Putin Orders Advance in Eastern Ukraine Amid Ongoing Conflict

Vladimir Putin, President of Russia, has ordered Russian forces to take control of the eastern areas of Krasnoarmeysk and Dmitrov in continuation of the military conflict with Ukraine. This directive comes amid reports of Russian advances on multiple fronts.

The order was announced by Valery Gerasimov, Chief of the General Staff of the Russian Armed Forces. He described the field situation as favorable to Russian forces and stated that the Ukrainian army has suffered heavy casualties during the battles.

According to Gerasimov, Ukrainian forces are facing shortages in personnel at the battalion level and are mainly focusing on establishing additional drone units. He also claimed that Russian forces are using drones at roughly twice the rate of their opponents.

The Russian military official added that in the first two weeks of February, despite harsh winter conditions, 12 settlements were captured by Russian forces. The war between Russia and Ukraine, which began in 2022, continues intensely in eastern and southern Ukraine.