Page 54 - RusRPTApr24

Russian lawmakers propose draft bill declaring 'illegal' return of Crimea to Ukraine in 1954. Lawmakers of the ruling United Russia political party submitted a draft law to the Russian State Duma on March 11 declaring Russia's 1954 return of Crimea to the Ukrainian Soviet Republic "illegal."
● War
Russian President Vladimir Putin has slammed allegations that Russia is planning to fight against Europe as “utter nonsense,” TASS reported on March 28. "As for the allegations that we are planning to invade Europe after Ukraine, this is utter nonsense meant solely to intimidate their population to make them pay more money," he said at a meeting with military pilots in the Tver Region. He noted that this narrative unfolds "amid the slumping economy and deteriorating living standards." "This is absolutely clear and is acknowledged by everyone. This is not propaganda. This is what is really happening. They need to justify themselves, so they are intimidating their population with a potential Russian threat while seeking to expand their dictation onto the entire world," Putin stressed.
The President of Ukraine, Volodymyr Zelenskiy, said on March 27 that the Russian occupiers may be preparing for a new offensive, which is expected sometime at the end of May or in June. At the same time, he did not say which of the directions it is about.
Kremlin admits Russia 'de facto' at war, calls Ukraine 'occupying force.' Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov later clarified his words, saying that "de jure" it remained a "military operation," but "de facto" had become a war.
The Kremlin plans to mobilize 300,000 soldiers to take Kharkiv and prepares for a new offensive in early summer. The Russian opposition publication Verstka reported that Russian authorities plan to mobilize at least 300,000 people in the near future to begin an operation to surround Ukraine's second-largest city, Kharkiv.
Pavliuk: Russia building up group of 100,000 troops, might conduct summer offensive There is a possibility that Russia would build up a certain number of forces by the beginning of summer to launch an offensive in one of the axes, Commander of the Ukrainian Ground Forces, Lieutenant General Oleksandr Pavliuk has said.
Without external aid, the Ukrainian Armed Forces may lose their ability to hold the front by the summer, and the US criticizes Ukraine's military strategy. Military analyst Dara Massicot of the Carnegie Endowment believes that without an increase in Western military aid and major changes in Kyiv's strategy, Ukraine's position on the battlefield will continue to deteriorate until it reaches a tipping point, possibly by summer. "Under current conditions, when Ukraine's needs for ammunition and manpower are not being met, Ukrainian
54 RUSSIA Country Report April 2024 www.intellinews.com