Russian President Vladimir Putin has visited the military headquarters in the eastern regions of Ukraine, where he discussed the ongoing conflict with a general in charge of airborne troops, who reportedly took up a powerful new role in the invasion. According to the Kremlin, Putin attended an army command meeting in the southern Kherson region and heard reports on the situation there.
He also visited the headquarters in Ukraine's eastern Luhansk region. The Kremlin released a video of the visit, showing Putin taking a helicopter to Luhansk, but did not specify when any of the meetings took place.
During his visit, Putin heard reports from commanders of the airborne forces and the "Dnieper" army group, as well as other senior officers, on the situation in the Kherson and Zaporizhia regions, both of which Russia has proclaimed as part of its territory. Putin emphasized the importance of hearing the commanders' opinions and exchanging information. Colonel General Mikhail Teplinsky, commander of Russia's airborne troops, sat to Putin's right, while Colonel General Oleg Makarevich sat to his left.
On Sunday, British military intelligence said that Teplinsky had been given a major role in the war, raising concerns about Russia's involvement in the conflict.