Russian President Vladimir Putin said today that since the beginning of this year, Russia's armed forces have captured almost 5,000 square kilometers and established control over 212 settlements in Ukraine, TASS and Reuters reported, citing his statement at a meeting with the leadership of the Defense Ministry and the General Staff of the Russian Army in St. Petersburg.
According to the Russian leader, Moscow has retained full strategic initiative on the battlefield, BTA reports.
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov reported that Putin, who is working in his hometown of St. Petersburg on his birthday, listened to a report on the operational situation in the area of the so-called special military operation.
According to the Russian president, despite attempts at resistance, the armed forces of Ukraine are retreating along the entire front line.
According to him, the desire of the residents of Donbas and Novorossia to link their future with Russia has proven that the decisions made in February 2022 were correct.
And Kiev, which seeks to demonstrate at least some successes to its Western patrons, is striking at peaceful objects in Russia, Putin also said.