• Vladimir Putin stated his troops could be in Ukraine for a long time.
• There will be no second call-up.
• Putin seldom discusses the duration of a conflict.

Vladimir Putin stated his troops could be in Ukraine for a long time, but there will be no second call-up.

Putin seldom discusses the duration of a conflict he started more than nine months ago, but he told followers in a televised conference Wednesday it might last a while.

He answered, “This can be long.”

Russia has been driven into considerable withdrawals by Ukrainian counter-offensives in the east and south since July.

Russia initiated a “special military operation” in February, saying Ukraine’s relations to the West constituted a security danger. Ukraine and its supporters call the invasion imperialist.

Putin claimed the possibility of a nuclear conflict is rising, but Russia won’t threaten to use them.

Putin: “We’re not crazy, we understand nuclear weapons.” “We have more advanced, contemporary nuclear weapons than any other country… We won’t brandish this weapon like a razor.”

In an interview published Thursday, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz said international pressure had reduced Putin’s nuclear threat.

Irrelevant

150,000 of the 300,000 reservists called up in September and October were in Ukraine, Putin claimed. 150,000 still in training.

Putin: “Talking about more mobilization measures makes no sense.”

Russia’s economy has survived the short-term recession caused by the partial mobilization order, but the disinflationary impact on consumer demand has evaporated, the central bank said Wednesday.

Putin says he has no regrets about waging a war that has been Europe’s deadliest since World War II, despite recent battlefield retreats, including the fall of Kherson.

He said Russia’s acquisition of “new territory” was a “major result,” referring to the annexation of four partially occupied regions in September, which Ukraine and other UN members regarded as unlawful.

President Volodymyr Zelenskiy claimed Russian bombardment killed 10 and wounded many in Kurakhove on Wednesday.

Zelenskiy was selected Time magazine’s 2022 “Person of the Year” for his leadership.

Bakhmut was besieged.

“The enemy is on the offensive, their aircraft is more active, and there are continual air intelligence flights,” stated Bandera, a Ukrainian unit commander.

Yesterday, their unmanned aerial vehicles bombarded our positions all day.

Apocalypse

Ukrainian military expert Oleh Zhdanov said Russia resumed utilizing Iranian-made drones, and Ukrainian forces downed 14 in 24 hours as they assaulted west and central Ukraine.

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said the UN is studying “available material” about Iran supplying Russia with drones as he faces Western pressure to inspect downed drones in Ukraine.

Russia denies using Iranian drones to strike Ukraine, which Iran denies delivering.

Russian forces have fired more than 1,000 rockets and missiles at Ukraine’s electrical grid, which is still running despite substantial damage.

Eight waves of Russian air strikes on crucial infrastructure have damaged the grid and led to emergency and planned outages across the country, including in Kyiv.

Mayor Vitali Klitschko warned of “apocalypse” if Russian air strikes on infrastructure continue. No need to evacuate immediately, but be prepared, he warned.

Klitschko said Kyiv could lose central heating when temperatures drop to -15 C (5 F).

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