’s circle, Dalhaug says.