Visit to the Joint Force auxiliary command post

President of Russia Vladimir Putin: Good afternoon, comrades.

Today we are holding a regular working meeting to assess the current situation in the special military operation zone, as well as to review and evaluate the latest combat results.

The Chief of the General Staff provides reports on the situation on a nearly daily basis. In this regard, I would like to note that the formations and military units of the Joint Force are carrying out their assigned tasks in accordance with the plans of the General Staff of the Armed Forces.

The liberation of the Lugansk People's Republic has recently been completed in full. Meanwhile, operations to eliminate formations of the Armed Forces of Ukraine in the Donetsk People's Republic, as well as in the Zaporozhye and Kherson regions, are underway. The establishment of a security zone in the border areas of the Kharkov, Sumy, and Dnepropetrovsk regions of Ukraine is also progressing according to plan.

Enemy forces are attempting to maintain their positions, but under the pressure of our troops they are sustaining heavy losses and are being forced to withdraw.

Since the beginning of this year, Russian forces have liberated 133 settlements and established control over more than 3,000 square kilometres of our territory in Donbass and Novorossiya.

Today's discussion will focus on developments in the areas of responsibility of the North and South groups of forces. We will also review the results of combat missions carried out by other formations and military units.

In addition, during a restricted attendance meeting, as previously agreed with the Chief of the General Staff, we will examine the tasks assigned to the Joint Force for the summer period and discuss the most pressing issues related to supporting ongoing offensive operations.

But first, before we proceed to the commanders' reports, I ask the Chief of the General Staff, in accordance with established procedure, to provide an overview of the general situation in the special military operation zone.

Please begin, Mr Gerasimov.

To be continued.