The president, who visited the Northwestern Federal District, highlighted the progress of the Russian Armed Forces and revealed that, in 2025, they had taken control of a total of 4,900 square kilometers and 212 localities.
The head of State also added, “The enemy, despite its attempts at stubborn resistance, is retreating along the entire line of contact,” and asserted, “The strategic initiative in the area of the special military operation belongs entirely to the Russian Armed Forces.”
Putin also noted that “the Kyiyv regime, wanting to show some success to its Western sponsors, is trying to attack purely civilian targets deep inside Russian territory,” although he stated that this will not help it.
In this context, the president underscored that the leading task “is to ensure the security of Russian citizens and the fulfillment of all the objectives set before the Armed Forces.”
Russian Chief of Staff Valery Gerasimov, in turn, informed Putin that the military forces are continuing massive and targeted attacks on Ukrainian military and defense industry facilities.
Russia has been conducting a special military operation in Ukraine since February 24, 2022, to protect the population from “the Kiev government’s genocide” and counter national security risks posed by the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO)’s eastward expansion, according to the Russian president.
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