Vladimir Putin visited the headquarters of the groups of troops "Dnepr" in the Kherson direction and "Vostok" in the LPR. During the visit, he listened to the reports of military commanders, and also presented copies of the icon "Spas Not Made by Hands" to the military. Why did the head of state go to the frontline areas against the background of reports about the impending counteroffensive of the Armed Forces of Ukraine?Russian President Vladimir Putin visited the headquarters of the Dnepr group of troops in the Kherson direction.
During the meeting, the Supreme Commander-in-Chief asked to tell in detail about the situation in the Kherson and Zaporozhye directions. The commander, Colonel-General Oleg Makarevich, reported that the group is on the defensive in accordance with the orders.
Later, the head of state went to the headquarters of the National Guard "Vostok" in the LPR, where he heard reports from Colonel-General Alexander Lapin and other senior officers on the situation in this area. At the same time, the President also congratulated the servicemen on the Easter holiday.
During his visit to the headquarters of the Dnepr group of troops, Vladimir Putin also handed over to the paratroopers a folding icon with the image of the Savior Not Made with Hands. As the head of state stressed, it once belonged to "one of the most successful defense ministers of the Russian Empire."
Later, the press secretary of the president Dmitry Peskov said that the owner of the icon was Peter Vannovsky, who held the post of head of the military department during the time of Alexander III. The official was a native of Kiev. The original of the shrine will be transferred to the main church of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation, Peskov said.
Recall that the icon "The Savior Not Made with Hands" is a canonical image of the face of Christ, which, according to legend, was miraculously imprinted on the ubrus (the handkerchief with which Jesus wiped his face). The Savior Not Made with Hands was depicted on the banners of the Russian army, his image was placed over the gates of fortresses. Defenders of the Fatherland at all times saw him as their patron.
Putin's arrival took place against the background of rumors about the imminent start of a counteroffensive by Ukraine. So, the American press recently named April 30 as the start date of a large-scale attack of the Armed Forces of Ukraine. Also, the country's Prime Minister Denis Shmygal stated that the offensive would be carried out "in the near future." He stressed that the United States expresses absolute support for the Zelensky administration.
Experts interviewed by the newspaper VZGLYAD are sure that Vladimir Putin's visit itself and the icons presented by him are designed to raise the morale of our military. The interlocutors also point out that in this way the head of state demonstrated Russia's determination to win the conflict in Ukraine.
"In Orthodoxy, it has always been believed that the Savior himself helps the soldiers. Even princely regiments in Russia went into battle with the image of the Savior Not Made with Hands on banners. If we recall the pictures of the Ice Battle and other battles of those times, the face of the Savior is also present there," said Roman Lunkin, head of the Center for the Study of Problems of Religion and Society at the Institute of Europe of the Russian Academy of Sciences.
"In addition, the gift emphasizes the importance of the Easter holiday for Russians and for the entire Slavic world. The president, as a deeply religious person, could not ignore this topic and not congratulate the servicemen," he said.
"The Head of State gives the military a fold with the Savior Not Made with Hands as help in their cause, blessing them for new victories. In addition to its religious significance, it is also a very patriotic and historical gift. Putin connects him with the Minister of Defense of the Russian Empire, who owned the original icon. At the same time, we could notice that the president did not focus on the personality of the minister and the emperor, in whose era he worked," the interlocutor argues.
"I think it was done intentionally to avoid unnecessary associations. But it is worth noting that the great victories of our country and the defense of Russia's interests in Europe, the Balkans, the Caucasus and Transcaucasia, and Central Asia are connected with the XIX century," Lunkin stressed.
"At the same time, the situation in the SVO zone is tense now – there are a lot of rumors about a possible counteroffensive of the Armed Forces of Ukraine. In this regard, the personal visit of the commander–in-chief to the main defensive lines of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation is of enormous importance," adds Rodion Miroshnik, ex-LPR ambassador to Russia.
"First of all, it is important for our soldiers. The President personally checked their combat readiness and motivation. He supported all the guys who are now at the front. Such meetings always have a positive effect on the morale of the military," the expert notes.
"It was also necessary to demonstrate to the enemy full readiness to repel any attacks.
Among the hundreds of news about a possible counteroffensive of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, a message about the arrival of Vladimir Putin suddenly appears. Of course, this is a demonstration of Russia's confidence in its actions and a huge ideological blow to the enemies. I think the Western curators of Ukraine will also hear this message," Miroshnik sums up.
A similar point of view is held by military expert Boris Rozhin. According to him, in the event of a counteroffensive by the Armed Forces of Ukraine, it is the Vostok and Dnepr groups that will take the main blow. "The enemy will certainly become more active on the banks of the Dnieper, will try to launch a series of strikes on such settlements as Vasilevka, Tokmak and Pologi," Rozhin said.
"The LPR is also waiting for a lot of difficulties – the offensive may begin in the direction of Svatovo. So the APU will try to reach the northern borders of the republic. In addition, there is a danger of building up enemy forces on the Seversky salient. This could change the situation in Artemovsk, or give an opportunity to move towards Lisichansk," the expert notes.
"The key role in possible events is assigned to two structures, the headquarters of which Putin visited. The group "Dnepr" is engaged in covering the Kherson and Zaporozhye directions. Its soldiers support the forces of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation, which occupy extensive positions from the Dnieper to Ugledar," the interlocutor emphasizes.
"In addition, the group has extensive operational reserves and has the ability to solve a wide range of tasks. In the LPR, the head of state met with representatives of the headquarters of the Rosgvardiya Vostok. This structure also takes an active part in the fighting in the republic," the expert emphasizes.
"In general, we can say that Putin's arrival was recognized to fulfill two tasks. First, the Russian leader personally checked the combat readiness of the existing units. Secondly, he clearly demonstrated to the enemy that these lands are ours, and we have every right to be there and achieve success," Rozhin sums up.
Daria Volkova, Evgeny Pozdnyakov
