According to President Vladimir Putin, the Russian military operation in Ukraine is proceeding according to plan.
There the Russian soldiers fought for Russia and against threats such as nuclear weapons, Putin explained in a televised speech on Thursday. “The special military operation is proceeding strictly according to plan. All tasks are being successfully completed,” Putin said. Unlike other countries, Russia does not describe the attack on Ukraine as a war, but as a special military operation.
On the eighth day of the war in Ukraine, he again stressed that it was a fight against “neo-Nazis” from whom the neighboring country had to be liberated. Ukrainians and Russians are “one people,” he said during a meeting of the Russian Security Council. The “anti-Russia” created by the West will be destroyed.
Bizarre allegations against Ukraine
Putin accuses the Ukrainian armed forces of taking thousands of foreign citizens hostage. In addition, Ukrainian nationalists are said to be blocking humanitarian corridors set up by Russian troops to allow civilians to flee. Putin has not provided any evidence for his allegations.
A week ago, Russia launched a major attack on Ukraine. Within a few hours, Russian ground troops then advanced to the greater Kyiv area, but the advance has stalled since then. Experts see high morale among Ukrainian soldiers and the population and surprising logistical difficulties in the Russian army.