President Vladimir Putin has reportedly directed Russian soldiers to escalate attacks on Ukrainian forces ahead of Russia's upcoming presidential election, as stated by the Institute for the Study of War (ISW), a prominent think tank, which contends that Putin aims to demonstrate military strength amid challenging winter conditions to make a favorable impression on Russian voters.
The influential think tank claimed that Putin wants his forces to be on the offensive during the harsh winter conditions, which pose the most challenging circumstances for military operations, with the intention of impressing Russian voters, as per The Telegraph.
Russian Air Strikes Raise Ukraine Concerns
In the latest defense intelligence update from the United Kingdom, it was revealed that the Russian Air Force conducted a significant wave of strikes on the night of December 7. It is believed that these strikes were carried out using missiles that had been stockpiled by Putin's forces, utilizing their heavy bomber fleet, which had remained unused since September.
The Ministry of Defense (MoD) indicated that Russia likely stockpiled these missiles for the specific purpose of a winter campaign involving a more focused effort to undermine Ukraine's energy infrastructure. Initial reports suggest that the majority of these missiles were intercepted by Ukrainian air defenses, resulting in minimal damage to infrastructure, although one civilian casualty was recorded.
Since last winter's attacks, which left millions of Ukrainians without basic utilities such as electricity, heating, and water, concerns have persisted that Russia could once again target Ukraine's energy grid in a similar manner.
Analysts have previously predicted that Russia would seize the opportunity to launch a military offensive in Ukraine during the harsh winter months leading up to the presidential elections scheduled for March.
However, in parallel with these developments, Russia has announced its next election cycle, slated for March 2024, where Putin is seeking a fifth term as the country's President. The elections are planned to be held in regions such as Donetsk, Luhansk, Zaporizhzhya, and Kherson, located in the south and east of Ukraine, which Putin claimed to have annexed last September. It is important to note that the West does not recognize Russia's control over these occupied territories, according to The Independent.
Ukraine Denounces Russian Elections in Occupied Regions
Ukraine's foreign ministry has called on the international community to vehemently condemn Russia's intention to hold presidential elections in the occupied Ukrainian territories and to impose sanctions on those involved in organizing and conducting these elections. The ministry's statement emphasizes that any election in Russia lacks democratic legitimacy and is merely a tool to maintain power within the Russian regime.
In April, Putin traveled to Kherson and Luhansk, regions that are already in close proximity to Crimea, which was annexed by Russia in 2014. During the early stages of the conflict with Ukraine, Russian forces also seized the Zaporizhzhya Nuclear Power Plant.
Residents in these regions would be participating in a Russian election for the first time, should it take place. However, Ukraine's foreign ministry has declared the presidential election in these areas as "null and void."
Should Putin be reelected, he will remain in office until 2030. Having served as the president of Russia since 2000, Putin took a single-term hiatus in 2008 when Dmitry Medvedev assumed office before returning to the presidency in 2012.
Ukraine is now entering its second year in a conflict with Russia, raising concerns about the country's access to aid. Recent developments in the United States Senate saw the failure to pass an additional aid bill for Ukraine, a move that has raised questions about the level of support the country will receive during ongoing hostilities. As the situation continues to unfold, the international community and stakeholders are closely monitoring the need for a peaceful resolution to the conflict, Washington Examiner reported.
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