OUR Russian chairman Vladimir Putinin a televised address, said he had signed a decree making “corrections” to the partial draft instructions he announced on 21 September.

Speaking at a meeting with teachers broadcast on state television, Putin said the decree postponed the conscription of additional categories of students, including students from prestigious private universities and some graduate students.

Russia “with great respect” treats the Ukrainian people

In addition, Putin said that Russia has “great respect” for the Ukrainian people, despite the “current situation,” as he described it.

It is noted that adviser to the President of Ukraine Mykhailo Podolyak previously stated that any “Russian objects” in the occupied Ukrainian territories are legitimate military targets, and Ukraine’s counterattack is part of a defensive war.

“Any counter-offensive and cessation of the occupation of territories falls under the concept of a defensive war. This is an absolute axiom both for the leadership of Ukraine and for our allies,” he added.

The situation in the occupied territories is “stabilising”.

Putin also said that Russia would stabilize the situation in the four regions of Ukraine that it considers its territory, implicitly acknowledging the problems it faces in maintaining control over them.

Russian forces have suffered heavy casualties in two of the four regions since Friday, when Putin signed agreements to integrate them into Russia following so-called referendums that Ukraine and the West have called illegal and forced.

“We proceed from the fact that the situation will stabilize and we will be able to calmly develop these territories,” Putin said in a televised address.

Earlier, his representative said that the four regions are undergoing an intensive process of adaptation, and this will not be easy.

Russia, which has recovered from the successes of Ukrainian forces in recent weeks, does not fully control any of the four regions. In two of them, she is still unable to determine the boundaries of the territories that she considers her own.

^{According to APE – MEB, Reuters}