What Putin intended to demonstrate in meeting with top military men? British intelligence explains

British Intelligence reported on the possible purpose of Russian President Vladimir Putin's recent meeting with high-ranking military officials of the country.

According to the intelligence data, on December 16, Russian Putin visited the Joint Headquarters of the Special Military Operation.

Putin has been filmed meeting with a number of senior military officers including Chief of General Staff Valery Gerasimov and Defence Minister Sergey Shoigu.

He invited proposals for the next steps of the Special Military Operation. Commander of the Russian Group of Forces in Ukraine, General Sergey Surovikin, was one of those who presented a report.

In this choreographed meeting, Putin likely intended to demonstrate collective responsibility for the special military operation.

This display likely aimed to deflect Putin’s responsibility for military failure, high fatality rates and increasing public dissatisfaction from mobilisation. The televised footage was probably designed to also dispel social media rumours of General Gerasimov’s dismissal.