--- title: "Ukraine Situation Report: Kremlin Says Putin Will ‘Eventually’ Visit Donbas" description: "Dimitry Peskov, Russian President Vladimir Putin’s press secretary, told state-run TASS news agency that Putin will “eventually” visit the Donbas in occupied eastern Ukraine." date: "2022-12-03" modified: "2022-12-03" authors: - name: "Stetson Payne" link: "https://www.twz.com/authors/stetson-payne" url: "https://www.twz.com/ukraine-situation-report-kremlin-says-putin-will-eventually-visit-donbas" categories: - "Around The Globe" - "Europe" - "News & Features" - "Russia" - "Ukraine" tags: - "Ukraine" --- # Ukraine Situation Report: Kremlin Says Putin Will ‘Eventually’ Visit Donbas ![]() Dimitry Peskov, Russian President Vladimir Putin’s press secretary, told state-run TASS news agency that Putin will “eventually” visit the Donbas in occupied eastern Ukraine. The supposed visit and any details thereof remain unconfirmed, with the word “eventually” doing some heavy lifting here. Russia’s 'special military operation' in the Donbas has become what’s best described as a [meat grinder]() along the frontline near [Bakhmut]() with minimal gains at great cost while [abandoning]() offensives [elsewhere](). https://twitter.com/EuromaidanPress/status/1599101642175315968 The latest intelligence update from the British Ministry of Defense focused on the situation near Bakhmut, specifically that the town has become a symbolic, political objective for Russian forces. https://twitter.com/DefenceHQ/status/1598934055608893441 Putin visiting so close to the frontline would be a huge development, given the monumental security concerns involved. Ukrainian [special forces]() and [drones](), and in some cases [artillery](), as well as other covert actions and unsanctioned actors, could all pose threats to a visiting Putin. The Kremlin would also have to worry about its own soldiers. How many angry [mobilized conscripts]() would gladly take a shot at the man who sent them to war? Part of the visit has to be to improve morale, but doing just that invites its own risks given the numerous mobilization [debacles](). Still, we know Putin's visits are often tightly controlled and carefully staged, but the battlefield is a far more variable environment regardless of these efforts. Regardless of this claim, we wouldn't hold our breath for Putin to be shaking hands with anybody in Donetsk anytime soon, but more surprising things have happened in this war. There have also been scathing comparisons with Zelensky and Putin when the Ukrainian president visits his frontline forces. Before heading into the rest of today’s news from Ukraine, *The War Zone* readers can get caught up on our previous rolling coverage [here](). ## The Latest Russian Defense Minister [Gen. Sergei Shoigu]() visited his Belarusian counterpart in Minsk on Saturday, reportedly signing amendments on security agreements between the two countries. Kyiv has recently redeployed troops to guard its border with Moscow’s [closest ally]() in the region as concerns over second northern invasion persist. https://twitter.com/Archer83Able/status/1599054725105651712 The Institute for the Study of War ([@TheStudyofWar]()) and NASA’s Harvest Program ([@HarvestProgram]()) collaborated on a map showing the war’s incredible impact on Ukraine’s wheat harvest. [Diplomatic efforts]() throughout the summer largely focused on the [Black Sea]() grain corridor for Ukrainian exports, but the truth is quite a bit never made it to the ports. The deal [nearly collapsed]() earlier this fall when Russia [briefly withdrew]() after the [Ukrainian raid]() on Sevastopol on October 29. https://twitter.com/TheStudyofWar/status/1599055868481327104 Russian missile strikes continued on Saturday, with an explosion and subsequent fire reported in Kramatorsk’s industrial zone. https://twitter.com/Archer83Able/status/1599021785390804993 https://twitter.com/Archer83Able/status/1599027156536868865 The strikes are the latest in Russia’s [ongoing campaign]() against Ukrainian energy infrastructure, which you can read more of our coverage on [here](). The continued attacks, as well as the threat of Iranian-supplied short-range ballistic missiles becoming part of the barrage, recently prompted NATO to consider transferring [MIM-104 Patriot]() surface-to-air missile systems to Ukraine. But doing so, if they actually decide to execute such a plan, will take months to realize, at the least. Finland is now reportedly transferring its decommissioned power grid equipment to Ukraine in an effort to speed up repairs as power needs grow further into winter. https://twitter.com/sami\_viitanen/status/1598656462368145409 We wrote about the [narrowing gap]() between Russian and Ukrainian artillery power, and now we have videos of two systems Ukraine is using to fight back against the Russian [onslaught](). Most interesting is footage from inside the cab of a [BM-21 Grad]() during a salvo. With each 122mm rocket leaving the tubes you can see the truck rocking back and forth. https://twitter.com/Osinttechnical/status/1598897415066505216 There’s also a clip of Polish-made AHS Krab 155mm self-propelled howitzers on the move in Ukrainian service. The Krab is just one of the many NATO 6-inch caliber guns provided to Ukrainian forces, and its ability to shoot-and-scoot is vital to avoid devastating counter-battery fire. https://twitter.com/Archer83Able/status/1599025400377577473 That's it for now. We will update this piece if anything major happens, otherwise we will be posting a new update soon. Contact the author: [stetson.payne@thewarzone.com]() ### Author social links