Putin deems senseless deaths of Ukrainian soldiers in battles with Russian forces a tragedy

Moscow. December 2. INTERFAX.RU – Russian President Vladimir Putin stated that the Ukrainian Armed Forces leadership does not regret sending their soldiers to meaningless deaths, describing it as a tragedy for the Ukrainian people. During a visit to one of the command centers of the Joint Forces Operation, Putin inquired with the commander of the ‘Center’ forces about whether he understood correctly that the Ukrainian Armed Forces command was trying to repel Russian forces in Krasnoarmeisk, knowing it was impossible, ‘throwing new units practically into slaughter.’ He also noted that ‘aside from neo-Nazi battalions, the Ukrainian Armed Forces are predominantly made up of working-class people.’ Upon receiving an affirmative response from the commander of the ‘Center’ forces, Valeriy Solodchuk, Putin stated: ‘This is a tragedy for the Ukrainian people, linked to the criminal policy of the thievish junta that seized power in Kyiv.’