Zelenskyy's visit to Bakhmut undermines Kremlin's efforts to present Putin as involved war leader - Institute for Study of War

This is written by the Institute for the Study of War (ISW) in its report.

Experts recalled that on December 20, Zelenskyy visited the Ukrainian military, who is holding the defense in the tense Bakhmut direction, and presented them with awards.

Putin held an award ceremony where he honored Kremlin officials, from the temporarily occupied Donetsk, Luhansk, Kherson and Zaporizhzhia regions, and propagandists.

"Putin has intensified his efforts to extricate himself and the Russian Ministry of Defense from persistent criticism by making public appearances relating to various undertakings aimed at improving the Russian war effort. This award ceremony further indicates Putin‘s fixation with presenting himself as an involved wartime leader," the Institute stressed.

It is noted that Putin's decision to reward members of his entourage who were not even directly involved in the fighting, unlike Zelenskyy's visit to the front line in Bakhmut, caused criticism among Russians.

Thus, Russia stated that its dictator rewards "his heroes in the Kremlin", and not soldiers participating in hostilities on the front line. Also, Putin added that he did not visit the occupied territories.