Putin's surprise visit to military commanders in the occupied Kherson and Luhansk territories

Russian President Vladimir Putin paid an unexpected and unannounced visit to the headquarters of the Dnipro and Vostok military units in the Kherson, Zaporizhzhya and Lugansk regions. The president arrived by helicopter to inspect the barracks, after which he travelled by jeep to inspect the area. During the visit, Putin listened to reports from military commanders on the situation in these regions, demonstrating his interest in Russia's military security. He also offered his support to the soldiers, as well as his solidarity for their efforts to protect the region. 

Russian propagandists have presented Putin's trip to Lugansk as a demonstration of his commitment to the country. According to the official narrative, Putin met with local leaders to discuss their concerns and promote cooperation between Russia and the separatist territories. During the conclave, Putin expressed his support for the inhabitants of the region and backed their demands for autonomy. He also reiterated his commitment to provide humanitarian assistance to the region and to respect peace agreements. These statements were welcomed by the people of Lugansk, who hope that the Russian leader can help them solve their problems.

According to the Kremlin press office, Putin's visit was a spontaneous decision. The Kremlin stated that Putin wanted to see for himself the impact of the Ukraine-Russia crisis. During his meetings, Putin spoke with the leaders of Kherson and Lugansk about the impact of the crisis on their regions and also met with soldiers from the Dnipro and Vostok military forces. The aim of the meeting was to show the Kremlin's support for the military and encourage them to continue fighting for peace.

Colonel General Oleg Makarevich received President Putin at the Kherson Region Headquarters. During the meeting, Colonel General Makarevich briefed the President on the situation of the Dnepr grouping, which is taking over the defence.

At the meeting, Russian President Vladimir Putin warned the military that he would listen to their reports briefly and concretely. He stressed the importance of listening to their views on the situation, and of exchanging information. Putin urged those present to work to improve Russia's security and defence. He also encouraged those present to focus on the most important issues and avoid irrelevant details. 

During the meeting at the headquarters, Putin congratulated the troops on Easter and presented them with an icon belonging to one of the most successful defence ministers of the Russian Empire. 

Colonel General Teplinsky reported that he had examined the main problems of the Kherson and Zaporizhzhya region, as well as the tasks of the airborne troops. The report included the problems of air defence, protection of air transport and the situation at the front. The commander also proposed a number of measures to increase the effectiveness of air defence and improve the supply of equipment and materials.  

At the end of the meeting, Putin praised Teplinski's work and stressed the need to follow the example of airborne troops in order to improve the effectiveness of ground troops. The president also asked the General Staff to conduct an assessment of the situation on the front and advised that steps should be taken to improve the situation.