Putin mounts Ukraine offensive as Kremlin prepares to name him president in 2024

Reports say, the Kremlin has started preparing for Vladimir Putin's 2024 presidential campaign. The Kommersant reported that the upcoming presidential campaign will go as planned despite Russia's grinding military offensive in Ukraine. It added that the Kremlin's domestic policy bloc believed that Putin will seek re-election in 2024 and that the bloc also held preliminary talks with experts on the main components of his campaign. Ahead of the presidential elections, around two dozen regions, including Ukrainian territories Russia claims to have annexed, will face regional polls. Experts say these regional polls will be a precursor to the 2024 presidential elections.