Putin announces the seizure of more than 180 Ukrainian towns throughout 2024

Alert that the US has more than 100,000 troops deployed in Europe

The president of Russia, Vladimir Putin, stated this Monday that the Army has taken control of a total of 189 Ukrainian towns throughout this year as part of the invasion of Ukraine and has highlighted that Russian troops maintain the pressure on “the entire front line.”

During a meeting with senior officials of the Russian Defense Ministry, Putin indicated that “this is a very significant year in terms of Russia’s objectives as part of its special military operation.” “Thanks to the professionalism and courage of our soldiers,” he said, “the Russian troops have maintained their strategy.”

Thus, he has indicated that all these areas have been “liberated” with the “strong” support of the Army and Navy. “I want to offer the military my most sincere gratitude to those people who continue with their duty despite how difficult it is,” he clarified just a few hours after the Ministry of Defense reported that the Russian Army had took control this Monday of the town of Yelizavetovka, in Donetsk.

Russian troops have made significant gains in the east of the country in recent months, increasing pressure on Ukrainian forces amid fears of a collapse of the eastern front by military authorities in kyiv.

Defense Minister Andrei Belousov has indicated that Russian forces have managed to seize 4,500 square kilometers of Ukrainian territory, so they control between 25 and 30 percent of the territory of Donetsk, Kherson and Zaporizhzhia. In this sense, he clarified that Ukrainian forces control less than 1 percent of Lugansk territory.

“The level of enemy troops on the front line does not exceed 45 percent, which represents a success that is the merit of our soldiers and troops,” he stated, according to information collected by the Russian news agency Interfax.

Belousov stressed that the Russian Army’s precision strikes have caused significant damage to the Ukrainian military complex and energy system. “The enemy has lost the ability to produce the necessary weapons, equipment and ammunition,” said the minister, who explained that throughout this year some 427,000 troops have been recruited, who have joined the Armed Forces. Russian. This represents, on average, about 1,200 daily contracts, as noted.

Donetsk, along with Lugansk, Zaporizhzhia and Kherson – all of them partially occupied within the framework of the invasion – were annexed in October 2022 by Russia, a measure not recognized by the international community that was added to the annexation in 2014 of the Crimean peninsula by Moscow.

AMERICAN TROOPS

Putin has also warned of the increase in military spending by NATO member countries and has pointed out that the number of American troops deployed in Europe has already exceeded 100,000, which represents a threat to Moscow.

“Alliance troops have been deployed near the Russian borders,” said Putin, who warned that NATO’s aspirations go “beyond the historical zone of responsibility” of the Alliance.

“Beyond the eastern flank, they are increasing their presence in the Asia-Pacific region. Following instructions from the United States, new political-military alliances are being formed that undermine the security that has been in place for decades,” he said.