Putin Visits Troops in Russian-Controlled Regions of Ukraine

Facts

• In footage released by the Kremlin on Tuesday, Russian Pres. Putin visited troops in the regions of Kherson and Luhansk — two of four Ukrainian regions which Moscow claimed to have annexed last year.¹
• Although the exact date of the visit could not be confirmed, Putin congratulated troops on Orthodox Easter — which was celebrated this past Sunday — and presented them with religious icons.¹
• He could be seen telling commanders, "It is important for me to hear your opinion on how the situation is developing, to listen to you, to exchange information."²
• Meanwhile, Evan Gershkovich, the detained Wall Street Journal reporter facing charges of espionage, made an appearance at a Moscow court to appeal his detention on Tuesday. The appeal was denied and he will remain in pre-trial detention at the Lefortovo prison until at least May 29.³
• The US ambassador to Russia, Lynne Tracy, was seen at the hearing. She confirmed she made her first consular visit to Gershkovich a day earlier. She said he was "in good health and remains strong."⁴
• Elsewhere, following a G7 foreign ministers' meeting in Japan, the countries agreed to a statement that condemned Russia's stationing of tactical nuclear weapons in Belarus. Meanwhile, in the latest intelligence briefing from the UK's defense ministry, it said that Russia was reinforcing Bakhmut with more troops and that it continued to make "creeping advances" in Donetsk city.⁵

Sources: ¹Associated Press, ²Al Jazeera (a), ³Evening Standard (a), ⁴Al Jazeera (b), and ⁵Evening Standard (b).

Narratives

• Pro-establishment narrative, as provided by PBS NewsHour. This invasion is an egregious violation of international law. Putin's ultimate aim is to restore the Soviet empire, even if it takes massive bloodshed and false pretexts such as calling the 2014 Ukrainian revolution after an election a "coup." This unprovoked attack is the latest chapter in Putin's Orwellian attempt to rewrite history.
• Pro-Russia narrative, as provided by National Security Archive. NATO and the US have ignored Russia's security concerns by breaking its promise not to expand eastward in return for German reunification. These concerns are legitimate and taking them seriously would have avoided the Ukraine tragedy.

Predictions