According to Russia’s official legal information portal, Putin signed three public decrees that day: Nos. 608, 609, and 610. They concern personnel changes, including the appointment of a new Russian ambassador to Iraq, as well as changes to state commissions dealing with veterans and people with disabilities.
The day before, Aug. 24, Putin signed Decree No. 604, which allows the government to place private companies and other facilities under state management. The decree applies when authorities determine that owners have failed to adequately protect their facilities from drone attacks.
Three more documents, Nos. 605, 606 and 607, should appear after Decree No. 604 in the official list. However, they were not published and were marked “for official use,” indicating that they are classified, the publication reported.
Earlier on Aug. 25, Putin met with Ratcliffe in Moscow. According to Alexander Yunashev, a reporter covering the Kremlin, Putin canceled a scheduled event to meet with Ratcliffe. Hundreds of people had been preparing for the event.
The contents of the talks were not officially disclosed. The Wall Street Journal speculated that Ratcliffe may have delivered a warning based on U.S. intelligence about possible future moves by the Kremlin, including preparations for another mobilization wave or provocations against NATO.
That same day, Financial Times and Axios reported that the
United States had asked Ukraine to refrain from attacking Moscow, St.
Petersburg, and northern Russia while U.S. officials were visiting.