WESTERN PERSPECTIVE

Zelenskiy visits troops in the northeast, holds security meetings

President Volodymyr Zelenskiy on Tuesday discussed the battlefield situation with commanders in Ukraine's northeast, where he visited troops on one of the hottest fronts of the war with Russia.

In his nightly video address, Zelenskiy said he had been near Kharkiv, Ukraine's second-largest city, and heard from the commander of Ukraine's ground forces, Oleksandr Syrskyi, on defence in the area and on offensive actions further south, near Bakhmut.

"It is extremely important that Kharkiv, despite everything, not only holds on, but helps to keep our entire east strong," Zelenskiy said.

In a post on X, formerly known as Twitter, the president also said he met brigades fighting near the northeastern towns of Kupiansk and Lyman, recaptured by Ukrainian forces late last year. The area has been subject to Russian attacks in recent months.

"We met with brigade and battalion commanders to discuss the battlefield situation, pressing issues, and needs," he said. Photos showed him meeting soldiers in a poorly lighted room.

The president discussed preparation for winter in Kharkiv as Ukraine expects an escalation of Russia's strikes on energy infrastructure. Kharkiv, a major industrial centre, has not fallen into Russian hands since the Kremlin invasion in February 2022.

Zelenskiy, who has regularly visited troops, also handed out awards and urged troops to keep their motivation high.

The president's office also posted video footage showing Zelenskiy shaking hands with troops, inspecting equipment supplied by Western countries, sitting at a long table with commanders and being briefed by an officer standing in front of a map.

Since Kyiv began a counteroffensive in the east and south four months ago, Ukrainian troops have made only gradual gains, but Zelenskiy has rejected foreign criticism that the advance has been marred by poor military strategy.

** Ukraine troops advance on southern front - general

One of Ukraine's top generals said on Tuesday that his forces were advancing in the south, one of two theatres of their counteroffensive to evict Russian occupation forces, but offered few details of their gains.

"In the Tavria sector, there has been an advance by the defence forces," General Oleksander Tarnavskyi said in a post on Telegram, using the military's name for the southern front.

Tarnavskyi, head of the southern group of forces, said troops had conducted 1,198 assignments in the past 24 hours, with Russian forces sustaining losses of 261 men and a further 10 being taken prisoner.

The General Staff of the Ukrainian armed forces, in its evening report, said offensive operations were proceeding in the east and south, with little elaboration.

It reported Russian air strikes in southeastern Zaporizhzhia region, the focus of the drive south to the Sea of Azov. The report also said Ukrainian forces had repelled Russian attacks in areas of Donetsk region already recaptured by Kyiv and around the long-contested town of Maryinka further west.

Military analysts have spoken in the past week of Ukrainian forces consolidating positions around the village of Verbove on their southward drive.

The drive in the east has focused on recovering land around the devastated town of Bakhmut, seized by Russian forces in May after months of heavy fighting.

The Institute for the Study of War, in an assessment issued on Monday, said Ukrainian forces had made marginal gains in the area straddling Donetsk and Zaporizhzhia regions.

RUSSIAN PERSPECTIVE

No additional mobilization, Kadyrov's role in special op: what Shoigu's report was about

There are no plans for additional mobilization in Russia as the armed forces have enough personnel to carry out the special military operation, Russian Defense Minister Sergey Shoigu said in a conference call.

He also pointed out that the Russian military had significantly weakened the combat strength of the Ukrainian troops, thanked the peacekeepers stationed in Nagorno-Karabakh and praised Chechnya and its head Ramzan Kadyrov for their contributions during the special operation.

TASS summarized the main points of the minister's speech.

On conscription and mobilization plans

Fall conscription will be carried out according to plan and within the timeframe established by law, with 130,000 people being drafted to the armed forces. "I once again draw attention to the fact that no conscripts, including those from new regions, will be sent to the combat zone."

"The General Staff has no plans for additional mobilization. The armed forces have the necessary number of servicemen to carry out the special military operation."

Since the beginning of the year, more than 335,000 people have signed up to serve in the military or in volunteer formations. "Just in September, more than 50,000 citizens signed contracts."

On special military operation

The Russian military repulsed all Ukrainian attacks in the Soledar-Bakhmut area, as well as attempts to break through the defense in the area of Verbovoye and Rabotino in the Zaporozhye area: "Through active actions, our troops have significantly weakened the combat potential of the enemy and inflicted serious damage on it."

"Our fighters are acting bravely and resolutely, showing true heroism." Since June 1 alone, 57 associations, formations and military units have received the honorary title of guard units, 20 have been awarded medals, and in the most prestigious units 50-90% of the servicemen have received state awards.

On Kadyrov

"I would like to make special mention of the Chechen Republic and its head Ramzan Akhmatovich Kadyrov. <...> The units under the command of Hero of Russia Apty Alaudinov have proved worthy during the special military operation."

In total, three motorized rifle regiments and three battalions were formed in Chechnya, and after training at the Russian Special Forces University in Gudermes, more than 14,500 men were sent to the war zone.

On Nagorno-Karabakh

Russian peacekeepers continued to perform their duties when the situation in Nagorno-Karabakh escalated, and through their mediation the sides managed to agree on a full ceasefire.

The military organized the evacuation of more than 98,000 civilians, including 32,000 children, to Armenia and ensured the delivery of almost 300 tons of humanitarian aid.

"I thank our guys - Russian peacekeepers - for their selfless and professional actions, which helped to avoid further casualties."

On military medicine

Medical support for the Russian military in the special military operation zone is "well organized," and first aid on the battlefield is provided "as a rule, in the first minutes after someone is wounded."

More than 98% of the wounded in the Russian armed forces recover. The mortality rate in hospitals is 0.43% and continues to decrease.

Reuters/Tass