Russian President Vladimir Putin said Thursday that the country had deployed 617,000 Russian military personnel in Ukraine as the Kremlin’s war against Kyiv has been ongoing for almost two years.
"The front line is over 2,000 kilometers long. There are 617,000 people in the conflict zone," Putin said during the end-of-year press conference.
Putin also said Thursday that Russia had already "recruited" 486,000 people into the country’s Armed Forces, with 1,500 new recruits added every day.
"To date, there is no need for a new mobilization," Putin said, adding that at least 244,000 mobilized servicemen were deployed to the front.
Some 300,000 reservists were called up to boost Russia’s troop numbers in Ukraine as part of Putin's “partial” mobilization drive announced in September 2022.
Russia’s Defense Ministry has not disclosed Moscow’s losses in the conflict since that month.
According to the independent Mediazona news website, the Russian military's verifiable death toll in Ukraine now stands at over 38,200.
This week, a U.S. Congress source, citing a declassified intelligence report, told media that so me 315,000 Russian troops have been killed or wounded in Ukraine since the war began in February 2022 — nearly 90% of its pre-war force.
AFP contributed reporting.
A Message from The Moscow Times:
Dear readers,
We are facing unprecedented challenges. Russia's Prosecutor General's Office has designated The Moscow Times as an "undesirable" organization, criminalizing our work and putting our staff at risk of prosecution. This follows our earlier unjust labeling as a "foreign agent."
These actions are direct attempts to silence independent journalism in Russia. The authorities claim our work "discredits the decisions of the Russian leadership." We see things differently: we strive to provide accurate, unbiased reporting on Russia.
We, the journalists of The Moscow Times, refuse to be silenced. But to continue our work, we need your help.
Your support, no matter how small, makes a world of difference. If you can, please support us monthly starting from just $2. It's quick to set up, and every contribution makes a significant impact.
By supporting The Moscow Times, you're defending open, independent journalism in the face of repression. Thank you for standing with us.
Remind me later.
