Putin shows uncertainty due to launch of Ukrainian counteroffensive - Feygin

He shared his opinions with Espreso TV.

"Regarding the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum and Putin's meeting with the military commissars, I think the reason for Putin's uncertainty is the beginning of the Ukrainian counteroffensive. Putin is demonstrating his uncertainty, he is trying to deflect: 186 foreign tanks have already been destroyed, and 450 units of armored vehicles. Many of the numbers don't match, and this reflects his uncertainty. Because since last September, there was the Kharkiv operation, then Kherson, though before that there were Sumy and the withdrawal from Kyiv, so there is a feeling that if we lose something else, it will become systemic," the opposition politician commented.

Mark Feygin added that since December, Russia has been making claims about some kind of a massive offensive, which resulted in the capture of Soledar and Bakhmut, no significant progress has been made in other areas.

"If Putin sees a system in this, he realizes that, unlike the Russian offensive, the Ukrainian counteroffensive may well end with the capture of Mariupol and Melitopol. Although it may not happen quickly due to the defensive measures taken by Russian troops, there is a sense of possibility. Note that when Putin was asked about the loss of personnel, he said that he had it written down, that it was a question for the Defense Ministry. Why didn't he say how many personnel were lost? This is also a demonstration of uncertainty. And how will he comment if Ukrainian troops actually take Mariupol? I'm not saying it will happen tomorrow. But if it does, he will also request the Defense Ministry to respond," Feygin said.

• On June 13, Vladimir Putin met with military commissars.

• A June 14 report from the Institute for the Study of War (ISW) indicated that the Kremlin sees military officers as playing a crucial role in maintaining social cohesion.