Russia Acknowledges Troops ‘Regrouping’ as Ukraine Goes on the Offensive

The Kremlin’s war council on Monday briefed President Vladimir Putin, Russia’s “supreme commander in chief,” about the dramatic events taking place in Ukraine over the last day to include reports that forces loyal to Kyiv on two fronts had repelled Russian forces and retaken key territory.

What Ukraine and its Western backers broadly touted as a “retreat” was referred to only as a “regrouping” by Russian officials describing the meeting with top military aides in an attempt to downplay the significance of the latest battlefield reports – though tacitly acknowledging Ukrainian troops were indeed gaining territory.

When asked for a reaction to the withdrawals, Putin’s spokesman demurred.

“The president is in constant, one might say ‘round-the-clock, communication with the minister of defense and with all military leaders,” Dmitry Peskov told reporters early Monday, according to a translation of his remarks. “The special military operation continues and will continue until all the goals that were originally set are achieved.”