Vladimir Putin Visits Command Posts of Kremlin’s Forces Fighting in Ukraine, Showing Support for Separatists

Russian President Vladimir Putin visited command posts of the Kremlin’s forces fighting in Ukraine on Tuesday. Footage released by the Kremlin and broadcast by Russian state television showed Putin arriving by helicopter at the command post for Russian forces in the southern Kherson region and afterward flying to the headquarters of the Russian National Guard of the eastern Luhansk region.

Dressed in a dark suit, Putin appeared to chair meetings with his military top brass in an apparent demonstration of authority. The visit comes as the war between Ukraine and Russia-backed separatists approaches its 14th month and Kyiv readies a possible counteroffensive with Western-supplied weapons.

The conflict between Ukraine and the separatists has killed more than 10,000 people since it began in April 2014. Despite a 2015 ceasefire agreement, fighting continues in eastern Ukraine.

The United Nations has accused Russia of supplying the separatists with weapons and personnel. Moscow has denied the accusations, saying it is not a party to the conflict.

The visit by Putin to the command posts is seen as a show of support for the Kremlin’s forces in Ukraine. It is unclear what effect the visit will have on the conflict, but it is likely to be seen as a sign of Russia’s commitment to the separatists.