Facing growing problems, Putin claims Russia is counting Ukraine's losses

President Vladimir Putin has sharply criticized the Ukrainian regime, asserting that its situation on the front lines is deteriorating from critical to catastrophic. Speaking at a meeting with graduates of the "Time of Heroes" program, which trains participants for state service after military engagement, Putin pointed to Ukraine's alleged "constant failures" and loss of positions and territories as the primary reasons for this dire assessment.

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The reasons for such criminal behavior by the Kyiv regime are clear, you know this better than anyone else – these are constant failures on the front, loss of positions, settlements, and territories. The situation on the front for the Ukrainian armed forces is gradually changing from difficult and critical to catastrophic.

Putin further alleged that Western military aid to Ukraine is being "constantly stolen" and that mobilization efforts within Ukraine involve forcibly apprehending citizens, likening the process to stray dogs being caught and thrown to the front. He claimed that neither Western assistance nor forced mobilization is helping Ukraine's armed forces, painting a picture of a collapsing Ukrainian military.

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Neither Western aid, which is constantly being stolen – they simply can't help themselves, they can't help themselves – nor forced mobilization, when people are caught like stray dogs in the streets and then thrown to the front, is helping.

However, this narrative contrasts starkly with assessments from Western institutions. The Institute for the Study of War (ISW) estimates that Russia lost 116 square kilometers of occupied territory in Ukraine in April alone. The Pentagon also acknowledges that Ukrainian forces have reclaimed approximately 400 square kilometers in the early months of the year. Intelligence reports cited by Delfi suggest that Ukraine's successes were partly due to the temporary but significant weakening of the Russian army, exacerbated by issues like the disruption of Starlink satellite internet terminals and the blocking of Telegram, a crucial communication tool on the battlefield. From a Lithuanian perspective, Putin's statements are viewed with deep skepticism, given the ongoing Russian aggression and the clear evidence of Ukrainian resistance and territorial gains, supported by Western intelligence.

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desertion is catastrophically increasing in the Ukrainian army, taking on a mass character.