Lawmakers from Putin's HOMETOWN want him tried for treason after 'significant setbacks' in Ukraine war
SAINT PETERSBURG, RUSSIA: State officials are reportedly calling for Vladimir Putin to step down after Russia suffered "significant" setbacks following a Ukrainian counterattack.
Ukraine reclaimed a large portion of land from Russia on Monday, September 12, going all the way back to the country's northeastern border in some places. The nation claims to have captured a number of Russian soldiers as part of a surprise attack that forced Putin's forces to make an unplanned retreat from the warzone. Lawmakers from St Petersburg’s Smolninsky District have now issued a statement calling for the Russian president to be tried for treason.
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"We believe that the decision made by President Putin to start the special military operation is detrimental to the security of Russia and its citizens,” Dmitry Palyuga, one of the councilors, said in a statement, according to the Independent.
"We ask you," the lawmakers wrote to the state Duma, "to initiate a treason charge against the president of the Russian Federation to remove him from office."
The Russian president grew up in the Smolninsky neighborhood and served as deputy mayor of St Petersburg. Many of Putin's closest friends still live in the city. A second municipal council in Moscow's Lomonosovsky district followed suit and voted on a similar motion calling on Putin to resign.
However, a day after the defiant resolution against Putin was made public, a local police station reportedly told the lawmakers they were facing legal charges "due to actions aimed at discrediting the current Russian government."
This came after the Russian defense ministry admitted its troops had been forced to withdraw from the key city of Izium following the onslaught. The city was a strategic stronghold for Russia in the area of northeastern Ukraine and its retreat could mark a turning point in the six-month war. The lightning advance of Ukrainian troops that led to the fall of Izium in Kharkiv province is Moscow's worst defeat since Russian troops were forced to retreat from the capital Kyiv in March.
#Ukrainian soldiers clean up #Izium, #Kharkiv region. pic.twitter.com/DAMRnHuDy0
— NEXTA (@nexta_tv) September 13, 2022
There have been a number of unofficial reports suggesting Ukraine had managed to claim a considerable amount of territory back from Russia in recent weeks. Meanwhile, Russia is reportedly facing "significant" setbacks including a lack of weaponry and the loss of soldiers to death and injury, especially due to the military might of Ukraine's allies. Izium is now in Ukraine's control and its forces are now just 50 miles from the Russian border after Moscow’s troops withdrew in a bid to hold onto the captured territory.
After 6 month of occupation, Balakliia is a Ukrainian city (in Izium Region, in Kharkiv Oblast). Today our team is delivering first 500 hot meals. We will check the situation and come back with more food! @WCKitchen Ukranian team members are doing this all over! #ChefsForUkraine pic.twitter.com/yHRsyFc6Cl
— José Andrés (@chefjoseandres) September 10, 2022
“I think it’s the beginning of the end for Russian occupants,” a 25-year-old Ukrainian soldier, identified only as Marty, told the Telegraph, “They were literally running from their positions, leaving their stuff and heading to the occupied territories. I think more significant gains are coming.”
"It ain’t about how hard you hit. It’s about how hard you can get hit and keep moving forward; how much you can take and keep moving forward. That’s how winning is done!"
— Defense of Ukraine (@DefenceU) September 12, 2022
Rocky Balboa
Total combat losses of the enemy from Feb 24 to Sep 12: pic.twitter.com/MxAqds5sAO
There have been recent reports of heavy skirmishes in Verbika and Balakliia, amid suggestions that Ukraine had recaptured the cities in early May. Besides, it's also been reported that Ukraine reclaimed Verbivka, where geolocated video footage showing dead Russian soldiers was posted.
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Russia's "special military operation" in Ukraine began in February and has continued to wreak havoc across the region in the months past. Some have dubbed the invasion as the beginning of World War III, considering thousands have already been killed, cities irreversibly ruined, and millions of civilians displaced. Many believe Putin launched the invasion of Ukraine due to the latter's decision to join NATO. The Russian strongman reportedly planned to overrun the Ukrainian government and end any chance of the country joining the West, The Sun reported.