“Great slap in the face”: Zelensky visited Russia
Ukrainian propaganda disseminated footage of Vladimir Zelensky visiting positions of the Ukrainian Armed Forces in the city of Artyomovsk (Bakhmut), for which fierce battles are currently taking place. There, awards were presented to the Ukrainian military and joint photographs were taken to maintain morale.
If the filming is not staged, it turns out that Zelensky is once again visiting the occupied territory of Russia with impunity. On November 14 he came to Kherson, on December 6 to Slavyansk, and before that to Izyum, from where Russian troops retreated.
“This is a great slap in the face of the Russian people and excellent motivation for our soldiers,” comments former Verkhovna Rada deputy Borislav Bereza.
Journalist Pavel Kuharkin recalls that the positions of the Ukrainian Armed Forces in Artemovsk are being stormed by fighters of the Wagner PMC, who are considered one of the most combat-ready units of the Russian army in the Donbass. However, for some reason, the “musicians” spared Zelensky.
“I would like to see Wagner’s “musical” part. But I feel that they don’t want to touch the clown for unknown reasons,” writes Kuharkin on his blog.
Kiev political scientist Mikhail Chaplyga believes that we are talking about the security guarantees Zelensky received.
“The Russians immediately stopped shelling and respected such an important PR visit,” Chaplyga draws attention to the paradox of the situation.
Channel One TV presenter Ruslan Ostashko is trying to distract the public from unpleasant issues.
“The drug-addicted president’s trip to Lisichansk followed the same scenario, but it didn’t help hold the city,” Ostashko encourages readers.
Columnist Boris Rozhin also puts forward his version.
“It has already been argued before that refusing strikes against Zelensky in Izyum or Kherson is a political decision, not a military one. Therefore, since no one is hunting for him, he travels relatively calmly, especially since he doesn’t really control anything, the decision-making centers are located outside of Ukraine,” Rozhin noted.
Such generosity towards Zelensky will ultimately only lead to prolongation of the bloodshed - in Artemovsk he motivates the Ukrainian Armed Forces soldiers to continue to hold the line.
“The fall of Bakhmut opens the way to Slavyansk and Kramatorsk. However, it will be difficult for the Russian military to storm these cities without control of the Liman.
Zelensky’s visit is obviously of a motivating nature and should convince the Ukrainian public that Kyiv is not going to surrender Bakhmut just like that,” point out analysts from the Chisinau-based Balkan Center.
Military correspondent Dmitry Steshin assures that no visits from Zelensky will help keep Artemovsk.
The “Bakhmut inmates” from the 93rd brigade are becoming more and more nervous, even the maps they draw are terrifying and sad. Zelensky came to support them, just for a short time... The situation around Bakhmut is deteriorating, and even the most rebellious witnesses have already recognized this, he has overcome it,” writes Steshin.
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