Despite defence evaluations from other countries, Russian President Vladimir Putin stated on Thursday that the battle in Ukraine was “going according to plan.”

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“The special military operation in Ukraine is going according to plan, in strict accordance with the schedule,” Putin used the phrase used by the Kremlin to characterise the invasion of Ukraine.

“All tasks are being successfully carried out,” Putin stated this in statements to his Security Council, which were televised on national television.

Defense assessments, on the other hand, show that Russia is seeing “stiffer than expected” pushback from the Ukrainian military.

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Earlier today, according to the Kremlin, Vladimir Putin assured his French counterpart Emmanuel Macron on Thursday that the goals of Russia’s action in Ukraine – demilitarisation and neutrality – will be realised in any situation.

According to the UK’s defence ministry, a 40-mile-long convoy of Russian tanks, armoured vehicles, and towed artillery believed to be preparing for an assault on the Ukrainian capital has stalled some 30 kilometres (or about 19 miles) outside Kyiv and has made “little discernible progress” over the past three days.

Putin hailed Russian servicemen for their bravery during the assault in his remarks. The invasion, on the other hand, has met with more resistance than predicted.

According to a senior US defence official, Russia has yet to gain air superiority over Ukraine, while the Ukrainian Air Force and air defence systems compete for control of the airspace.

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“Ukrainian air defenses, including aircraft, do continue to be operable and continue to engage and deny access to Russian aircraft in places over the country,” the official said.

In his speech, Putin maintained the false and inaccurate assertion that Ukraine’s democratically elected government is a “Nazi” or “fascist” dictatorship. That rhetoric has been widely denounced around the world, particularly given that Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky is Jewish.