Russia is grinding its way into Kostiantynivka, a key stronghold in Ukraine's eastern ‘fortress belt’ long coveted by the Kremlin, even as its gains across the rest of the 1,200-km front line have largely stalled
Vladimir Putin has conceded that the country was going through a ‘difficult period’ but insisted his forces would press on with their offensive and appeared to float the possibility of new conquests in Ukraine.
President Vladimir Putin said that Russia will press ahead with its battlefield aim of fully capturing four Ukrainian regions, rejecting what he said was a new proposal by Ukraine to rein in hostilities in the more than four-year-old war
I presented state awards on the occasion of Ukraine’s Constitution Day to Ukrainian men and women who work for our state. First and foremost, to our military: I personally presented the Orders of the Golden Star to the Heroes of Ukraine, and also handed awards to the families of the fallen who, tragically, were awarded this title posthumously.
I also presented awards to Minister of Internal Affairs of Ukraine Ihor Klymenko; the Primate of the Orthodox Church of Ukraine, Metropolitan of Kyiv and All Ukraine Epiphanius; our multi-time champion Liudmyla Luzan; war correspondent Andriy Tsaplienko; and the first responders and a police officer who saved the Dormition Cathedral after the Russian strike.
I thank everyone who, through their work, words, faith, and actions, supports Ukraine and our people. Everyone who, in their place, helps build a free and strong state. A state that is fighting today for its freedom and independence. And it will certainly preserve them.
“Attacks on Crimea register deeply in the Russian consciousness.” Ukraine’s intensifying attacks are psychological as well as strategic, @mattsteinglass tells “The Intelligence”