Putin says situation in annexed regions of Ukraine is ‘extremely difficult’

In a rare indication of the difficulties that Russia faces in the war, President Vladimir Putin said this Tuesday (20) that the situation in the four regions of Ukraine annexed by his country is “extremely difficult” and demands extra efforts from the military.

Putin was speaking to the Federal Security Service about the regions of Donetsk and Lugansk, in the Russian-speaking east of Ukraine, and Kherson and Zaporizhia, which Russia annexed in October, despite criticism from the global community and illegality under international law.

“It is necessary to strictly suppress the actions of foreign services, quickly identifying traitors, spies and saboteurs,” Putin said. “The people who live in these regions, the citizens of Russia, depend on your protection.”

The Russian leader announced the annexation of the four territories in September, and officials appointed by Moscow organized referendums, with little or no transparency, to conclude the process. Russian troops, however, do not completely control any of these portions, which are still disputed by forces from Kiev.

Putin’s remarks come a day after the Russian visited Minsk, capital of the allied dictatorship of Belarus, where he had a meeting with regime leader Aleksandr Lukachenko. Kiev says it fears that the talks could increase Belarus’ participation in the war.

Also this Tuesday, the Ukrainian president, Volodymir Zelensky, visited the city of Bakhmut, where clashes with Russian troops are concentrated. The leader found soldiers and distributed prizes to some soldiers. “May with your bravery you prove that we will resist and we will not give up what is ours,” he told those present.

Zelensky also returned to asking Western countries for more weapons after a Monday marked by new drone attacks on the capital Kiev. Ukrainian military says it shot down 30 of 35 kamikaze drones fired by Russia.

Five people were reportedly killed in the Donetsk and Kherson regions and eight others were reportedly injured, according to reports by local authorities. Missile strikes would also have knocked out electricity supplies in parts of Zaporizia.