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| Photo:Sputnik/Mikhail Klimentyev/Kremlin via REUTERS |
Putin's new pseudo-strategy is aimed at breaking the will of Ukrainians to resist, but he can trust neither his generals nor his ministers, writes political analyst and professor at the Peace Research Institute Oslo Pavel Baev in his column for NV published on Jan. 12.
Baev draws attention to Putin's telling solitude during the Orthodox Christmas service in the Kremlin Cathedral, which contrasts with his attempts to demonstrate interaction with his subordinates shortly before the New Year.
The political expert emphasizes that the Russian dictator's staged performances cannot hide the picture of his extreme self-isolation since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic.
"Dmitry Peskov, Putin's long-time press secretary, explained that the health of his boss is a matter of state security, so all emergency precautions will remain in force,” he writes.
“However, the Russian president's fears threaten his ability to manage the affairs of the state, as no important decision can be made without his word.”
Baev calls Putin's leadership style "aloof and pretentious". According to him, this is manifested, among other things, "in the incompetent and disastrous management of Russia's war against Ukraine."
The political scientist describes the current strategy of the Russian dictator as an attempt to turn the war "into an exhausting stalemate," as all of his previous strategies have failed.
Baev also considers Putin's latest statements to be information failures. He recalls that his New Year's speech coincided with the Ukrainian missile strike on the mobilized Russians in Makiyivka, after which even "militant ‘patriotic’ bloggers expressed outrage." --->READ MORE HERE
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| Photo:State Border Guard Service Of Ukraine/via REUTERS |
Fierce fighting with the Russian invasion forces is ongoing in Soledar in Donetsk Oblast, but the Ukrainian army still controls the town, Donetsk Governor Pavlo Kyrylenko said on national television on Jan. 14.
He said the losses of the Russians are massive as "they literally cover their way with bodies of Wagner Group mercenaries or regular army soldiers, depending on who they use at every next wave of the assault."
"Soledar is controlled by Ukraine and our military has it under control,” Kyrylenko said.
“Still, close combat is ongoing in the town as well as around it, because the enemy is trying to move forward in several directions," he said.
Despite the tense situation, the Ukrainian military has the upper hand there and is taking the necessary steps to stabilize the situation and save personnel, he said.
In the first weeks of 2023, Russia has made major efforts to captured Soledar. But Ukrainian defenders have remained dig in in the town. --->READ MORE HEREFollow links below to +++++relevant+++++ and related stories:
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+++++Ukrainian army makes minor gains in Kreminna direction, says Luhansk Oblast governor+++++
+++++ISW: Battle for Soledar reveals conflict between Russian military and Wagner Group+++++
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