Vladimir Putin has broken his silence about ‘stepping up efforts’ in Ukraine in pre-recorded interview that aired after he suffered his worst daily air force losses of the war.
The Russian president, on state television today, said he was ‘confident’ in his forces where he alleged are ‘in a position to implement all the plans and tasks ahead of us’.
Putin claimed his optimism applied to Moscow’s ‘defence’, ‘special military operation’, and the ‘economy as a whole and its individual areas’. He also added that a meeting of the country’s Security Council will still take place next week as planned.
His speech aired today after it was claimed that Wagner mercenary fighters killed 39 pilots and crew by downing strike helicopters and a military plane during Prigozhin’s rebellion.
Putin is also believed to be facing the humbling expectation to replace his top two war commanders – close ally defence minister Sergei Shoigu and chief of the army staff general Valery Gerasmivov – or…