The President heard reports from Chief of the General Staff Valery Gerasimov on the current situation in the special military operation zone.
Commander of the Centre group of forces Valery Solodchuk and Commander of the East group Andrei Ivanayev, as well as their subordinate commanders reported on the progress of the ongoing combat missions and the liberation of Dimitrov in the Donetsk People’s Republic and Gulyaipolye in the Zaporozhye Region.
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President of Russia Vladimir Putin: Good afternoon, comrades.
We are holding a regular meeting on the developments in the special military operation. I know that you have things to report and some good news and results for the public. We will certainly discuss them and will consider subsequent short-term tasks.
I would like to hear reports from the commanders of the Centre and East groups, on the situation in the respective front sectors and on the performance of your subordinate troops.
As we established during previous similar meetings, I would like to ask the Chief of the General Staff to report on the overall situation at the front line.
Mr Gerasimov, please.
Chief of the General Staff of the Russian Armed Forces Valery Gerasimov: Comrade Supreme Commander-in-Chief,
The Joint Force troops are advancing in all sectors. The Ukrainian armed forces command is making unsuccessful attempts to stop our advance.
The North group formations continue to carry out missions to establish a safety zone in borderline areas of the Sumy and Kharkov regions of Ukraine. In the past two weeks, we have taken control of Vysokoye in the Sumy Region, as well as Vilcha and Prilipka in the Kharkov Region.
Forces of the West group are currently eliminating enemy units that have been encircled on the left bank of the Oskol River east of Kupyansk.
Novoplatonovka, located in the southern reaches of the Oskol River, has been liberated, and we are completing the mop-up operation in Boguslavka.
An enemy formation has been encircled in Drobyshevo in the Krasny Liman sector, and it is currently being eliminated. Our units are fighting in the south-eastern and eastern sectors of Krasny Liman.
After liberating Seversk, the South group is advancing rapidly towards Slavyansk. We have liberated Kirovo. Street fighting continues in Konstantinovka. We have taken control of 50 percent of the city’s residential areas.
Units of the Centre group have completely defeated an encircled formation of the Ukrainian armed forces and have liberated the city of Dimitrov. The East group of forces is advancing westwards in the Zaporozhye Region as well as in the Dnepropetrovsk Region, and its units aim to establish a safety zone there.
We have liberated the city of Gulyaipolye. In the past two weeks, we have taken control of five more communities in these sectors. We continue to expand a bridgehead on the west bank of the Gaichur River.
Assault units of the Dnieper group are advancing in the Zaporozhye sector; they have liberated Stepnogorsk and are finishing off enemy formations in Primorskoye and Lukyanovskoye.
Comrade Supreme Commander-in-Chief,
The Joint Force troops will continue to liberate Donbass, as well as the Zaporozhye and Kherson regions.
This concludes my report.
Vladimir Putin: Thank you, Mr Gerasimov.
I can see that all our objectives are being accomplished in accordance with the concept of the special military operation approved and developed by the General Staff. Indeed, the safety zone is being created at a good pace in the border areas of the Sumy, Kharkov and Dnepropetrovsk regions. The offensive in Donbass and the Zaporozhye Region is going on across the entire line of contact. Russian troops are increasing their pressure on the Ukrainian armed forces.
I suggest we begin with the Centre group of forces. Mr Solodchuk, I ask you to report on the situation in your area of responsibility. Please.
Commander of the Centre Group of Forces Valery Solodchuk: Comrade Supreme Commander-in-Chief,
The troops of the Centre group continue to fulfil the tasks of defeating the enemy in their zone of responsibility in compliance with the approved concept.
In the Krasnoarmeysk area, the 5th Motor Rifle Brigade of the 51st Army in conjunction with the 1435th Motor Rifle Regiment of the 2nd Army have finished destroying Ukrainian armed forces’ units in the city of Dimitrov thereby completely liberating the city. At present our forces finalise the mopping-up of the city blocks, evacuating the peaceful population and taking measures to stabilise the situation around Dimitrov and Krasnoarmeysk.
In addition, the 9th Motor Rifle brigade liberated the city of Rodinskoye to the north of the Krasnoarmeysk-Dimitrov agglomeration, liberated Volnoye community and continue combat actions in Sukhetskoye and Novy Donbass populated centres.
The 2nd Army formations are engaged in screening in Krasnoarmeysk and developing the offensive northward. They have evacuated over 1,100 peaceful residents.
Assault units of the 41st Army are advancing in Grishino. The enemy uses this populated centre to concentrate reserves and conduct attacks on the north-western part of Krasnoarmeysk but fails to achieve any results.
The enemy loses from 60 to 120˗140 infantrymen every day in three areas: Grishino, the north-western outskirts of Krasnoarmeysk, Shevchenko in the direction of Krasnoarmeysk, Sergeyevka in the direction of Krasnoarmeysk, and Kotlino. The infantry is continuously moving towards these centres. It should be noted that these are elite units of the Ukrainian armed forces: the 82nd Airborne Assault Brigade and the 95th Airborne Assault Brigade, which ingloriously sustain losses, achieving nothing there.
In the Oktyabrsk area we have liberated Artemovka, an important populated centre. It is one of the key areas for further advance to the north with a view to encircle the enemy’s strategic defence line that runs across Konstantinovka, Druzhkovka, Kramatorsk and Slavyansk, to envelop the western area.
We are also developing offensive in the Dnepropetrovsk Region, where we fulfil your instructions on creating a safety zone with the Donetsk People’s Republic. The 90th Tank Division, in conjunction with the 41st Army are liberating Novopavlovka. Fighting in Novopodgorodnoye continues.
Comrade Supreme Commander-in-Chief,
All the tasks put before the group will be accomplished. This concludes my report.
Vladimir Putin: Thank you, Mr Gerasimov.
I can see that all our objectives are being accomplished in accordance with the concept of the special military operation approved and developed by the General Staff. Indeed, the safety zone is being created at a good pace in the border areas of the Sumy, Kharkov and Dnepropetrovsk regions. The offensive in Donbass and the Zaporozhye Region is going on across the entire line of contact. Russian troops are increasing their pressure on the Ukrainian armed forces.
I suggest we begin with the Centre group of forces. Mr Solodchuk, I ask you to report on the situation in your area of responsibility. Please.
Commander of the Centre Group of Forces Valery Solodchuk: Comrade Supreme Commander-in-Chief,
The troops of the Centre group continue to fulfil the tasks of defeating the enemy in their zone of responsibility in compliance with the approved concept.
In the Krasnoarmeysk area, the 5th Motor Rifle Brigade of the 51st Army in conjunction with the 1435th Motor Rifle Regiment of the 2nd Army have finished destroying Ukrainian armed forces’ units in the city of Dimitrov thereby completely liberating the city. At present our forces finalise the mopping-up of the city blocks, evacuating the peaceful population and taking measures to stabilise the situation around Dimitrov and Krasnoarmeysk.
In addition, the 9th Motor Rifle brigade liberated the city of Rodinskoye to the north of the Krasnoarmeysk-Dimitrov agglomeration, liberated Volnoye community and continue combat actions in Sukhetskoye and Novy Donbass populated centres.
The 2nd Army formations are engaged in screening in Krasnoarmeysk and developing the offensive northward. They have evacuated over 1,100 peaceful residents.
Assault units of the 41st Army are advancing in Grishino. The enemy uses this populated centre to concentrate reserves and conduct attacks on the north-western part of Krasnoarmeysk but fails to achieve any results.
The enemy loses from 60 to 120˗140 infantrymen every day in three areas: Grishino, the north-western outskirts of Krasnoarmeysk, Shevchenko in the direction of Krasnoarmeysk, Sergeyevka in the direction of Krasnoarmeysk, and Kotlino. The infantry is continuously moving towards these centres. It should be noted that these are elite units of the Ukrainian armed forces: the 82nd Airborne Assault Brigade and the 95th Airborne Assault Brigade, which ingloriously sustain losses, achieving nothing there.
In the Oktyabrsk area we have liberated Artemovka, an important populated centre. It is one of the key areas for further advance to the north with a view to encircle the enemy’s strategic defence line that runs across Konstantinovka, Druzhkovka, Kramatorsk and Slavyansk, to envelop the western area.
We are also developing offensive in the Dnepropetrovsk Region, where we fulfil your instructions on creating a safety zone with the Donetsk People’s Republic. The 90th Tank Division, in conjunction with the 41st Army are liberating Novopavlovka. Fighting in Novopodgorodnoye continues.
Comrade Supreme Commander-in-Chief,
All the tasks put before the group will be accomplished. This concludes my report.
Vladimir Putin: Thank you, Mr Solodchuk.
You mentioned the successful actions of the 5th Motor Rifle Brigade. Colonel Ramil Faskhutdinov joins us from the forward command post of the brigade. Mr Faskhutdinov, can you hear us?
Brigade Commander Ramil Faskhutdinov: Comrade Supreme Commander-in-Chief,
Brigade Commander Colonel Faskhutdinov. Good afternoon, I hear you perfectly well.
Vladimir Putin: Excellent. Please report on the situation in the city, the assault details, and the current state of affairs.
Ramil Faskhutdinov: Here is my report, Comrade Supreme Commander-in-Chief.
From September 6 to December 26, the brigade units took on the tasks of liberating the city of Dimitrov. Based on the situation at hand, the operation was divided into three phases.
During the first phase from September 6 to 30, the brigade’s reconnaissance battalion breached enemy defences, using the element of surprise and the result of the fire damage, and advanced almost one kilometre into the enemy territory, creating a bridgehead in the city. We managed to gain a foothold on the northeastern outskirts along Mira and Koshevogo streets. The assault groups went into action simultaneously from different directions misleading the enemy and preventing them from identifying the direction of the primary attack.
During the second phase from October 1 to November 22, in order to block the enemy’s supply routes in the city, assault units of the 1st and 3rd battalions took control of the forest belts and a treatment plant north of Dimitrov, thereby cutting off all connection with the encircled enemy group. The assault units took advantage of the newly taken grounds and suitable weather conditions to make a dash to the southeastern outskirts of the city. Following unrelenting assault efforts, the southern part of Dimitrov was fully liberated by the end of November 22.
During the third phase that lasted from November 23 to December 27, assault units of the 1st and 3rd motor rifle battalions were put into action, and by December 7 the brigade had secured key positions in the city’s central quarters and continued eliminating encircled enemy.
Today, December 27, the brigade completely defeated the Ukrainian army formation in the city. The city of Dimitrov has been fully liberated. At present, buildings, structures, basements, and residential quarters are being inspected. Small scattered enemy groups are being identified and destroyed. We have begun demining streets and buildings and providing medical help and humanitarian aid to the local population.
Comrade Supreme Commander-in-Chief,
Right now, commander of the 1st Motor Rifle Company Senior Lieutenant Vladimir Silenko, whose unit took part in liberating the city, is on the line from Dimitrov. I need your permission to give him the floor to speak.
Vladimir Putin: Yes, of course.
Please, Mr Silenko, go ahead.
Commander of the 1st Motor Rifle Company Senior Lieutenant Vladimir Silenko: Comrade Supreme Commander-in-Chief,
I am the commander of the 1st company of the 1st battalion of the 5th brigade. I am now in the city of Dimitrov near the Viktorovskaya Church.
As of December 27, the city is under our control; the mop-up of the city is almost complete. We are providing humanitarian aid and medical help to civilians, building defences, and are ready to carry out further combat missions.
On behalf of the entire brigade, I would like to extend my best wishes to you on the occasion of the upcoming New Year and wish you good health and peaceful sky. Victory will be ours!
Vladimir Putin: Thank you very much, comrades, for your highly effective combat operations and the results. I would also like to congratulate Ramil Faskhutdinov, and you, Mr Silenko, and all our officers and soldiers who displayed bravery and heroism, competent command of the troops and very timely adoption of the necessary decisions. I know, and the Chief of the General Staff reported that you showed ingenuity and courage. Thank you very much.
In turn, I would like to convey my best wishes on the upcoming New Year. Congratulations, everyone, and thank you.
And now, let us discuss the situation in the East group’s zone of responsibility. Mr Ivanayev, you have the floor.
Commander of the East Group of Forces Andrei Ivanayev: Comrade Supreme Commander-in-Chief,
The East group of forces continues to accomplish its missions in the Zaporozhye sector.
Its units have crossed the Gaichur River and are advancing westwards in the Zaporozhye Region. By the end of December 26, assault units of the 57th and 60th motor rifle brigades of the 5th Army completely liberated the city of Gulyaipolye. The enemy turned the city’s residential quarters into a fortified area. It took us 20 days to breach the enemy’s multilayered defences. We have taken complete control of Gulyaipolye and are now searching for and destroying individual groups of the Ukrainian armed forces.
Formations of the 36th Army have breached enemy defences on the western bank of the Gaichur River, and they are advancing in the Zaporozhye Region towards major enemy logistics hubs. They have penetrated enemy positions by over seven kilometres.
The 29th Army is advancing in the southern sector of the Dnepropetrovsk Region and continues to expand the safety zone. Since early December, the group has taken control of more than 210 square kilometres in the Dnepropetrovsk and Zaporozhye regions, we have liberated ten communities, including four in the Dnepropetrovsk Region and six in the Zaporozhye Region.
Comrade Supreme Commander-in-Chief, we are destroying enemy formations in the group’s zone of responsibility in accordance with the approved plan. The East group of forces continues to advance.
This concludes my report.
Vladimir Putin: Mr Ivanayev, as far as I understand, the Commander of the 57th Motor Rifle Brigade Colonel Vyacheslav Vedenin is now on the line.
Andrei Ivanayev: Yes, sir.
Vladimir Putin: Mr Vedenin, can you hear and see us?
Commander of the 57th Motor Rifle Brigade Vyacheslav Vedenin: Comrade Supreme Commander-in-Chief,
Commander of the 57th brigade Colonel Vedenin here. Good afternoon, sir. I can hear and copy you very well.
Vladimir Putin: Excellent. Mr Vedenin, please report on the situation in Gulyaipolye.
Vyacheslav Vedenin: Comrade Supreme Commander-in-Chief,
The 57th Brigade of the 5th Army is engaged in the offensive on the left flank in the Vremevka area in the assigned zone of advance.
On December 7, I received the task to launch the offensive in conjunction with the 60th Motor Rifle Brigade in the direction of Yablokovo and Gulyaipole and liberate Gulyaipole by the end of December 26.
On December 5, using harsh weather, the fog, the advance parties of the assault squad crossed the Gaichur River and instantly captured a section of the Bolshaya, Mirnaya and Peschanaya streets thereby creating a bridgehead on the left bank of the Gaichur River and splitting the central and eastern parts of Gulyaipole thus providing for the engagement in combat of the main forces.
On December 7, the first echelon units of the 1st Motor Rifle Battalion forced a three-point crossing over the Gaichur River and gained a foothold in the streets of Gulyaipole. They destroyed the 225th Assault Regiment of the 102nd Territorial Defence Brigade and the 154th Separate Mechanised Brigade to completely liberate the southeastern part of Gulyaipole by the end of the 10th day. We took enemy’s defended points, mopped up about 1,600 buildings and destroyed up to 400 Ukrainian militants.
Further, having increased our efforts by engaging the 2nd and 3rd battalions in the direction of the primary attack from south to north and attacking along the Gaichur River and the Bolshaya Street as well as across the western part of Gulyaipole, we reached the Shevchenko Street simultaneously with the 60th Brigade thus blocking the enemy in Gulyaipole by completely cutting off all ammunition and evacuation routes.
Later, drawing a noose, we blocked the city’s high-rise development, gradually mopping up the single-family neighbourhood in Gulyaipole and destroying the defending enemy from the 225th Separate Assault Regiment and the 333rd Separate Assault Regiment block by block.
By the end of December 26, our brigade finished clearing Gulyaipolye and the city is now under our control. Currently, the brigade units are re-checking buildings and basements in order to eliminate individual Ukrainian soldiers who may still be hiding in the urban area, as well as providing assistance to the civilian population or evacuating them, if needed.
Comrade Supreme Commander-in-Chief,
The 57th Brigade continues to fulfil combat missions to liberate the Zaporozhye Region. All the assigned tasks will be accomplished.
This concludes my report.
Vladimir Putin: Thank you, Mr Vedenin.
Thank you very much for this result, to all your soldiers and commanders.
In this part of our meeting, I want to say that the liberation of Dimitrov and the liberation of Gulyaipole are important results of your combat efforts.
As for Dimitrov, this is a serious step toward complete liberation of the Donetsk People’s Republic. Gulyaipole is the second largest city in the Zaporozhye Region and its liberation opens good prospects for launching an offensive in the Zaporozhye Region.
I congratulate you all on these results. Thank you very much.
In conclusion, I would like to say the following. The Armed Forces of the Russian Federation confidently retain the initiative and continue to fulfil the objectives of the special military operation along the entire line of contact. I would like to note the effective actions of military units and formations of the Centre group of forces during the elimination of the Ukrainian armed formations encircled in the area of the Krasnoarmeysk-Dimitrov metropolitan area.
As I mentioned earlier, control over the cities of Krasnoarmeysk and Dimitrov creates favourable conditions for carrying forward the advance and completely liberating the Donetsk People’s Republic. The capture of the city of Gulyaipole in the Zaporozhye Region by assault units of the 5th Army was the expected result made possible by the painstaking work of commanders and staffs and the thorough and comprehensive mission training of personnel.
The high pace of the advance by military units and formations of the East group of forces makes it possible to press forward, liberating the Zaporozhye Region. Practically speaking, as I understand it, all of this is taking place in close pursuit of the enemy.
I ask the commanders and those commanders who are on the line with us to convey my words of gratitude to all personnel of the groups that carried out missions to liberate Dimitrov and Gulyaipole.
The commanders of the groups of forces must continue to carry out their tasks in accordance with the concept of the special military operation.
Here is what I would like to add in the final part of our meeting today in this format. I would like to remind you – although I have said this more than once, I will say it again – that everything, the confrontation and the hostilities, it all began after the 2014 coup d’etat in Ukraine. Even at that time, we told the leaders of the Kiev regime that they should give people living in southeastern Ukraine, who did not recognise the results of that coup, who did not wish to live in a country where a coup is the primary source of power, who did not wish to live in such a state, the opportunity to exercise their lawful right, to ensure and implement their lawful right to self-determination. This right is enshrined in the UN Charter. It is called the right of nations to self-determination.
But, unfortunately, neither then, in 2014, nor later, in 2020, no one listened to us. And the Kiev authorities preferred to unleash large-scale hostilities, a war, to start a war. We are trying to end it, and from the very beginning, as I said, we stated that it was necessary to withdraw the troops of the Kiev regime from these territories, and there would be no hostilities. There would have been none had they listened to us back then.
Now we see that in the West, too, there are sensible people who recommend that the Kiev authorities accept dignified terms for ending the conflict and offer good basic conditions for ensuring Ukraine’s security over a long historical perspective, for restoring relations with the Russian Federation, and for rebuilding Ukraine’s economy.
But we see that even today, unfortunately, the ringleaders of the Kiev regime are in no hurry to resolve this conflict by peaceful means. I spoke about this a year ago at the Foreign Ministry. But today, judging by your reports and by the pace of advance we are observing along the line of contact, our interest in seeing the Ukrainian military formations withdraw from the territories they currently occupy is effectively reduced to zero for a variety of reasons.
And if the Kiev authorities are not willing to bring this matter to a peaceful conclusion, we will accomplish all our objectives during the special military operation by military means. Let us now discuss this in detail, specifically, the immediate tasks in relation to the groups of forces whose commanders are present at this meeting.
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