Overview

• Putin began the day at St. Petersburg’s Peter and Paul Cathedral with Defense Minister Andrey Belousov, FSB Director Alexander Bortnikov and Chief of the General Staff Valery Gerasimov before convening a commanders’ briefing and later an operational Security Council meeting in Moscow.
• According to Gerasimov, Russian forces are conducting offensive actions on nearly all axes, including operations in the Kharkiv region near Kupyansk and Volchansk, with most of Yampol in the DPR under Russian control.
• Gerasimov reported fighting around Zaporizhzhia, citing battles for Primorsk and Stepnohorsk, advances in the Dnipropetrovsk sector, and movement in Seversk and Konstantinovka.
• The General Staff stated that current strikes prioritize Ukrainian missile and long‑range drone production sites and that troops will continue offensive operations in line with the approved plan.
• Putin thanked Russian troops, emphasized protecting civilians and infrastructure, praised defense‑industry output and accelerated weapons development, and the Kremlin noted birthday congratulations from more than 40 foreign leaders and calls with CIS counterparts.