Ukraine: “Let Me Remind You, We Are Not Striking With Full Capacity” – Putin

Russian President Vladimir Putin has pledged to continue the strike, despite Ukraine’s recent strong counteroffensive, claiming that not all of Russia’s army is presently engaged in combat in Ukraine.

Interestingly and unexpectedly, Ukrainian forces took control of more than 8,000 km² (3,088 sq miles) in the eastern Kharkiv region in just six days.

However, in his first public remarks on the counteroffensive, Russian strongman Vladimir Putin cautioned that he was not in a rush and that the offensive in the Donbas region of Ukraine was still on track.

Also, he pointed out that Russia has not yet used all of its forces.

He said, “Our offensive operation in the Donbas is not stopping. They’re moving forward – not at a very fast pace – but they are gradually taking more and more territory.”

Putin believes that capturing the Donbas is essential to protecting the Russian-speaking population from genocide, making the Donbas region in eastern Ukraine the new target of Russia’s operation.

Since 2014, separatists supported by Russia have occupied regions in the Donbas. However, the current Ukrainian counterattack was conducted in the Kharkiv region, which is not a part of the Donbas.

Putin also promised a “more serious” response in his remarks on Friday if the Ukrainian strikes persisted.

He said, “I remind you that the Russian army isn’t fighting in its entirety… Only the professional army is fighting.”

Russia hasn’t formally declared war on Ukraine yet; instead, it just describes the invasion as a “special military operation.”