The Chief of the Russian General Staff, Valery Gerasimov, is comparatively rarely seen at the front. There is a reason for his recent stay there.
Russian Chief of General Staff Valery Gerasimov awarded soldiers with medals for the performance of military tasks following the recent territorial captures during a visit to the war zone in eastern Ukraine. He wished them continued success, Gerasimov said, according to a video released by the Defense Ministry, which shows him in various premises in an underground command post.
The Chief of the General Staff had been briefed by commanders on the situation at the various sections of the front, according to a statement from the ministry. Gerasimov also issued the next combat tasks. No details were given. The location of the recording is also secret.
Ukrainian troops under pressure
Particularly in the Donetsk region annexed by Moscow, Ukrainian troops have had to abandon a number of positions under Russian pressure in recent weeks. Fighting is already taking place on the outskirts of the small town of Toretsk. Moscow’s troops are also advancing towards the mining town of Pokrovsk and the connecting road to Kostiantynivka.
Since mid-June, Russian troops have conquered around 420 square kilometers of land – roughly the size of the city of Bremen – in Ukraine, said former Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu, who is now Secretary of the Russian National Security Council. In addition, the Ukrainian armed forces have since lost 115,000 soldiers and more than 3,000 pieces of armored equipment. The figures cannot be independently verified. Ukraine also points to huge losses in the ranks of the Russian armed forces.
Shoigu: Window of opportunity for Kyiv is closing
According to Russian news agencies in Azerbaijan, Shoigu said that the troops were achieving the goals of the special military operation, as the war is officially called in Russia. The confidant of Kremlin chief Vladimir Putin criticized the fact that Ukraine continued to rely on aid from the West – in the hope of winning the war.
Shoigu criticized Kiev for not agreeing to Putin’s proposal to give up territory in order to end the war. “The window of opportunity for Kiev is getting smaller and smaller. And every day that it delays a decision on how to resolve the situation will cost the Ukrainian people dearly, who have to make a decision,” said Shoigu. Russia has been waging war against Ukraine for almost two and a half years.
Source: Stern
I have been working in the news industry for over 6 years, first as a reporter and now as an editor. I have covered politics extensively, and my work has appeared in major newspapers and online news outlets around the world. In addition to my writing, I also contribute regularly to 24 Hours World.
