Summary of the Day:
Russian President Vladimir Putin took an aggressive stance during his annual Direct Line press conference, expressing regret about not invading Ukraine earlier than 2022. Despite Ukraine’s successful defense of Kyiv and subsequent territorial gains, Putin maintains his original invasion demands for any negotiations, suggesting he believes Russia can outlast Ukrainian and Western resolve.
On the battlefield, Russian forces reported advances near multiple fronts including Kupyansk, Toretsk, Kurakhove, Vuhledar, Velyka Novosilka, and Robotyne. However, military analysts note these gains have come at unsustainable losses to Russian forces. Putin continues to prioritize operations in Donetsk Oblast while downplaying Ukrainian presence in Kursk Oblast, notably avoiding discussion of Russia’s increasing reliance on North Korean military support.
In occupied territories, Putin ordered Mariupol officials to redistribute seized Ukrainian apartments to Russians, revealing an ongoing strategy to fundamentally alter Ukraine’s demographics. Meanwhile, Russian servicemembers in Kursk Oblast face systemic payment issues, with Putin deflecting blame to the Ministry of Defense rather than addressing his decision to classify the Ukrainian incursion as a “counterterrorism operation.”
Putin’s focus on the “Oreshnik” ballistic missile system appears to be an attempt to find non-nuclear deterrence options while pressuring Western decision-making. Despite mounting evidence of economic strain, he continues to project an image of Russian economic strength while shifting blame for financial issues to the Russian Central Bank.
Picture of the Day:
A dog is rescued from the rubble of a building struck by a Russian missile in the city of Kryvyi Rih overnight. (State Emergency Service of Ukraine/Telegram)
Beyond Ukraine – The March Towards World War
Putin is attempting to portray Russia’s strategic setback in Syria as a success following Assad regime’s fall, while negotiating to maintain Russian military bases in the country. Despite Putin’s claims of achieving Russia’s goals, Moscow failed in its primary 2015 objective of securing Assad’s rule. Putin now seeks agreements with Syria’s interim government to keep Russia’s Hmeimim Air Base and Port of Tartus operational, suggesting their use for humanitarian aid. However, key group Hayat Tahrir al Sham has already rejected Russian aid offers, highlighting Moscow’s diminished influence in the region and potential implications for regional stability and global power dynamics.
Three individuals – two Belarusians and one Ukrainian – have been sentenced to lengthy prison terms (11-25 years) in Belarus for alleged terrorist activities, highlighting escalating tensions in the region. This sentencing, announced by the Viasna Human Rights Center on December 19, occurs amid Belarus’s ongoing political repression and its alliance with Russia. The case, which involves claims of attempted railroad sabotage, reflects the broader destabilization of Eastern Europe and raises concerns about regional security. The timing is particularly significant as Belarus’s Lukashenko, who has ruled for 30 years through disputed elections, prepares for another presidential run in 2025, potentially further impacting regional stability and international peace efforts.
Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko met with UAE Investment Minister Mohamed Hassan Alsuwaidi to discuss artificial intelligence development and economic cooperation between their nations. This collaboration between Belarus, a close Russian ally, and the UAE, a significant player in the Middle East, could affect regional power dynamics and technological development patterns.
The Path to Peace
During his Direct Line broadcast, Russian President Putin stated he’s ready for talks with Ukraine, but insisted any negotiations must be based on Russia’s March 2022 demands made during the Istanbul talks when Russian forces were advancing on Kyiv. These demands included Ukraine becoming permanently neutral, not joining NATO, and limiting its military to 85,000 soldiers. Putin continues to demand Ukraine withdraw from Luhansk, Donetsk, Zaporizhia, and Kherson regions before any ceasefire discussions. However, since March 2022, Ukraine has successfully defended Kyiv, pushed Russian forces back from Kharkiv City, and liberated Kherson along with other territories, significantly changing the military situation Putin refers to as “realities on the ground.”
At a Brussels press conference, President Zelensky strongly condemned Vladimir Putin’s threat to test Western air defenses with an Oreshnik intermediate-range ballistic missile strike on Kyiv, dismissing Putin as “inadequate” and later calling him a “dumbass” on social media. Addressing the 2022 Istanbul negotiations, Zelensky described them as a sham demanding Ukraine’s surrender, though the New York Times revealed the draft agreement included provisions about Crimea’s status and Ukraine’s potential EU membership while abandoning NATO aspirations. Zelensky emphasized that any peace negotiations must include American and European participation while firmly rejecting proposals to freeze the conflict or reduce Ukraine’s armed forces to 50,000 troops as previously demanded by Russia, stating that NATO membership and Western aid alone wouldn’t prevent future Russian attacks.
Speaking ahead of Trump’s anticipated presidency, Zelensky warned against allowing Moscow a temporary ceasefire that would only give Russia time to regroup, despite Trump’s claims he could end the war in “24 hours” and suggestions that European troops monitor any ceasefire. He stressed the importance of involving Global South nations like China, India, Saudi Arabia, and Brazil in supporting Ukraine’s territorial integrity, and expressed hope for ending the war through diplomacy in 2025, though noting Putin’s apparent unwillingness to end the conflict. A high-ranking EU official indicated that negotiations or a ceasefire are not expected in the near future.
Situation On The Land, Sea, and Air in Ukraine
A Russian Ka-52 “Alligator” attack helicopter was reportedly downed in what appears to be a friendly fire incident involving a Russian surface-to-air missile system. Russian military officer Ilya Tumanov, posting on Telegram as Fighterbomber, indicated both crew members were likely killed. The Ka-52, valued at $16 million, is Russia’s most advanced attack helicopter. This loss brings Russian Ka-52 casualties in Ukraine to approximately 70 helicopters since the 2022 invasion began, representing about half of Russia’s original fleet.
During his Direct Line broadcast, Putin claimed Russia’s military readiness is the highest globally and that Russian forces are making significant advances across the entire frontline, measured in square kilometers rather than meters. However, data shows Russian advances have actually slowed, dropping from about 28 square kilometers per day in November to 17 square kilometers per day in early December. Putin’s strategy relies on maintaining gradual advances while preventing Ukrainian counteroffensives, assuming Western support for Ukraine will eventually fade. Western leaders could counter this by demonstrating continued support for Ukraine and helping Ukrainian forces achieve significant battlefield victories against Russia.
Putin addressed Russia’s military priorities, claiming he will eventually reclaim Kursk Oblast from Ukrainian forces but refused to provide a timeline. He justified this by claiming he wants to prevent Russian soldiers from rushing into costly operations. This claim contradicts Russia’s recent military record, where they suffered approximately 125,800 casualties between September and November 2024, losing about 53 soldiers for each square kilometer gained. Instead of focusing on Kursk Oblast, Russian forces have prioritized offensive operations in the Pokrovsk, Kurakhove, Vuhledar, and Velyka Novosilka areas since July 2024. Putin appears to be using concern over casualties to justify this delayed focus on Kursk Oblast to the Russian public.
Despite Putin’s claims about Russian military success, recent data reveals the high cost of Russia’s advances. While Russian forces made faster progress in Ukraine and Kursk Oblast during September-November 2024 compared to earlier in the year, they suffered unprecedented casualties. The UK Ministry of Defense reported Russian forces reached a war-high average of 1,523 casualties per day in November 2024, exceeding 45,000 monthly, particularly during offensives in eastern Ukraine. Ukrainian officials report Russia has depleted significant operational reserves in the Kupyansk, Pokrovsk, Kurakhove, and Vremivka areas. With over 8,000 square kilometers still needed to capture all of Donetsk Oblast, Russia faces the prospect of continued heavy losses if it maintains its intense offensive operations into 2025.
Ukrainian Operations in the Russian Federation – Initiative Russia
Russian forces made progress near Novoivanovka in Ukraine’s Kursk Oblast. Russian forces advanced toward Viktorovka. Russian sources claim additional advances near Kruglenkoye, Russkoye Porechnoye, Cherkasskoye Porechnoye, and Cherkasskaya Konopelka, though these claims remain unverified. Ukrainian forces reportedly launched a counterattack in the area overnight, while Russian Chechen forces are operating near Sudzha.
During his four-and-a-half-hour Direct Line press conference, Putin notably avoided mentioning North Korea’s military support, instead highlighting only the Russian 155th Naval Infantry Brigade’s operations in Kursk Oblast, despite Russian military bloggers crediting North Korean forces with capturing Plekhovo without Russian assistance and North Korean troops reportedly training at Russian facilities near Vladivostok where the 155th Brigade is based. Putin’s reluctance to acknowledge their role may limit Russia’s ability to receive additional North Korean military support without drawing attention to their involvement, while a Ukrainian Security Service (SBU) intercepted conversation revealed over 200 wounded North Korean soldiers were transported to a Russian hospital near Moscow, arriving in two groups by train – 100 soldiers one day and 120 the next, with the hospital clearing specific wards for them and displacing Russian soldiers. A nurse expressed frustration with the situation, saying she would tell North Korean soldiers requesting anesthesia to “go to hell” due to communication barriers as they don’t speak Russian, while Ukrainian forces have reportedly inflicted heavy casualties on North Korean units in the Kursk region, with Ukraine’s Defense Intelligence reporting significant losses including over 200 deaths, and the Pentagon confirming North Korean troops are fighting alongside Russian forces, marking their first combat involvement in the conflict.
Ukrainian forces successfully struck the Novoshakhtinsk Oil Refinery in Rostov Oblast, Russia’s only operational refinery in the region, which processes 7.5 million tons of fuel annually and supports Russian military operations, in a two-stage joint operation between the Security Service (SBU) and Ukrainian Naval Forces. The attack, confirmed by both Ukrainian officials and Rostov’s Acting Governor Yuri Slyusar, began with SBU drones overwhelming Russian air defenses, followed by Ukrainian-made missiles striking the facility’s ELOU-AVT-2.5 unit, and involved over 30 drones and three missiles targeting multiple areas in the Rostov region, including Taganrog, Bataysk, and Shakhty. Located 100 kilometers from Rostov-on-Don, the refinery sustained substantial damage and caught fire.
Ukrainian intelligence reported that resistance actors inside Russia allegedly set fire to fuel tankers at a military base in Novosibirsk Oblast, causing explosions. The claim has not been independently verified.
Kharkiv Front – Initiative Russia
Russian forces attacked near Lyptsi and Vovchansk in the Kharkiv region but failed to gain any confirmed territory.
Luhansk Front – Initiative Russia
Russian forces reportedly advanced near Kupyansk. Ukrainian sources indicate their forces withdrew westward to the P-79 highway near Dvorichna, while Russian units moved toward Kruhlyakivka and Zahryzove. On December 18, Russian forces launched two major mechanized assaults near the Oskil River and toward Lozova and Zahryzove, but Ukrainian forces reportedly destroyed numerous Russian vehicles. Fighting continues across multiple settlements including Petropavlivka, Lyman Pershyi, Kolisnykivka, Novoyehorivka, Hrekivka, Nadiya, Terny, and Yampolivka.
Donetsk Front – Initiative Russia
Siversk
Russian forces attacked near Bilohorivka, Hryhorivka, and Verkhnokamyanske in the Siversk area but failed to gain any confirmed territory.
Chasiv Yar
Ukrainian forces recaptured positions at the Refractory Plant in central Chasiv Yar countering ongoing Russian attacks in the area.
Toretsk
Russian forces made small advances in southern Toretsk along Shkilna and Vasnetsova streets. The Ukrainian General Staff reported Russian offensive operations continue near Toretsk, Shcherbynivka, and Dyliivka.
Pokrovsk
Russian forces attacked near Pokrovsk without confirmed advances. Russian military bloggers claimed their forces entered multiple settlements including Novoolenivka, areas near Shevchenko, Pishchane, Vovkove, Novovasylivka, and Novyi Trud. Russian forces continued operations around Myrolyubivka, Promin, Lysivka, Dachenske, Zelene, Ukrainka, Pushkine, and Solone. Ukrainian sources report Russian forces are about 6 kilometers from Pokrovsk, using small assault groups and fiber optic drones in their operations.
Kurakhove
Russian forces reportedly gained control of most of Kurakhove, except for its thermal power plant, though this remains unconfirmed visually. Russian forces continued operations around Kurakhove and nearby settlements including Stari Terny, Sontsivka, Slovyanka, Petropavlivka, and Dachne.
Andriivka
Russian forces reportedly advanced near Vuhledar, moving within two kilometers of the H-15 Kurakhove-Zaporizhzhia City highway near Ulakly. Russian forces claim to have seized Kostiantynopolske and continued operations around Sukhi Yaly, Zelenivka, Rozlyv, and Yantarne, though some advances remain unconfirmed.
Velyka Novosilka
Russian forces reportedly advanced in the Velyka Novosilka area capturing Novyi Komar and Rozdolne. They advanced along the Shaitanka River to the southeastern outskirts of Velyka Novosilka. Russian forces conducted operations around multiple settlements including Novodarivka, Storozheve, Makarivka, Neskuchne, and Blahodatne. Ukrainian forces reportedly launched counterattacks near Novyi Komar.
Zaporizhia Front – Initiative Russia
Russian forces made progress near Zaporizhia advancing to an area northwest of Nesteryanka village during a clearing operation. Fighting continues around the settlement of Novoandriivka.
Kherson (Dnipro River) Front – Initiative Russia
Russian forces launched attacks along the Dnipro River and its delta islands but failed to gain any confirmed territory.
Ukraine News
Russia launched a major aerial attack against Ukraine overnight using 85 Shahed drones and several missiles from multiple launch locations. Ukrainian forces shot down 45 drones across ten regions and disrupted 40 others through electronic warfare. The attacks damaged buildings in Sumy and Dnipropetrovsk regions, railway tracks in Kyiv region, and infrastructure in Kramatorsk and Kryvyi Rih.
Russia launched a major cyberattack against Ukrainian government services on December 19, targeting state registers managed by the Justice Ministry. Deputy Prime Minister Olha Stefanishyna announced that the attack was Russian-backed and aimed to disrupt critical infrastructure. The affected services may take up to two weeks to restore. This is the largest cyberattack Ukraine has faced in recent months, following a previous attack on Monobank in August.
Ukraine’s economy shows more positive indicators despite the war’s impact, with The Economist reporting stable currency rates and the Ukrainian Central Bank forecasting 4 percent GDP growth in 2024 and 4.3 percent in 2025, marking a significant turnaround from the 29.1% GDP drop in 2022 following Russia’s invasion. Ukraine’s interest rate has reached a 30-month low at 13.5 percent though future challenges include workforce shortages and potential political changes.
President Volodymyr Zelensky confirmed that Ukraine will not extend its Russian gas transit agreement when it expires December 31, stating Ukraine won’t allow Moscow to “earn additional billions” while continuing its aggression. Despite concerns from Slovakia, Hungary, Italy, and Austria, who called for continued transit, Ukraine remains firm in its decision. Russian President Putin expressed confidence that Gazprom would survive the contract’s end. While the EU has worked to reduce Russian fossil fuel dependency, several European countries remain reliant on Russian gas. Ukraine’s Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal indicated openness to transit agreements for non-Russian gas sources.
A Ukrainian military commander, Colonel Oleh Poberezhniuk of the 211th Pontoon Bridge Brigade, has been taken into custody with bail set at $21,600 for alleged abuse of power. He is accused of using subordinates to build his private house while they received combat pay. The case emerged alongside media reports of widespread abuse in the unit, including beatings and extortion of soldiers. The incidents, which included nepotistic appointments and mistreatment of personnel, prompted investigations by Commander-in-Chief Oleksandr Syrskyi and Defense Minister Rustem Umerov. The scandal comes as Ukraine struggles with military recruitment challenges.
Innocent Victims Of War
The casualty count of civilians in the past 24 hours: (Russian War Crimes)
DEATHS: 0 INJURIES: 6
A Russian missile hit a two-story residential building in Kryvyi Rih, Dnipropetrovsk Oblast, injuring six people, including a 15-year-old girl. A nearby 10-story building was damaged and 20 cars were affected. Three of the injured were hospitalized and all victims are in stable condition.
Ukraine Mobilization and Defense Industrial Base
A major corruption scandal involving disability certificates led to the resignation of Ukraine’s Prosecutor General Andrii Kostin. The scandal emerged when dozens of prosecutors were found to have obtained fraudulent disability certificates from Regional Medical and Social Expert Commissions (MSEC) in Khmelnytskyi, allowing them to evade military draft and qualify for state pensions. Millions in cash were discovered at a MSEC head’s home. In response, President Zelensky ordered an investigation and announced the abolition of MSECs by December 31. The Security Service has already canceled over 4,000 disability certifications. The scandal revealed widespread abuse in Ukraine’s disability registration system, where fake certificates reportedly cost between $2,000 and $3,000. Of Ukraine’s 8,367 prosecutors, nearly 500 are registered as disabled, mostly men. Oleh Kiper, currently heading the Odesa Regional Military Administration, is reportedly being considered as Kostin’s replacement.
Ukraine’s Allies
The UK announced a £225 million ($286 million) military aid package for Ukraine for 2025, including drones, boats, and air defense systems, following a meeting between Ukrainian Foreign Minister Rustem Umerov and British Foreign Secretary John Healey in Kyiv, which follows Britain’s earlier commitment of £3 billion annually over six years. Denmark announced a $292 million aid package for Ukraine’s air defense, following recent Russian aerial attacks on Ukrainian energy infrastructure, including support for Ukraine’s F-16 fighter jets, with Denmark having already delivered its second batch of these aircraft. President Zelensky met with French President Macron, who promised additional air defense systems, before joining other European and NATO leaders in Brussels, including representatives from Germany, Poland, Italy, Denmark, and the Netherlands, to develop a strategy for Ukraine’s defense cooperation with allies after the upcoming US presidential transition.
During the Brussels summit, where Zelensky also met with EU leaders Antonio Costa and Ursula von der Leyen, the European Council emphasized that only Ukraine can decide the terms of peace and called for immediate increased military assistance, maintaining their principle: “Nothing about Ukraine without Ukraine, nothing about security in Europe without Europeans.” The meetings addressed Ukraine’s EU accession, Western unity, and protecting Ukraine’s energy infrastructure from Russian attacks, coinciding with recent financial commitments including a $20 billion U.S. loan and an expected €18.1 billion EU aid package, with the first payment scheduled for January 2025, while Zelensky emphasized that unity between the U.S. and Europe is crucial to counter Putin and support Ukraine.
The G7 nations are discussing lowering the price cap on Russian oil from $60 to possibly $40 per barrel, or implementing a complete ban. The current policy only allows Western operators to transport Russian oil sold below the price threshold. The potential tightening comes as oil prices soften and as Ukrainian drone strikes have disrupted Russian refineries in Tuapse, Ilyich, and Novoshakhtinsk, forcing reduced operations and discounted fuel sales.
Life in Russian Occupied Ukraine
Putin ordered Mariupol occupation officials to redistribute 5,000 vacant apartments that were illegally seized from Ukrainian owners. He claimed 300,000 people have returned to occupied Mariupol, approaching its pre-invasion population of 430,000-470,000. Putin directed residents with housing compensation complaints to contact local authorities and claimed occupation forces are working on infrastructure and housing restoration projects to accommodate the growing population. These actions appear to be part of Russia’s strategy to forcibly alter Ukraine’s demographics by repopulating occupied areas with Russians.
Putin outlined Russia’s infrastructure plans in occupied eastern Ukraine and Donbas through 2030, claiming Russia has already restored 21,000 infrastructure objects using federal and regional funds, with plans to restore 20,000 more, including a 97-kilometer highway connecting occupied Donetsk City to Mariupol as part of a larger three-year project to create a road network linking occupied Donbas and southern Ukraine around the Sea of Azov. The plans include building a ring road around the Azov Sea through occupied Ukrainian territories, including Mariupol, Melitopol, Henichesk, and Dzhankoi in Crimea, with Putin claiming a 40-kilometer segment between Taganrog and Mariupol is already complete, while Russia is also constructing a railroad from Rostov-on-Don to Crimea via occupied Donetsk, Mariupol, and Berdiansk, which could serve as an alternative to the Kerch Bridge and is considered a serious concern and potential military target by Ukraine’s military intelligence.
Russia News
Russian President Vladimir Putin stated during his annual televised press conference that he regrets not invading Ukraine earlier than 2022. When asked if he would change his decision about the invasion, Putin claimed Russia should have prepared more systematically and invaded sooner. He falsely claimed the invasion was a spontaneous response to Ukraine’s rejection of the Minsk II Accords. The Minsk II Accords, which heavily favored Russia, required Ukraine to surrender key sovereign rights while allowing Russian-backed forces to maintain control of areas they had seized in 2014. Despite Russia’s role in negotiating these accords as a supposed neutral party, Russian forces repeatedly violated the ceasefire and used the occupied territories to prepare for their 2022 full-scale invasion.
Putin emphasized Russia’s “Oreshnik” ballistic missile, claiming it has a range of 1,500 to 5,500 kilometers and cannot be intercepted by modern Western air defense systems. Putin’s recent focus on highlighting this non-nuclear missile’s capabilities appears aimed at pressuring Ukraine’s Western allies to limit Ukrainian strikes on Russian military targets while also providing him an alternative to his unsuccessful nuclear threats. However, experts note that the Oreshnik’s capabilities are not particularly new, as Russia already has missiles that can potentially evade Western air defenses.
Putin claimed Russia’s economy is “stable and reliable” despite acknowledging 9.2-9.3 percent inflation rates and blamed the Central Bank and its head, Elvira Nabiullina, for high interest rates, currently at 21 percent and potentially rising to 23 percent, while forecasting only 0.5-1.5% growth next year. Although Putin boasted of Russia’s economic independence and food exports, failing to mention Russia’s theft of Ukrainian grain, The Economist reports that Ukrainian businesses have adapted to wartime conditions, successfully resuming Black Sea shipping despite Russian blockade attempts, with international support and business adaptability, including managing through energy restrictions from Russian strikes, helping stabilize Ukraine’s economy.
Putin addressed Russia’s complex migration challenges, supporting Russian language tests for migrant children and better preparation programs for migrants from Central Asia. While acknowledging Russia’s labor shortage of “hundreds of thousands,” Putin expressed preference for technological solutions over unskilled migrant labor. He highlighted Russia’s interest in attracting “compatriots abroad” – Russian speakers and those connected to Russian culture – using a European example rather than traditional Central Asian ones. Putin also noted Russia’s demographic challenges, including a 30% decrease in women of childbearing age. The event featured displays of ethnic minority cultural dress, reflecting Putin’s attempt to balance appeasing anti-migrant ultranationalists while portraying Russia as a harmonious multicultural society.
Russian President Putin characterized the recent killing of Lieutenant General Igor Kirillov, head of Russia’s Nuclear, Biological, Chemical Defense Forces, and his assistant as a security failure rather than acknowledging it as part of the ongoing Ukraine conflict, blaming Russian law enforcement for failing to prevent what he termed a “terrorist attack” while notably downplaying that Kirillov was a high-ranking military official involved in chemical weapons operations against Ukraine. A Moscow court ordered two months of pre-trial detention for a suspect from Uzbekistan in the December 17 killing, while Ukraine’s Security Service (SBU) claimed responsibility for the assassination, which involved a bomb attached to a scooter, with Kirillov having been charged by Ukrainian prosecutors for using prohibited chemical weapons against Ukrainian troops and under sanctions from the UK and Canada at the time of his death, though Putin’s brief response and focus on internal security shortcomings appears designed to minimize the impact of this high-profile assassination, despite calls from Russian ultranationalists for escalated strikes against Ukrainian leadership in retaliation.
Putin attempted to distance himself from accusations of nepotism regarding the appointment of his niece, Anna Tsivileva, as Russian State Secretary – Deputy Defense Minister. He claimed Defense Minister Andrei Belousov suggested her promotion from her previous role as head of the “Defenders of Fatherland” Fund, and that Putin had initially been reluctant to approve the appointment.
Five people died and seven were injured in a fire at a detention center in Yakutsk, Russia, where Russian military deserters from the Ukraine invasion are held. While the cause of the fire and extent of damage remain unknown, seven people were hospitalized for smoke inhalation.
Russian War Losses (Today/Total)
According to a report from Ukraine’s Main Military Intelligence Directorate (GUR), Russian forces have lost 98,461 mobilized servicemen between September 21, 2022, and October 31, 2024. The losses were broken down by military groups: North (2,972), Center (21,710), East (16,770), West (20,155), South (16,465), and Dnepr (10,449), with an additional 10,120 losses in Zaporizhia Oblast. Note that these figures only include mobilized troops, not all Russian casualties, and cannot be independently verified.
Troops +2200
770420 |
Tanks +8
9584 |
Artillery +42
21220 |
Arm. Veh. +24
19823 |
Aircraft 
369 |
Heli
329 |
Ships
28 |
Russia Mobilization and Defense Industrial Base
During his annual televised press conference, Russian President Vladimir Putin addressed the significant pay disparity between Russian soldiers fighting in different regions. Soldiers in Kursk Oblast, where operations are classified as “counterterrorism,” receive only 25,000 rubles ($241) monthly, while those fighting in Ukraine earn 210,000 rubles ($2,029). When confronted about this issue, Putin blamed the Russian Ministry of Defense and claimed ignorance about how the classification affected soldier pay. He promised to fix the payment system and ensure all servicemembers, including former Wagner PMC forces, receive proper benefits and combat veteran status.
President Putin announced plans to reopen military schools across Russia, including those in North Ossetia-Alania Republic, to train more military specialists. This initiative supports Russia’s goal of expanding its military and security forces to 1.5 million personnel. Putin acknowledged that while these schools were previously closed due to low demand, the expansion process will take time to implement.
Putin promoted the “Time of Heroes” program, which places military veterans in key government and industry positions. He claimed the program is highly selective, accepting only 83 veterans from 43,000 initial applicants. Putin announced that the program’s second stage is underway with 15,000 new applications, and first-stage participants are already employed in government and industry roles. He suggested the initiative was his own idea, inspired by meetings with veterans and students in St. Petersburg.
Controlling the Narrative and Russian Propaganda
During his Direct Line press conference, Putin falsely claimed that Ukrainian President Zelensky and his government are illegitimate, while asserting that only Ukraine’s parliament (Verkhovna Rada) is legitimate. Putin continues to use this false narrative, dating back to Ukraine’s 2014 Euromaidan Revolution, to justify Russia’s invasion. This messaging comes as Russian citizens’ top question during the press conference was about when the war would end, with recent polls showing Russians increasingly favor ending the war even if it means giving up territorial gains. Putin appears to be using these claims about illegitimacy to blame Ukraine for the lack of peace negotiations and maintain support for the war among an increasingly war-weary Russian population.
Source Material
Institute for the Study of War – understandingwar.org
The Kyiv Independent – kyivindependent.com
Kyiv Post – kyivpost.com