Russian President Vladimir Putin met with his Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu on Tuesday (February 20) Putin celebrated military successes, including the capture of Avdiivka, but did not mention the deaths of Russian soldiers. Russian military bloggers criticized the meeting, saying the two politicians went too far in their praise of each other.
“I'm at a loss for words”: Russians scoff at bizarre Ukraine show at ShoigU-Putin meeting.“The most brutal battles for Krynki will be fought on the Internet tomorrow,” wrote one of the biggest military bloggers ironically.