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Russian forces in Ukraine have failed to meet a key deadline for progress in eastern Ukraine ahead of a long-touted counteroffensive from Kyiv, according to a new assessment. Moscow did not manage to "achieve the Kremlin's goals" of exerting control over the Donetsk and Luhansk regions by March 31, the Washington-based Institute for the Study of War (ISW) think tank said on Saturday. The two regions, which collectively make up the Donbas, saw fighting between Kyiv and Russian-backed separatists break out in 2014. They have seen many of the heaviest clashes since the start of the all-out war in February...

Last night, Putin's health deteriorated, he refused to eat because of severe nausea and headache. Doctors on duty were called to the president, who, after staying with Putin for about half an hour, left him to rest. We have already told you that starting from March 5, the head of state is waiting for a mandatory course of therapy and in this regard, the bravado of the presidential press secretary Dmitry Peskov about Putin's tight schedule for the whole of March is incomprehensible. Peskov, of course, is not completely aware, but still he is aware of the current health problems...

Vladimir Putin hosted Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko at his own residence near Moscow for a meeting. However, the Russian leader's odd and fidgeting body language sparked a swirl of speculation about his health. President Putin can be seen uneasily moving his legs throughout the entire duration of the public conversation with President Lukashenko. -snip- Anton Gerashchenko, an advisor to the Minister of Internal Affairs of Ukraine, tweeted a clip of the moment: "Putin's feet during his meeting with Lukashenko. Is this Morse code?" Tendar, which regularly monitors the conflict in Ukraine, added: "Putin’s continuing problem to control his legs and...

And publicly humiliates hapless deputy PM for 'fooling around' Sergei Surovikin was demoted yesterday after just three months in command He was replaced by his heavily criticised understudy Gen. Valery Gerasimov An enraged Putin also publicly humiliated one of his deputy prime ministers Denis Manturov was blasted for failing to procure military and civilian planes During his short time overseeing the troops in Ukraine, Surovikin was credited with strengthening coordination, reinforcing control and introducing a campaign to knock out the invaded country's public utilities as a pressure tactic. But he also announced a humiliating withdrawal in November from Kherson, the...

Vladimir Putin has shown his rage at Russia's collapsing economy and failing war effort, as he publicly humiliated his deputy prime minister during an angry rant. The fuming dictator blasted Denis Manturov in a government video conference for failing to procure military and civilian planes. He accused him of "fooling around" after the politician, a deputy PM and Trade and Industry Minister, flew on holiday to Turkey over New Year. The Kremlin leader also shook up his high command once again, promoting a number of loyalist generals. A video of Putin's furious rant showed the president declaring: “There are no...

Russian tyrant Vladimir Putin today abandoned a visit to Pskov, which is close to the border with NATO states Estonia and Latvia, claiming there were "unfavourable flying conditions" despite skies being clear. Vladimir Putin for the second time in a week cancelled at the last minute a trip inside Russia. He today abandoned a visit to Pskov close to his border with NATO states Estonia and Latvia. The move is likely to increase speculation about his health, or concerns over his security. Officially the reason was “unfavourable flying conditions” for the 180 mile routing from St Petersburg. Yet both airports...

Russian President Vladimir Putin will not hold his annual year-end press conference for the first time in a decade, prompting speculation that the Russian leader is sick or running scared from answering questions about Ukraine as the war enters its 10th month. “As for the big press conference, yes, it won’t happen before the New Year,” Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov told reporters Monday. “But we hope that the president will still find an opportunity to talk with [journalists], as he regularly does, including during foreign [visits],” Peskov added. While Peskov gave no reason behind the move, the war in Ukraine...

The surreal scene shows a Kremlin meeting between Russian President Vladimir Putin and Viktor Zolotov, 68, who is director of the Russian National Guard and has lost thousands of his men in the war. A grimacing Vladimir Putin was seen tightly gripping his desk as his most trusted general reported to him that invaded Ukrainians are showing their “support” for occupying Russian soldiers. The surreal scene shows a Kremlin meeting between Russian President Putin and Viktor Zolotov, 68, who is director of the Russian National Guard and has lost thousands of his men in the war. It is not the...

An ailing Vladimir Putin is flailing over his war strategy, torn between using nuclear weapons and accepting defeat and handing back Ukrainian regions invaded by his forces, a Telegram channel claims. Amid fresh concerns over his health, his security officials have bluntly told the warmonger president that he has run out of 'good' options. This comes as the death toll in the Russian armed forces plus separatist fighters and pro-Putin private armies has reached almost 65,000, said General SVR Telegram channel, an opposition source offering 'insider' information which the Kremlin is 'seeking to shut down'. There is 'despondency' among Putin’s...