Russian President Vladimir Putin declared on Monday his commitment to achieving all the objectives in Ukraine, on the second anniversary of the annexation of four Ukrainian regions, as the Russian army reported progress in the conflict.
Despite Kyiv’s efforts to push back into Russian-held territory, Moscow has taken control of numerous Ukrainian towns and villages this year.
In a video message marking what he refers to as “Reunification Day”, Putin stated, “The truth is on our side. All set objectives will be met.” He justified the presence of Russian troops in Ukraine as protection for Russian speakers against a supposed “neo-Nazi dictatorship” that aimed to separate them from their historical homeland forever.
“We are united in defending a safe and prosperous future for our descendants,” Putin emphasized.
Russia claims to have annexed the Ukrainian regions of Luhansk, Donetsk, Zaporizhzhia, and Kherson in September 2022, although it does not have full control over them.
In recent months, the Kremlin has increased its offensive in eastern Ukraine, taking advantage of Ukrainian soldiers’ exhaustion and ongoing bombardment.
The Russian army announced on Monday that they had “liberated” the Ukrainian village of Nelipivka, north of the town of New York, where Kyiv had claimed gains earlier in September.
Moscow’s main target in the recent offensive has been the Ukrainian logistics hub of Pokrovsk, vital for supplying Kyiv’s forces along the frontline.
