Russian President Vladimir Putin rejected requests from his commanders to withdraw Russian forces from Kherson and has become personally involved in strategic planning of the war against Ukraine, The New York Times reported on September 23, 2022, citing US officials familiar with intelligence.
A “reputational defeat”
Russian commanders believed an organised withdrawal across the Dnipro River would preserve equipment and troops in the face of a Ukrainian offensive, according to the report. Putin refused, reportedly seeing a pullback as a reputational defeat, a decision that hurt the morale of Russian troops.
Tension with generals
Putin told generals that he would make the strategic decisions on the invasion’s next steps, which displeased senior commanders, the Times reported. Military leaders had also been sceptical of the initial plan to seize Kyiv quickly, believing it required far more troops and equipment.
The partial mobilisation announced on September 21 followed persistent requests from the military command, according to the report.
Context
The report came after Ukraine’s rapid counteroffensive in Kharkiv Oblast in early September, which forced Russian troops to abandon large swathes of territory, and as Ukrainian forces pressed attacks on Russian supply lines in Kherson Oblast, where Russian units on the west bank of the Dnipro depend on damaged bridges and ferries.
Sources
Image note: The featured image was generated by AI based on the content of this article. It is an illustration, not an actual photograph of the people, places or events described.
