Putin tries to restore status quo of his army - chairman of Reservists' Councilon intensification of Russian attacks

He shared the information on Espreso TV.

"We are entering the next year amid war. Fighting continues in the Lyman-Kupyansk, Bakhmut and Avdiivka directions, as well as in the direction of Robotyne, Vuhledar and on the left bank of the Dnipro River. The northern border of Ukraine is still quiet, but there is a threat from this direction as well. The enemy is trying to seize the initiative. Because throughout 2023, they were either retreating or on the defensive. Putin and the Russian political leadership do not like this. Russia has already begun to lose influence in the international arena," Tymochko said.

According to the chairman of the Reservists' Council, Putin is trying to restore the status quo of his army before the elections in Russia.

"Putin understands that in order to be talked to in the international arena, in order to be able to enter into long-term agreements with other countries, he needs to maintain the status he has. The intensification of fighting in Ukraine is one of the arguments for Putin that he should not be written off. Therefore, we expect the intensity of fighting to increase soon. The Russians are using frontal attack tactics, which makes it possible to successfully destroy them," emphasized Tymochko.

• Analysts at the Institute for the Study of War write that the Kremlin is likely concerned that the army's failures in the war in Ukraine will affect the results of the presidential election in Russia in March 2024.