UK intelligence explains Putin's recent visit to HQ in Rostov-on-Don

Russian President Vladimir Putin's recent visit to Rostov-on-Don, which hosts the headquarters of the staff running the war in Ukraine, means that he likely wanted to demonstrate his authority and to portray the senior military command as functioning as usual.

The UK Ministry of Defence said this in an intelligence update posted on the social platform X (formerly known as Twitter), Ukrinform reports.

“On 19 August 2023, President Vladimir Putin made a rare visit to Southern Military District HQ at Rostov-on-Don, approximately 160km from the front line. The HQ hosts the staff running the war in Ukraine,” the report says.

It is noted that Putin held a meeting with senior officers, including Chief of the General Staff General Valery Gerasimov who continues to command the operation in Ukraine.

“Wagner Group briefly seized the HQ in June 2023. Putin highly likely wishes to project his authority and to portray the senior military command as functioning as usual,” the Ministry of Defence added.

As reported, on June 23, Yevgeny Prigozhin, the leader of the Wagner Group, announced a démarche against the Russian military leadership, in particular against Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu. Prigozhin took control of Rostov-on-Don and part of Voronezh region, after which the Wagner mercenaries moved toward Moscow.

On June 24, Alexander Lukashenko held talks with Prigozhin. Following the talks, the private army's leader announced he was returning his mercenaries to their field camps.

On August 23, Wagner PMC group founder Yevgeny Prigozhin, according to preliminary information, was listed among passengers on a private plane that crashed in Russia’s Tver region.

Photo: GAVRIIL GRIGOROV/SPUTNIK/KREMLIN POOL /PAP/EPA