head of the Kremlin Vladimir Putin signals full concentration on the war in Ukraine after the end of the armed uprising of the Wagner mercenary group.
The “special military operation” has the highest priority, Putin said in an interview broadcast on Rossiya TV channel on Sunday. “It’s how I start and end my day,” he said.
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Also in this article:
- Wagner’s breakthrough was “a beginning”
- Damage after Wagner’s march
- Zelensky: War returns to Russia
- Zelensky warns against sabotaging Zaporizhia nuclear power plant
- Air strikes on the port city of Odessa – alarm in Kiev
- Russian attacks in the Zaporizhia region
Putin expressed confidence in the implementation of all plans and tasks related to the military operation in Ukraine.
Wagner’s breakthrough was “a beginning”
Russian Nobel Peace Prize winner Irina Sherbakova sees a “beginning” in the events surrounding the advance of the Wagner mercenaries into Russia. It was seen “for the first time” how weak the vertical power is, the human rights expert told the morning newspaper Ö1 on Monday.
It is a “clear sign that there are big cracks” in Russia.
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Russian President Vladimir Putin delivered “a panic speech” on Saturday. In doing so, he “pushed this story into real upheaval”. Mercenary boss Yevgeny Prigozhin knew he couldn’t take the Kremlin. “His intention was blackmail, threats because he was leaving power” and there were “significant defeats” at the front in Ukraine.
Many Russians view Prigozhin as a “criminal” but agree with his critical statements about Russia’s military leadership. The war in Ukraine and the associated dangers are now “finally” realized by the people. “Until now, we had the feeling that many Russians just looked the other way,” said Sherbakova.
Damage after Wagner’s march
According to authorities, houses and roads were damaged during the advance of Wagner’s rebel mercenaries. In the region Voronezh there are 19 houses in the village Elizavetovka damaged by gunfire, district administration head Maxim Jantsov said Sunday on the Telegram messaging service.
Thus, there were clashes with the regular Russian army near the village “during the passage of a column from Wagner”.
in the southern city Rostov On the Don, where Wagner’s fighters occupied a military headquarters on Saturday, tanks damaged more than 10,000 square meters of roads, Mayor Alexei Logvinenko said on online networks.
Information on the number of fatalities varied between 13 and more than 20 military personnel, as reported on Sunday by the independent Internet portal currenttime. According to bloggers, a total of six helicopters and a reconnaissance plane were shot down by the private army of businessman Yevgeny Prigozhin.
Military blog Rybar complained that among the downed helicopters were three Mi-8s used for electronic warfare, which are already missing from the front. In addition, a transport aircraft of the Il-18 type crashed and a command post was installed on board, all crew members died.
Air Force losses are greater than during the Ukrainian counter-offensive at the front.
Zelensky: War returns to Russia
According to the opinion of the leadership in Kiev, the Russian war of aggression against Ukraine is causing more and more damage to Russia itself. It is clear that “the war is returning to its home port,” Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said in his evening video message on Sunday.
It was unclear whether he was referring to Russia’s economic woes or the brief uprising of Wagner’s mercenaries over the weekend. “The longer Russian aggression lasts, the more damage it will do to Russia itself,” Zelensky said.
Zelensky warns against sabotaging Zaporizhia nuclear power plant
The Ukrainian head of state has warned of security risks around the nuclear power plant controlled by Russian forces. Zaporizhia, the largest in Europe. “Unfortunately, the world’s public attention to the Russian threat at the Zaporizhia nuclear power plant is still insufficient,” complained Zelensky.
Ukraine’s Western partners have received all available intelligence information about Russia’s plans for the nuclear power plant. “We have to take very concrete measures, all together in the world, to avoid any radiation incident,” he warned, referring to possible sabotage of the facilities by the Russian occupiers.
Air strikes on the port city of Odessa – alarm in Kiev
The port city of Odessa in southern Ukraine was attacked on Monday night with rockets and so-called kamikaze drones. Several explosions could be heard in the city, Ukrainian news agency Ukrinform reported. No additional information was given.
Airborne alerts were also issued in the capital Kiev and other regions of the country. Shortly before, the Ukrainian Air Force had warned of possible Russian attacks with cruise missiles shot down from ships in the Black Sea.
Russian attacks in the Zaporizhia region
Russian troops launched a series of attacks using various weapons systems in the Zaporizhia region of central Ukraine. According to the Ukrainian general staff on Monday morning, at least six modified S-300 anti-aircraft missiles were deployed. In addition, 33 air strikes and 45 attacks by multiple rocket launchers have been recorded since Sunday.
“As a result of Russian terrorist attacks, civilians were injured and homes, commercial and administrative buildings and private vehicles were damaged,” says the latest administration report. The information could not be independently verified.
According to the General Staff, Russian troops tried to stop the advance of Ukrainian units in the region south of Zaporizhia and recover lost positions. At least 30 settlements were shelled by Russian artillery.