Moscow – As President Vladimir Putin boasted of significant battlefield achievements, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy countered with accusations of a covert war, claiming Russia is using oil tankers for espionage. This juxtaposition highlights the increasingly complex and multi-layered nature of the conflict.
Putin, in a meeting with his military elite, announced the capture of almost 5,000 square kilometers of Ukrainian territory this year. He declared that Russia now holds the “complete strategic initiative,” suggesting a decisive upper hand in the conventional war.
However, Zelenskyy’s claims suggest the war is anything but conventional. He alleged that Russia is exploiting its commercial fleet for “reconnaissance and even sabotage activities,” turning civilian vessels into tools of war. He assured that Kyiv and its allies are working to stop these operations.
The tension between the two nations was mirrored by the growing friction between Moscow and Washington. Putin issued a stern warning against the United States supplying Ukraine with Tomahaho long-range missiles.
He stated that such a delivery would not be possible without the direct participation of US military personnel, an action that would constitute a “qualitatively new stage of escalation” and would effectively terminate any diplomatic relationship with the United States.