Global Courant
Russian President Vladimir Putin suggested he could order his troops to seize more land in Ukraine to protect Russian territory on the border, claiming that Ukrainian forces have suffered “catastrophic” losses in a new counter-offensive.
The Russian leader made some of his most detailed comments in months about the war in an open meeting with military journalists and bloggers on Tuesday, just as Ukrainian officials claim they captured a handful of villages in the early stages of the counterattack.
He claimed Ukraine had lost 160 tanks and more than 360 other armored vehicles in recent days of heavy fighting, while Russia had lost just 54 tanks since Kiev began the new assault. Those claims could not be immediately verified.
Referring to Ukrainian raids and shelling of Russia’s Belgorod and other border regions, Putin said his army would take measures to stop such attacks, and if Kiev persists: “We will have to consider creating a sanitary zone in Ukraine to prevent that it attacks our territory.”
In recent weeks, Russian border areas have seen increasing attacks, with the Kremlin blaming Ukrainian forces for raids and drone strikes. Local leaders in Russia have pleaded with the Kremlin to do more to protect their residents, some of whom have been evacuated to safer areas.
‘Depends on what we want’
Putin said no additional mobilization of men is needed to fight in Ukraine for now, but said further troop calls depend on what Russia wants to achieve there. “That’s not necessary today.”
Last year some 300,000 reservists were called up in what the Russian president called a “partial mobilization”.
“Some public figures say we need a million or two million,” Putin said. “It depends on what we want.”
Discussing the Ukrainian capital of Kyiv, which Russian troops had failed to take in the early stages of the war, Putin asked: “Should we return there? Why am I asking such a rhetorical question? Obviously there is simply no answer to this – only I can answer it myself.”
Putin also said there was no need to follow Ukraine’s example and declare martial law. “There is no reason to introduce a special regime or martial law in the country.”
Russian President Vladimir Putin said his country’s goals in Ukraine could evolve with the situation (Gavriil Grigorov/Kremlin via Reuters)
‘Russian evil’
Ukraine’s large-scale counter-offensive began on June 4 and has not been successful in any area, Putin said. He said that Ukraine suffered huge losses and that there were ten times more casualties in Kiev than in Moscow.
His assessment came hours after Russia claimed it had captured Western armored vehicles from Kiev forces on the battlefield and after deadly Russian missile attacks on the hometown of Ukrainian President Voldoymyr Zelenskyy.
Zelensky on Tuesday welcomed the advance of Ukrainian troops near the long-besieged city of Bakhmut in the east and on the war’s southern front.
“Thank you to everyone who is fighting now, protecting and advancing our positions,” Zelenskyy said in his nightly video address. “For example, the Bakhmut sector…there is forward movement in several areas.”
He also praised the units on the southern front, saying that “there is air and artillery superiority of the occupiers, there is movement forward. Thank you soldiers! Thank you for every step and every yard freed from the Russian evil.”
The head of the Ukrainian ground forces, Oleksandr Syrskyi, wrote on Telegram that Russian troops are “losing positions on the flanks”.
It was not possible to independently verify the claims.
‘Not enough’ ammunition, drones
The Russian leader declined to say whether Moscow would launch a new offensive in Ukraine in response to Kiev’s own counter-offensive, saying his plans would depend on military potential.
Speaking of weapons, Putin said that the quality of Russian weapons was improving, but the country lacked precision munitions and drones.
“During the special military operation, it became clear that many things were missing,” Putin said. “High-precision munitions, communication equipment, drones… We have them, but unfortunately there is not enough.”
Putin said Russia has increased its production of major weapons by 2.7 times over the past year, and he also accused the West of pumping weapons into Ukraine.
He added that Russia is open to peace talks, but that the only way to stop the conflict is for Western countries to stop arms supplies to Kiev.
The comments came shortly before the US announced a new $325 million military aid package for Ukraine, which will include munitions for air defense systems, munitions and vehicles.
The Russian leader also said he supported a Defense Ministry order for private military companies to sign contracts with the ministry before July 1, something the high-profile Wagner Group has refused to do.
Earlier on Tuesday, Wagner founder Yevgeny Prigozhin said he was unsure whether his men would continue to fight in Ukraine amid the bitter standoff with the defense ministry with which he has long been at odds.
Meanwhile, Russia was considering pulling out of the historic Black Sea grain deal that would allow grain from Ukraine to reach the world market, Putin said, adding that Moscow had been “cheated” over implementing the parts of the accord that concerned its own export.
“We are now considering whether to leave the grain deal,” Putin said.
Putin said the deal was intended to help “friendly” countries in Africa and Latin America, but that Europe was the largest importer of Ukrainian grain and that it was an important source of foreign exchange for Kiev.
He accused Kiev of using sea corridors designed to provide safe passage for ships carrying grain “to launch maritime drones”.
Putin said he would discuss the future of the grain deal with some African leaders who were expected to visit Russia, adding that Moscow was willing to provide free grain to the world’s poorest countries.
The deal was brokered last July by the United Nations and Turkey and allows the safe export of grain from several Ukrainian ports on the Black Sea.
The West has not imposed sanctions on Russian grain and other food exports, but they have been hampered by other restrictions on insurance and other areas.
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