Russian President Vladimir Putin attended a military command meeting in Ukraine’s Kherson region, which is partly under Russian control, Reuters reported, citing information from the Kremlin.
Putin listened to the reports of the commanders of the airborne troops and the army group “Dnepr”, as well as other senior officers, said the statement, which was also quoted by BTA.
This is the first visit of the Russian president to the Kherson region and the Luhansk People’s Republic. His previous visit to the Ukrainian regions controlled by Russian forces was on March 19 – in Mariupol.
The visits of the Russian president to the headquarters of the Dnipro group of troops in Kherson and to the headquarters of the Vostok National Guard in the Luhansk People’s Republic were not prepared in advance, TASS reported, citing the press service of the Russian head of state. During the visits, Putin listened to the military commanders’ reports on the situation in Kherson, Zaporozhye and Luhansk regions.
“It is obvious to us that today we have clear priorities for the use of the armed forces, and this applies mostly to the Ukrainian direction and to everything related to the protection of our people in the Donbass, in the other new territories.” That’s what Putin said on Monday to Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu, who briefed the president on military exercises being conducted by the Pacific Fleet.
On Saturday, April 15, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky called on NATO for security guarantees for his country even before his country joins the alliance. He said he also raised the issue during the phone call with French President Emmanuel Macron that was reported earlier in the day.
