Putin vows to achieve Ukraine objectives as Russian forces make gains

Russia's President Vladimir Putin.

Russian President Vladimir Putin on Monday vowed to achieve all his “objectives” in Ukraine, marking the second anniversary of the annexation of four Ukrainian regions, as the Russian army reported fresh advances in the conflict.

Moscow has captured dozens of Ukrainian towns and villages this year, advancing despite Kyiv’s counter-offensive into Russian-held territory.

“The truth is on our side. All objectives set will be achieved,” Putin said in a video address commemorating what he calls “Reunification Day”—the date in 2022 when Moscow annexed four southern and eastern Ukrainian regions.

He reiterated his justification for sending troops into Ukraine, claiming to protect Russian speakers from a “neo-Nazi dictatorship” that aimed to “cut them off forever from Russia, their historic homeland”.

“Together we are defending a safe, prosperous future for our children and grandchildren,” Putin added.

Russia claimed to annex the Ukrainian regions of Luhansk, Donetsk, Zaporizhzhia, and Kherson in September 2022, although it does not fully control any of them.

The Kremlin has intensified its assault in eastern Ukraine in recent months, pressing its advantage as Ukrainian soldiers face exhaustion and continuous bombardment.

The Russian army announced on Monday that its troops had “liberated” the Ukrainian village of Nelipivka, which had a population of about 1,000 before the conflict. The village is located just north of the Ukrainian town of New York, where Kyiv claimed to have made gains earlier in September.

The primary target of Moscow’s recent offensive has been the Ukrainian logistics hub of Pokrovsk, a city on key road and rail routes that supply Kyiv’s forces along the frontline.

‘One-on-one talks’ –

Putin’s remarks came shortly after Russia launched a new wave of missile and drone attacks on Ukraine overnight, some targeting the capital, Kyiv.

“The enemy conducted another massive drone attack on the Kyiv region overnight. Air defence forces effectively responded in the area,” said Ruslan Kravchenko, head of the Kyiv regional military administration.

Wreckage from some of the downed drones caused fires, but no casualties or damage to critical infrastructure were reported, Kravchenko added.

Ukraine’s Deputy Foreign Minister Andriy Sybiga was in Budapest on Monday for talks with his Hungarian counterpart, Peter Szijjarto.

Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban remains the only EU leader who has maintained close ties with the Kremlin since the conflict began in 2022 and has refused military support for Kyiv.

“The one-on-one talks between Andriy Sybiga and Peter Szijjarto lasted about an hour, twice as long as scheduled,” the Ukrainian foreign ministry stated, without further details.

Hungary has previously blocked significant EU funds for Ukraine, causing frustration for Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and his European allies.

AFP