ISW investigates reason for Putin's meeting with Russia's top military leadership

The Institute for the Study of War (ISW) reported this. 

American analysts suggest that the Kremlin is trying to portray Putin as a competent wartime leader and rehabilitate the image of the Russian Defense Ministry. For this purpose, a report on Putin's meeting with representatives of the joint headquarters of the Russian Armed Forces was made public.

The Kremlin reported on December 17 that Putin allegedly worked at the joint headquarters all day and held a meeting with commanders. Russia's Ministry of Defense and the propagandist media have released footage showing that the Chief of the Russian Armed Forces' General Staff Valery Gerasimov, Minister of Defense Sergei Shoigu, as well as Commander of the Occupation Forces in Ukraine Sergey Surovikin are present at the meeting. However, it was not possible to identify the military district or army commanders from the photo and video.

“The Kremlin likely publicized the meeting to present Putin as being thoroughly engaged with the planning and execution of the war in Ukraine following recent prominent criticism of his role in leading the war effort by figures in the ultra-nationalist pro-war community. The Kremlin also likely publicized Putin’s meeting with the joint headquarters to rehabilitate the image of the Russian Ministry of Defense,” the ISW concluded.